By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence seniors Ava Ratliff, Kendall Graves and Tori Nikirk were named to the Hoosier Hills Conference’s First Team by the league coaches.
Ratliff, a four-time HHC honoree and four-time All-State selection as a catcher, was the most feared power hitter in the state. This season she hit .495 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs. She finished as the state leader in career home runs (69) and second in state history with 179 career RBIs. She will play at Auburn.
Graves starred at shortstop for the Stars, hitting a career-best .515 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs, and she joined an elite program list with 50-plus hits in a season. She will continue her career at Butler.
Nikirk hit .420, with 5 home runs, while recording team highs of 42 runs scored and 18 stolen bases as a center fielder and leadoff hitter.
The rest of the First Team included Floyd Central’s Addy Ware, Elise Coleman, Emmy Miller, Adeline Shultz and Breleigh Lockhart; Jennings County’s Macy Ward and Claire Hack; Seymour’s Taylor Stuckwisch and Abby Followell; Columbus East’s Baleigh Fish; New Albany’s Candace Meyer; and Jeffersonville’s Ally Young.
Floyd Central was the league champion, and FC’s Sean Payne was the Coach of the Year.
BNL’s Macee Nicholson was named Honorable Mention. She went 11-6 in the circle with a 3.72 ERA, and she hit .354.
