Leigha Kirby named Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the Year

Leigha Kirby has been named the Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the Year and eight other Lady Indians joined her on the All-Pandhandle Conference team.

Kirby, a freshman from Pisgah, Alabama, was 6-1 in conference with a 1.24 ERA and struck out 30 while only allowing 5 walks. Kirby was undefeated in the the month of April (4-0) which helped propel the Lady Indians to a share of the Panhandle Conference championship. She had a career high, six strikeouts, in an 8-3 win over Tallahassee Community College on April 22.

Joining Kirby on the All-Panhandle Conference First Team were Marley Sims, Sierra Jayvak, and Zayla McBurrows. Ava Worthy, Madisyn Riggins and Kinzie Nelson were named to the second team.

Freshman shortstop, Marley Sims, led the Lady Indians with a .469 batting average and .514 on base percentage. Sims was 4-4 in the first game of a doubleheader on April 20 against Gulf Coast State College. Her fourth hit of the game was the game winner as she singled to score Natalie Kopicova in the bottom of the seventh to give the Lady Indians a 7-6 walk-off win.

Sierra Jevyak, a freshman infielder from Tallhassee, led the Lady Indians in multiple categories: hits (39); doubles (12); RBI (42); and slugging percentage (.569). Jeyvak batted .358 on the season and had three home runs. She hit safely in 26 of the 34 games in which she played including 10 of the last 12 games of the season.

Freshman pitcher, Zayla McBurrows, was a dual threat for the Lady Indians this season at the plate and in the circle. McBurrows batted .294 and had two home runs on the season. She and Kirby were a formidable pair in the circle for the Lady Indians. McBurrows was 10-5 on the season, including 8-3 in Panhandle Conference play. McBurrows averaged 7.5 strikeouts per seven innings but in the month of April, when the Lady Indians were making a push for the conference title, she upped that average to 9.28, going 6-1 in her last eight appearances.

Bay Minette, Alabama native, Ava Worthy was named to the Second Team for her play in centerfield for the Lady Indians. Worthy batted .393 this season and led the team in walks with 20. 

Madisyn Riggins, rightfielder from St. Mary's Georgia, batted .333 and had three home runs to earn her Second Team honors. 

Also named to the Second Team was freshman catcher, Kinzie Nelson. Nelson led the team in home runs with four and batted .359 on the season.

Shakara Goodloe, Karlee Back, and Gabby Bess received Honorable Mention recognition on the All-Panhandle Conference lists. Goodloe led the Lady Indians with 31 stolen bases and Back led the team in runs scored with 33. Marianna native, Gabby Bess was State Player of the Week back in January and finished the regular season with a .327 batting average.

The Lady Indians will play in the FCSAA State Tournament this weekend for a chance to move on to the NJCAA National Tournament. Chipola's first game will be Friday, May 7, at noon against College of Central Florida. The state tournament is being held at Boombah Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Florida.