H.S. Softball: Grapeland's Jalla Johnson named Dogwood Circle Player of the Year

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July 7, 2012

H.S. Softball: Grapeland's Jalla Johnson named Dogwood Circle Player of the Year

By JUSTIN RAINS Palestine Herald-Press The Palestine Herald-Press Sat Jul 07, 2012, 06:16 PM CDT

Grapeland senior Jalla Johnson had a tall task laid before her heading into her final season as a Sandiette softball player.

Johnson was one of only a handful of seniors on the Sandiette squad, for one. Also, she was captaining a team with state title dreams, having fallen in the state title game the year before.

Finally, she was replacing Division I-bound, all-state performer Summer Groholski inside the pitching circle.

No pressure, right?

“It was a lot of pressure because, of course, I’m a good pitcher but I’m not as good as Summer,” Johnson said. “But, I wanted to fill that spot and continue what she had.”

Fill the spot she did.

Johnson handled that pressure well, keeping the Sandiettes atop the state polls for much of the season while leading the team on both sides of the ball.

For her performances this season, Johnson has been named the 2012 Dogwood Circle Softball Player of the Year.

Grapeland fell short of a return to the state tournament, falling in the regional quarterfinals to then No. 2-ranked Beckville in three games, but Johnson said she was pleased with her team’s performance, even in the series loss..

“Whenever I look back on it, of course you think you could’ve done something different,” she said. “But I felt we did just fine.”

Johnson’s numbers speak for themselves, as the senior put up huge stat lines on both sides of the ball.

She batted a team-high .556 for Grapeland, getting on base more than 65 percent of the time.

She also drove in 22 runs, while scoring 39 of her own.

In the circle, she was even better.

Johnson went 17-3 on the year, striking out 119 with an ERA under 2.00.

Despite it being her senior year, those numbers won’t be the last Johnson puts up on a softball field.

Johnson is now Kilgore-bound, part of the inaugural class of the Ranger softball program.

When she signed her letter of intent, it confirmed a moment that even Johnson admitted she didn’t think would come.

“I was so happy,” she said. “I had doubts, but it happened. You just have to have faith.”

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Courtney Stanhope, Westwood

Heading into the 2012 season, Westwood catcher Courtney Stanhope had the tall task of trying to at least replicate what had been a stellar season in 2011.

Only a freshman at the time, Stanhope hit a team-best .551, earning Co-Offensive MVP honors for the district.

Even with those expectations, Stanhope exceeded them. By a lot.

The sophomore hit an area-best .590 on the season, driving in 30 runs and hitting four home runs.

Her performance earned her Offensive MVP honors for the district once again, as well as a spot on the Texas Sportswriters Association (TXSWA) all-state first team for Class 3A.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Alex El-Cassabgui, Westwood

After making the playoffs as a freshman, Westwood’s Alex El-Cassabgui hadn’t been back.

She even, at times, wondered if she ever would.

But, behind the Westwood MVP’s leadership, the Lady Panthers returned to the postseason in 2012, helped in large part by El-Cassabgui, who’s flashy glove at shortstop and .940 fielding percentage earned her co-Defensive MVP honors for District 20-3A on the year.

She wasn’t a slouch offensively, either. El-Cassabgui hit .441 on the year, scoring 29 runs and driving in 19 more.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Lexy McGuire, Westwood

As the Westwood softball team made its journey back to the postseason in 2012, only one pitcher ever stepped inside the circle:

Lexy McGuire.

McGuire, after an offseason spent honing her skills as a pitcher, threw every inning for Westwood in 2012, and threw them well.

The senior, who hadn’t played much as a junior, won 61 percent of her starts for the Lady Panthers, with an ERA hovering around 4.00.

More importantly, she kept her team in most games, and led them back to the postseason.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Robin Grant, Elkhart

Elkhart freshman Robin Grant has played almost every sport at a varsity level already, despite her youth.

But, it was on the softball diamond where Grant made her biggest mark.

The freshman batted .440 for the playoff-bound Lady Elks, driving in 27 runs while slugging .557.

She was also solid in the field at third base, fielding at a 93 percent rate, taking part in seven double plays and recording 45 assists.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jenna Jenkins, Westwood

Jenna Jenkins took over a team that hadn’t seen the postseason in three years for her first head coaching post.

She responded by taking that team back to the playoffs.

Jenkins Lady Panthers finished third in District 20-3A, returning to the postseason for the first time since this year’s seniors were freshmen.

On the way, Jenkins built up a .608 winning percentage, and rebuilt the Westwood softball program into something that should continue to contend beyond 2012.

———

Sports editor Justin Rains can be reached via email at jrains@palestineherald.com

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H.S. Softball: Grapeland's Jalla Johnson named Dogwood Circle Player of the Year

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