WHC all-conference: Scruggs named pitcher of the year, Wilson coach of the year

Polk County sophomore Ashley Scruggs has been named the Western Highlands Conference pitcher of the year and head coach Jeff Wilson the WHC softball coach of the year as the league announced its spring all-conference awards.

Scruggs finished 21-4 this season in leading the Wolverines to the WHC regular-season conference title. She now has 41 wins in two seasons as the Wolverines’ starting pitcher.

In addition to Scruggs, Polk County placed six players on the all-conference softball team: Kassidy Reynolds, Ashley Kropp, Maranda Gosnell, Hayley Kropp, Autumn Owen and Haley Fowler.

Madison’s Baylea Loven was named the conference player of the year.

Polk County also placed six players on the all-WHC girls soccer squad, those being Kara Overholt, Caroline Lee, Sarah Phipps, Samantha Firby, Ashley Love and Rhian Alley.

Though finishing as conference champions, Polk County was shut out of the league’s individual awards, with Madison’s Matt Schneider named coach of the year, Madison’s Ellissa Hurley named player of the year and Madison’s Izzy Patterson named goalkeeper of the year.

Three Wolverines earned all-conference baseball honors, those being Mark Mazzilli, Tyler Campbell and Konner Scruggs. Hendersonville’s Justin Sparks was named the league’s player of the year, with Bearcats head coach Mark Cook earning coach of the year honors. Mitchell’s Justin Greene was named pitcher of the year.

Owen’s Jager Gardner was named the league’s male athlete of the year, with Avery’s Kylie Polsgrove named the female athlete of the year.

Polk County’s Alan Peoples had earlier been named the league’s male track and field coach of the year.

WHC ALL-CONFERENCE
General
Male athlete of the year: Jager Gardner, Owen
Female athlete of the year: Kylie Polsgrove, Avery
Male scholar athlete of the year: Zach Boone, Mitchell
Female scholar athlete of the year: Baylea Loven, Madison

Baseball
Avery: Wade Smith, Kyle Hoffman
Hendersonville: Jesse Gossett, Bradley Schmidt, Austin Redden, Michael Schmidt, Noah Linhart
Madison: Trenton Davis, Jon Heys
Mitchell: Ryan McKinney, Justin Burleson, Luke Tipton, Jamison Burleson
Mountain Heritage: Gray McCurry, Ethan Ray, Colton Garland
Owen: Kobe Bartlett, Brian Bartlett, Brady Parker
Polk County: Tyler Campbell, Mark Mazzilli, Konner Scruggs
Player of the year: Justin Sparks, Hendersonville
Coach of the year: Mark Cook, Hendersonville
Pitcher of the year: Justin Greene, Mitchell

Softball
Avery: Libby Phillips, Emily Brown
Hendersonville: Brittany Williams
Madison: Hannah Anders, Hannah Jennings, Alexis Ammons, Brooke Vilcinskas, Samantha Gosnell
Mitchell: Kennedy Atwood
Mountain Heritage: Summer Wilson, Destiny Whitt, Montana Bailey
Owen: Ashley Valecia, Caitlyn Ledford, Jaiden Tweed, Natalie Stewart
Polk County: Kassidy Reynolds, Haley Fowler, Ashley Kropp, Hayley Kropp, Autumn Owen, Maranda Gosnell
Player of the year: Baylea Loven, Madison
Coach of the year: Jeff Wilson, Polk County
Pitcher of the year: Ashley Scruggs, Polk County

Girls Soccer
Avery: Devyn Plyer, Lindsay Wiseman, Oillieanne Raney
Hendersonville: Tamia Smith, Kelsie Wallace, Alison Hafner, Breanna Kirk, Julia Michels
Madison: Hannah Sawyer, Amy Appollo, Bailey Thibadeau, Indigo Hollister
Mitchell: Abby McElrath, Whitney Ledford
Mountain Heritage: Elizebeth Hilbert
Owen: Tre Salters, Amber Moss, Liliana Gregg
Polk County: Kara Overholt, Caroline Lee, Sarah Phipps, Samantha Firby, Rhian Alley, Ashley Love
Player of the year: Ellissa Hurley, Madison
Coach of the year: Matt Schneider, Madison
Goalkeeper of the year: Izzy Patterson, Madison

Track and Field
Female runner of the year: Kylie Polsgrove, Avery
Male runner of the year: Zach Boone, Mitchell
Female field athlete of the year: Amy Yarborough, Hendersonville
Male field athlete of the year: Dexter Andrews, Owen
Male coach of the year: Alan Peoples, Polk County
Female coach of the year: Pam Bolton, Hendersonville

Golf
Player of the year: Jacob Waldroop, Avery
Coach of the year: Phil Leaman, Avery

Tennis
Player of the year: Jon Sherrill, Hendersonville
Coach of the year: Jacob Fuqua, Hendersonville