RSS
|
|
GASTON - The Northampton-West trio of Jerry Squire, Christian Dunlow and Icess Booker received some high praise from their peers in the Tar Roanoke Conference.
At the end of the season coaches' meeting, Squire was named the 2008 Tar Roanoke Conference softball Coach of the Year.
This is the first coach of the year award for Squire, who has been at the helm for 15 years. She led the Lady Hurricanes softball team to a historic 18-3 season and a second-place finish in the Tar Roanoke Conference. NCHS-West also hosted a playoff game for the first time in school history.
Booker was named the top female runner in the conference. The freshman sensation dominated the competition during the regular season and competed for three medals at the NCHSAA 1A Track and Field Championship in Greensboro last month. In her rookie season,
Booker ran the 100-meter dash, the 200 and the 400 and was a key part of the Lady 'Canes relay team.
Dunlow had her coming out season in 2008 for NCHS-West and put the conference on notice that she will be a force to be reckon with in the future.
Just a sophomore, Dunlow was a force on the mound, striking out 119 batters. She was also the team's leading hitter, with a batting average of .724, five home runs and 15 RBIs.
Dunlow, who was also selected as the team MVP, said it was an honor to be recognized by the other coaches in the area.
“It's better to me, feeling- wise, to be (conference) player of the year instead of (team) MVP because I feel like it was the coaches' decision,” she said.
In just her second season, Dunlow proved she is one of the better pitchers in the area and is already the face of the program, but the captain said it's about the team first.
“The way I look at it is you can't play for yourself,” she explained. “Most of my goals were for the team. You can't go out there and not be a team or you are not going to go anywhere.”
Dunlow said her main objective coming into this season was to beat Louisburg High School, something NCHS-West did twice this season.
“She works really hard,” Squire said about Dunlow. “She shows leadership ... sometimes when I'm not doing certain things she makes sure I am on top of my game, too, and that's what I expect from a captain.”
Although the award comes early in her career, Dunlow is not worried about having a target on her back next season.
“As far as what the other teams think, it doesn't really bother me,” Dunlow said. “Softball is my life and I just get out there and play however I want to play and I do my very best no matter what.”
Squire, who was a long- time assistant at the school before taking over the softball program three years ago, was equally honored with her selection.
“It's an honor to be selected by the other coaches,” she said. “I feel grateful they selected me.”
Squire also gave credit to the various coaches she has worked with during her time in Gaston. “Without them I wouldn't be as effective as I am now,” she said. “I learned a lot from other coaches being an assistant. I learned a lot of different styles and it actually paid off.”
The future is bright for the program, as every player returns in 2009, and Squire is excited about the possibilities. “Hopefully we can move up the ladder and win the conference next year.”
Both Squire and Dunlow said it was nice to be a part of the team that put softball on the map in Hurricane country. “The kids get a lot out of the support. Just seeing support around the field helped out a whole lot this year,” Squire said.
Comments