OAKLEAF – When Oakleaf High junior pitcher Kelsey Sweatt put a slow-moving changeup into her repertoire of pitches, the outcome was demonstrably lethal as enemy batters not only had to charge their brains for speed, but now have to stand silly swinging seconds before the changeup reached the plate for embarrassing results.

In the end, Sweatt finished 2016 at 15-3 with an earned runs average below one run per game and an astounding 208 strikeouts against some the top hitters in Florida. For her efforts, Sweatt has been named the Clay Today All County Softball Player of the Year.

Oakleaf High, with a mid-season number one ranking in the USA by Maxpreps, finished out as a region finalist with a sterling regular season record including a dominating district 2-8A championship, loaded up the Clay Today All County first team as expected with plenty of college-bound athletes while Clay High similarly had an outstanding regular season with a district 4-6A title over Ponte Vedra High.

For Oakleaf, the batting lineup of doom including Clay Today All County first teamers Alex Acevedo, Mika Garcia, the 2015 Clay Today Player of the Year, Baylee Goddard and Rebecca Koskey who filled their on-field positions as precisely as their batter’s box presence. Acevedo was a hard-charging second baseman with fearless abandoned running the bases with Garcia lending the big bat in run-scoring situation with both possession speed on the basepaths that only hurried enemy infielders throws.

“Alex was arguably my best all around player with Garcia the best shortstop in the county hands down,” said Oakleaf coach Christina Thompson. “Goddard was selected to be a Sports Illustrated feature for high school athletes.”

Goddard became the feared basher with her area leading six homers while Koskey became a weapon to clear the bases with her timely run-scoring hits.

At the first base position, Clay High’s Allison Byrd maintained her big glove prowess on the field despite her physical size and became a strong defensive

presence on the Blue Devil defense.

Completing the infield defenses, Clay High catcher Raelye Rouw was a wall behind the plate (cliche) with numerous tough stops of baserunners heading her way.

“Raelye sets the tone for our offense,” said Clay coach Matt Lewis. “Voted the number catcher in northeast Florida, she was one of the best leaders I have ever coached.”

Clay pitcher Ashley Stokes had some ups and downs but her imposing assaults from the mound were intimidating enough for most batters until she got into the batter’s box where her big bat smashed three homers for the year with 30 runs batted in.

“Ashley can dominate a game from the mound or at the plate,” said Lewis. “As probably the second best pitcher in the county, she adds a dimension by also being one of the best hitters for power and average.”

In the outfield, Oakleaf again dominated the first team selections with three whippet-fast fielders; Destiny Pacetti, Tracey Ferguson and Koskey manning the grassy fields.

Both Pacetti and Ferguson were able to track down nearly all long fly balls with relative ease of speed while Koskey was a blue-collar employee with smarts beyond her underclass years.

“The combination of Destiny and Tracey is the best centerfield and left field combo around,” said Thompson. “Rebecca became our best clutch hitter.”

On the second team roster, more of the Clay County area players were able to crack the lineup with Orange Park pitcher Maddie Irwin one of the strongest pitchers in an area chock full of flamethrowers. Keystone Heights had season success with Ashleigh Jennings leading the area with 35 stolen bases while teammate Bre Wells, at first base, held a .970 field percentage ration with just four errors in 166 putouts. Clay High’s infield duo of shortstop Meagan Stone and second baseman Katlyn Morgan were dynamic with seven double plays coming from their gloves with Morgan one of the top baserunners on base as coach Matt Lewis let the speed work to his favor.

“Katlyn is one of the guttiest kids who found ways to win for us,” said Lewis. “She played through the regions with a torn hamstring and was our backbone on defense.”

At catcher, Oakleaf High’s Haley Willis orchestrated much of Sweatt’s attack plan while Fleming Island third baseman Morgan Grimm kept a young Golden Eagle team in check and nearly peaking favorably at season’s end.

In the outfield, Clay High’s Charlotte DeNapoli was a fast tracker of outfield flyballs as well as an more than able relief pitcher when Stokes needed a break. Orange Park’s Carrington Robinson was fast to the ball for coach Lee Taylor’s Lady Raiders.

Player of Year: Kelsey Sweatt (South Carolina-Upstate, 208Ks, 15-3, .870 ERA)

First Team

Catcher: Raelye Rouw CHS (Santa Fe State College, 20 stolen bases, .405BA, 16 RBIs)

Pitcher: Ashley Stokes CHS (St. Josephs, 147Ks, .463BA, 30RBIs, 3HRs)

First Base: Allison Byrd CHS (168 outs in 193 touches, 2 double plays)

Second Base: Alex Acevedo (Dartmouth, .420BA, 16RBIs)

Shortstop: Mika Garcia (West Florida, 23RBIs, .380BA)

Third base: Baylee Goddard (Florida, 6 HRs, .444BA, 32RBIs)

Outfield: Destiny Pacetti (14 SB, .439 BA)

Outfield: Tracey Ferguson OHS (Pensacola State, .361BA, 14 RBIs)

Outfield: Rebecca Koskey (3 HRs, 25 RBIs)

Second team

Catcher: Haley Willis #21 OHS (Pensacola State, .365BA, 22RBIs)

Pitcher: Maddie Irwin #3 OPHS

First base: Bre Wells KHHS (166 putouts, 97% fielding percentage, just 4 Errors)

Second base: Katlyn Morgan #4 CHS (35 singles, 21 doubles, 11 triples, .461B, 13 steals, 5 double plays)

Shortstop: Meagan Stone #3 CHS (St. Johns River State College, 22RBIs, .463BA, 13 stolen bases, 3 double plays)

Third base: Morgan Grimm #8 FIHS (92% field percentage, 26 assists, .386BA, 1 HR, 8 doubles)

Outfield: Ashleigh Jennings KHHS (35 stolen bases, 12RBIs, 31 runs, .346 BA)

Outfield: Charlotte DeNapoli CHS (21Ks in 30 innings of relief

Outfield: Carrington Robinson #2 OPHS

Honorable Mention:

FIHS: Jordan Hunt (C) (3 Double plays, 2 HR, 4 doubles, 3 triples), Tiffany Steczo (SS) (23RBIs), Sammy Dill (CF)(.377BA, 98% field percentage, just one error)

RHS: Kelsey Solomon, Cheyenne Vincent, Kirsten Sutherland, Rebecca Medrano

MHS: Alyssa Rosenbaum (20 RBIs, 1 HR), Emily Bach (.429BA), Haleigh Wright (18RBIs), Hunter Padgett (20 runs)

OHS: Madison Mifsud (19RBIs), Rebecca Marks, Madisyn Davis (8-0 pitcher, 52Ks)

CHS: Hailey Stone, Kaitlyn Kumpf, Sydney Lewis (14SACs, 12RBIs)

OPHS: Makayla Adam, Ramsy Phillips, Addyson Mauldin

SJCDS: Maddie Wilkes (C) (.523BA, 24 RBIs, 2 Hrs), Brianna Enter (P) 224K

KHHS: Kaitlyn Cline (16RBIs), Bailey Story (32 Hits, .376BA), Savannah Channel (17RBIs, 2 HR)