Post softball large schools player of the year: Shelby Turnier, Palm Beach Gardens

Friday, June 08, 2012
by Jeff Greer

The statistics were almost as staggering as the disappointment this spring for Palm Beach Gardens softball, a team that reigned as No. 1 in the nation for most of the regular season.

The Gators lost one regular-season game, outscored opponents 225-17, won the prestigious Kissimmee Klassic and returned to the regional playoffs for the 15th consecutive season.

But even with the laundry list of wow accomplishments, Gardens lost two of its final three games, both to bitter rival Jupiter, ultimately crashing out of the playoffs far earlier than anyone anticipated.

Yet none of that takes away from what ace senior pitcher Shelby Turnier did in her final season in orange and blue. Turnier won 24 games, with 15 shutouts and a 0.74 earned-run average, all area-best numbers. She struck out 190 batters in 180 1/3 innings, and she also kept opponents to one or two runs in seven other games.

Even while her team struggled late in the season, the Central Florida signee posted enough standout performances to win the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 8A player of the year award, and her departure from Gardens' 2013 roster already has the Gators hoping they'll find another star like Turnier.

It won't be easy.

~ jeff_greer@pbpost.com

LARGE SCHOOLS FIRST TEAM

JAMIE GRAY

Park Vista

Sr., C

Steady, versatile fielder and lead-off hitter had 20 stolen bases, 28 runs.

TAYLOR SCHWARZ

PB Gardens

Sr., 1B

Florida signee hit .356 with 14 extra base hits and 26 RBI.

KASANDRA CASTLE

PB Central

Sr., 1B

Led surprise Broncos in average, home runs, doubles, triples and RBI.

PEPPER BUTLER

Boca Raton

Sr., IF

All-around star batted .535, with six homers, 22 RBI and 38 runs.

LIZ SPRING

PB Gardens

Sr., SS

Batted .419 with five home runs, seven doubles and 28 RBI.

ALEXANDRA ORTIZ

Park Vista

Sr., IF

Player of the Year candidate played multiple infield spots; hit .457 with 19 extra base hits.

TIFFANY LOWER

PB Gardens

Fr., 2B

Stalwart youngster batted .475, with 13 stolen bases and 28 RBI.

DEVIN WILLIAMS

Jupiter

Sr., CF

Led Warriors with .413 batting average and 11 extra-base hits.

TA'COIA WILLIAMS

PB Gardens

Jr., CF

Led nationally ranked Gators in home runs, RBI, triples, walks and runs.

KYLEE HANSON

Jupiter

Jr., P

Pitched Jupiter to first state tournament berth, posting 17-5 record with a 0.71 ERA.

AMBER BRAUN

Suncoast

Sr., P

Large-schools batting champ (.657) pitched Suncoast to regional semifinals.

SYDNEY ELKIN

West Boca Raton

Jr., P

Posted 22-3 record with 1.50 ERA and a .313 batting average for regional finalists.

LARGE SCHOOLS SECOND TEAM

C: Virginia Spring, Palm Beach Gardens, Jr.

1B: Kasey McMullen, Jupiter, Fr.

1B: Makenzie Garcia, Park Vista, Sr.

2B: Bri Rano, Jupiter, Jr.

1B/ Stephanie Schmidt, Wellington, Soph.

IF: Valerie Carlson, West Boca Raton

OF: Alyssa Varney, Boca Raton, Fr.

OF: Alex VanWagner, Palm Beach Central, Sr.

P: Gabrielle Decker, Park Vista, Soph.

P: Alana Tabel, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

P: Amanda Blanchard, Palm Beach Central, Soph.

HONORABLE MENTION

BR: Carly Comito, Jennifer Mello; DWY: Kelsey Huff, Mackenzie Huhn; FH: Francheska Irizarry, Angela Vasquez; JIL: Maddy Cebollero, Samantha Hinkle, Jessenia Petri; JUP: Alex Arciola, Lauren Frye, Theresa Samstag, Savannah Stone, Marissa Timoteo; PBC: Marina Carmona, Kristen Garceau, Alexis Pisa, Sara Vazquez; PBG: Sara Diskant, Sydney Jones, Jessie Lopes; PV: Emily Lochten, Bailey McKenna, Taylor Scher; RPB: Bethany Alex, Brianna Alex, Jenna Bellach; SAN: Lindsey Hall, Jamie Yeary; SEM: Taylor Beckman, Audrey Forbes, Ashley Miranda, Shay Stevens; SUN: Amanda Cook, Melissa Haro, Alyssa Swearingen; WBR: Marina Costa, Quinn Dewald, Haley Gonzales, Kelsey Whalen; WEL: Macey Cheatham, Remi Losey, Amanda Peck.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Steve Ahern, Jupiter

Guided Jupiter to its first state tournament appearance in program history.