By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

A pair of sophomore standouts who helped LaGrange High’s softball team enjoy a special season have been honored as first-team members of the all-Region 5-AAAA team.

Camden Smith, a lock-down pitcher who was also a big-time producer at the plate, made the first team, as did shortstop Abby Vanhoose who had the team’s best batting average.

Smith and Vanhoose were joined by six of their teammates who also made the all-region team, while two Troup players earned all-region nods.

LaGrange finished with a 22-9 record, and it placed third in the region before falling to Oconee County in the first round of the state tournament.

Smith and Vanhoose were key reasons why the Lady Grangers were so hard to beat last season.

Smith was the staff ace for a second straight season, and she was outstanding.

Smith was 13-6 with a 2.44 earned run average, and she was on the mound for nearly every big game during the season.

After LaGrange lost the opening game of the Oconee County series, Smith got the complete-game victory in game two, giving up zero earned runs in the 10-2 win.

Smith also got it done at the plate, hitting .381 with two home runs and 14 RBIs.

In a 6-2 home over Cartersville, Smith hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Vanhoose led the team with a .407 batting average, and she had 14 RBIs with 21 runs scored.

Three LaGrange players were second-team selections on the all-region team.

One of those players was senior outfielder Hannah Karcher, who enjoyed a big season at the plate.

Karcher hit .380, and she was tops on the team with 35 hits and 21 runs scored.

Another second-team player was first baseman Jacee Marable, who hit .370 with six doubles and 17 RBIs.

Also making the second team was outfielder Malone Aldridge, who hit .358 with 10 RBIs and a team-best 27 runs scored.

Macee Stone, Destiny Fitzpatrick and Katelynn Mobley were honorable-mention sections.

Stone, a freshman, was a pitcher, and her presence was particularly valuable early in the season while Smith was recovering from an injury.

Stone appeared in 17 games as a pitcher, and she was 8-3 with a 3.80 ERA.

At the plate, Stone hit .356 with six doubles and 18 RBIs.

Fitzpatrick finished her prep career with a productive senior season.

Fitzpatrick, a third baseman, hit .337 with six doubles and 15 RBIs.

Mobley hit .366 with 14 RBIs and a team-leading nine doubles, and she did a terrific job defensively at catcher.

Troup’s representatives on the all-region team were shortstop Kayla Lane and first baseman Skye Loftin.

Lane, who last week signed a letter of intent to join the softball team at the University of Pittsburgh, had a monster senior season.

Lane hit .449 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBIs and 27 runs scored.

Loftin hit .329 while leading the team in doubles (10), RBIs (23) and home runs (four).