Vote: Georgia softball 2023 hitter of the year
It was a banner year for Georgia softball with many memorable performances and clutch efforts. Now it is time to determine who is the 2023 Georgia Softball Hitter of the Year.
Below is our analysis of the top 10 contenders and we invite your opinion by asking you to vote on who you believe is most deserving of this honor. We also recognized several Honorable Mention candidates who received strong consideration to be included in our list.
Voting ends Nov. 30th at 11:59 p.m. Please vote and share with your community.
Here are the nominees:
Marian Collins, Mount Paran Christian
Collins has been a stud her whole career at Mount para but this season she really put it all together. She was able to hit for power with 12 home runs, for average with a .642 batting average. She also hit when it counted and with runners in scoring position as she had 60 RBIs. She also had plenty of extra base beyond her home runs, with 14 doubles and five triples.
Jacy Harrelson, Houston County
Harrelson was named the Region 1-6A Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. During this stretch she has been a great leader for Houston County and arguably its best two-way player. Over those three years she has hit 36 home runs and has been the ace in the circle for the Lady Bears.
Audrey Vandagriff, Prince Avenue Christian
Vandagriff put up some insane stats in her senior season. She finished with a .623 average, 71 hits, eight doubles, two triples, 22 home runs, and drove in 59 runs. She was the perfect mix of speed and power, with all that damage she did at the plate she also had 49 stolen bases and she did all this in 40 games. Vandagriff killed it on the high school level and will be playing her college ball at the University of Alabama next year.
Madison Pickens, Buford
Pickens was selected as the 2023 Region 8-7A Offensive Player of the Year. Madison will play for the University of Louisville softball program after graduating from Buford. She hit her 20th home run of the season in the championship game to help secure the victory and with that homer she broke Buford’s single season record.
Mackenzie Pickens, Buford
Mackenzie Pickens became Buford’s single season record holder for career home runs with 33 after a homer on August 16. Over the course of the season, she was dominant at the plate and stretched her record out to 46 home runs over her four year career at Buford. She was pivotal in Buford’s undefeated season and nothing changed in the last game of the year when she hit two home runs to help her team win back-to-back 7A State championships. After a great career at Buford she will be heading to Ole Miss.
Kendall Wells, North Oconee
Wells was a beast for North Oconee in her senior year. She finished the season with a .592 batting average, .773 OBP, 24 home runs, 65 RBIs, 53 intentional walks, and 21 stolen bases. Her spectacular season was key in North Oconee finishing with a 29-8 record and making it to the Final Four. Wells’ talent was noticed heavily by the University of Oklahoma and that’s where she will be playing her ball next season.
Chloe Smith, Villa Rica
Smith had a standout senior season. She had a .533 batting average, .567 OBP, 14 homers, nine doubles, five triples, and 49 RBIs. She was named the Region 5-5A Player of the Year, also 1st team All-Region Pitcher, and 1st team All-Region Infielder.
Taylor Pipkins, North Forsyth
Pipkins is recognized as one of the top 20 players in the country by Extra Innings Softball. She also earned 1st team All Region 8-6A.
Carrie Green, Grayson
The Southern Miss commit went all out for her senior season. She finished with a .639 batting average, .676 OBP, 78 this, 19 doubles, and 64 runs. She finished her career breaking 11 school records and finished this season as the back-to-back Gwinnett County Offensive Player of the Year, Region 4-7A Player of the Year, and had the most hits in Gwinnett County history.
Jordan Bishop, Cartersville
Bishop really helped put her name on the map with her play during her junior season. She had a .561 batting average, .633 OBP, 29 singles, 10 doubles, nine triples, 12 homers, with 46 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. She literally did it all at the plate and on the base paths. She earned Region7-4A Player of the Year honors for her immaculate season.
Honorable Mention:
Shayla Bahr, Wesleyan
Ella Oswalt, Northgate
Amira Johnson, Carrollton
Alyssa Willer, Apalachee
Riley Gardner, Centennial
Cayla Crooks, Jonesboro
Adriana Martinez, Buford
