Abingdon hurler Cade Hungate and Ridgeview pitcher Nikole Counts had a solid year both on the mound and at the plate, and both led their teams in strong postseason runs.
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BASEBALL
Hungate, a senior, is the Southwest Virginia baseball player of the year after finishing with a perfect record on the mound. The Florida State signee closed the season with a 10-0 record and a 1.21 ERA.
At the plate, Hungate finished with a .550 batting average, recording five home runs and 37 RBIs.
He’s one of four Abingdon players on the All-Southwest Virginia team, among them Radford signee Tanner Barrs. Barrs finished with a 7-0 pitching record and a .467 batting average with four home runs and 34 RBIs.
East Carolina signee Thomas Francisco and East Tennessee State signee Kevin Christy of Abingdon are the utility players.
Abingdon’s Mark Francisco, who led the Falcons to a 23-3 record and to a berth in the state championship game for the first time since 1984, is the coach of the year.
The 18-member All-Southwest Virginia team features 12 players from the Mountain 7 District and six from the Cumberland District.
ALL-SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BASEBALL
Player of the Year
Cade Hungate, Abingdon
Coach of the Year
Mark Francisco, Abingdon
All-Southwest Virginia Team
P — Cade Hungate, Abingdon
P — Noah Rasnick, Eastside
P — Tanner Barrs, Abingdon
P — Adam Cox, Union
P — Justin Reed, Twin Springs
1B — Cole Harness, Eastside
2B — Landon Turner, Gate City
3B — Tyler Muncy, Wise Central
SS — Andrew Cavins, J.I. Burton
C — Jon Compton, Gate City
OF — Zach James, Wise Central
OF — Jonah Hilton, Lee High
OF — Jacob Dishner, Rye Cove
DH — Drew Richards, Eastside
Utility — Thomas Francisco, Abingdon
Utility — J.P. Stallard, Wise Central
Utility — Kevin Christy, Abingdon
Utility — Derrick Allen, J.I. Burton
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA SOFTBALL
Led by Counts, 10 players out of the Mountain 7 District and eight from the Cumberland District make up the Times News All-Southwest Virginia softball team.
Counts, the Times News Southwest Virginia softball player of the year, finished with a 14-6 record. She compiled 141 strikeouts, gave up only 15 walks and registered a 1.88 ERA.
At the plate, she posted a .547 batting average.
Counts’ coach, Kent Grant, is the Southwest Virginia softball coach of the year. Grant, whose team was picked to finish sixth in preseason voting, guided the Wolfpack to a second-place finish in the Mountain 7.
Under Grant, Ridgeview advanced to the Region 2D semifinals before seeing its season end in a heartbreaking loss to Lebanon.
ALL-SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA SOFTBALL
Player of the Year
Nikole Counts, Ridgeview
Coach of the Year
Kent Grant, Ridgeview
All-Southwest Virginia Team
P — Nikole Counts, Ridgeview
P — Sydney Bailey, John Battle
P — Marleigh Duncan, Union
P — Aubrey Powers, Twin Springs
P — Kate Pendleton, Gate City
1B — Emily Moore, Eastside
2B — Hunter Grant, Ridgeview
3B — Hannah Buchanan, Eastside
SS— Hailey Byington, Rye Cove
C — Arielle Tritt, Lee High
OF — Abby Vicars, Rye Cove
OF — Emili Brooks, Union
OF — Lexie King, Eastside
DP — Ashley Smith, Rye Cove
Utility — Autumn Sexton, John Battle
Utility — Jenna Wade, Union
Utility — Brook Porter, Wise Central
Utility — Carrie Boyd, Eastside
SPRING SPORTS SUPERLATIVES
Here are the Times News Southwest Virginia honorees for soccer, track and field and tennis:
Soccer
Female Player of the Year — Callie McMurray, Gate City
Male Player of the Year — Juan Onate, Wise Central
Coach of the Year — Hunter Meade, Virginia High
Track and Field
Female Athlete of the Year — Lydia Blair-James, J.I. Burton
Male Athlete of the Year — Avery Jenkins, Union
Coach of the Year — James Hamilton III, Union
Tennis
Female Player of the Year — Riley Mullins, Ridgeview
Male Player of the Year — Reed Crabtree, John Battle
Coach of the Year — Delonda Spivey, Gate City
