Stellar season continues to pay off for 'Cats hitter
by Staff Report
Dec 06, 2010 | 899 views | 0 0 comments | 10 10 recommendations | email to a friend | print
The accolades and awards continue to pile up for Woodland High senior Diana Wimpy, who made it onto the first team for the Class AAAA All-State softball team.

Lady Wildcats coach Colman Roberts said he was not surprised to hear of the selection.

"She had a great year, and she's had good years the whole time she's been at Woodland," Roberts said. "She's receiving the honors now and the hard work and everything is showing up now."

Wimpy, who played in all 35 of Woodland's games, had a batting average of .577, an on-base percentage of .635 and a slugging percentage of 1.186 and hit 12 home runs, which led all other members of the all-state first team.

Her 49 RBIs trailed only Madison County's second baseman/catcher Olivia Duncan, who totaled 54 RBIs on the year.

Wimpy's season numbers clearly stack up well with some of the state's best, and her career numbers are not that far off, either.

This season, the Lady Wildcat catcher -- who also spent a few games at shortstop -- became her school's all-time home run leader and also sits tied for third all-time in the state with 19 career home runs.

Apart from home runs, Wimpy has climbed the ladder -- she is in the top three in many categories, her coach said -- in regard to other Woodland records as well.

"A lot of our kids really got into the top five of all the offensive categories," Roberts said. "(Wimpy) definitely changed the stats, and the kids coming up have got some numbers to shoot for."

Yet to sign with a college, Wimpy's pop at the high school level will translate to college, the ninth-year Lady Wildcats coach said.

"She's got a lot of possibilities and opportunities coming up," Roberts said. "Whoever she signs with is definitely going to get a good, good player."

Joining Wimpy on the all-state first team, along with Duncan, were: Greenbrier outfielder Liz Kelligan; Heritage-Conyers catcher/second baseman Callie Alford; Jones County pitcher/first baseman Kristin Carr; Jones County outfielder Kendal Robinson; Jones County shortstop/catcher Mikayla Sparks; Kell catcher/designated hitter Kelsey Mericka; Madison County outfielder Samantha LaZear; Madison County outfielder Haley Peeples; Northgate first baseman/third baseman Andie Martin; Northside-Warner Robins pitcher/third baseman Brooke Red; South Effingham shortstop/catcher Alexis Mercer; Union Grove pitcher/first baseman Megan Betsa; and Whitewater third baseman/catcher Kaitlyn Johnson.

Not making it onto either of the all-state teams -- first or second -- with Wimpy, or even as an honorable mention, was Woodland senior pitcher Emily Clay.

"I was kind of disappointed that Emily Clay didn't even make honorable mention," Roberts admitted.