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The Kingsport Times News baseball and softball players of the year for Southwest Virginia both had a knack for “pitching” in. 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
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