State championship produces All-State prizes for Pineville softball
By BRET MCCORMICK, Written for the LSWA
Pineville High’s Allison Frye brought the first state softball championship home to her alma mater in almost three decades.
Frye, who was a three-time All-State infielder for Pineville from 2003-06, guided the Lady Rebels (29-9) to their first championship since 1998. They steamrolled their way to the Division I Select title, run-ruling all four of their playoff opponents, outscoring four playoff foes 52-5, and posting at least 12 runs in each game.
That resulted in three Pineville standouts earning first-team All-State status, and three more getting honorable mention on the Class 5A All-State Softball Team announced Wednesday.
Frye was an obvious pick as Coach of the Year as chosen by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Pineville’s first-team All-State trio was all juniors – pitcher Chelsie Simpson, who won all but three of the Lady Rebels’ games to post a 26-9 record ; infielder Briley Byrnes, a .642 hitter, and outfielder Jadin Basco, who batted .444.
Honorable mention recognition went to Lady Rebels Berkley Byrnes, Annaliese Holmes and Ava Moore.
It’s the first state Coach of the Year honor for Frye, who previously led Holy Savior Menard to the Class 2A title in 2015. She came home to Pineville in 2018.
No Rapides Parish baseball players made the 5A first-team All-State roster, but five received honorable mention – four from Alexandria Senior High along with Pineville’s Austyn Taylor.
The Trojans honored were Clayton Doyal, Trent Hennesey, Bryson Phoenix and Jaxson Ross. They led ASH to a Select Division I state quarterfinal appearance.
Class 5A All-State Softball Roster
Position – Player, School, Class, Stat
P – London Lambert, Hahnville, Fr., 22-8
P – Bayleigh Moniz, Benton, So., 16-15
P – Paige Reuther, Mount Carmel, Jr., 16-3
P – Chelsie Simpson, Pineville, Jr., 26-9
C- Layla Landry, Sam Houston, Jr., .580
INF – Briley Byrnes, Pineville, Jr., .642
INF – Gabby Fabacher, John Curtis, Jr., .514
INF – Aubrey Portie, Sam Houston, Sr., .500
INF – Ava West, West Monroe, Jr., .463
OF – Jadin Basco, Pineville, Jr., .444
OF – Molly Latham, Live Oak, Sr., .504
OF – Maggie Massia, Natchitoches Central, Jr., .508
UT – Kelsie Schmidt, Archbishop Chapell, Sr., .440
UT – Aubrey Stoehr, Ruston, So., .494
UT – Cayden Tullier, East Ascension, Sr., .417
UT – Harley Usry, Walker, So., .520
UT – Evie West, West Monroe, So., .505
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Evie West, West Monroe
COACH OF THE YEAR: Allison Frye, Pineville
HONORABLE MENTION (local players)
Berkley Byrnes, Pineville; Annaliese Holmes, Pineville; Ava Moore, Pineville.