Freshman shortstop Taylor Murray was named Most Valuable Player Monday night, during Brookhaven’s fastpitch softball awards banquet, which was held at the Brookhaven Parks & Recreation Department headquarters. Murray batted a team-best .484 and stole 14 bases during the 2013 campaign, which saw BHS advancing to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

“I want to thank you parents for allowing us to work with a wonderful group of girls,” said Ole Brook head coach Chad Walker. “We had a good season.

“We had to replace four starters,” Walker noted. “We had seventh and eighth graders who had to play. Our younger players had to step up.”

Walker’s team was runner-up to McComb in the region race. They beat West Point in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to Lake Cormorant.

Walker, in his ninth season at the helm, said his three seniors: Christen Benson, Shelby Case and Shelby Peavey, would be dearly missed and difficult to replace. “We have been coaching them since the seventh grade.”

The seniors received BHS blankets. All three have signed community college scholarships: Benson with East Central; and Peavey and Case with Meridian.

Peavey was named the team’s Best Offensive Player last night. She batted .356 and stole 10 bases. Case was named Best Defensive Player.

Other special awards went to Benson, Scholastic Award; Alycen Speaks, Most Improved; Katie Grace Culpepper, Panther Award; and Katherine Shell, Hustle Award.

Shell, Peavey, Case and Murray received All-Region honors.

Recognizing his assistant coaches, Walker complimented former BHS standouts Megan Case and Mandy Vinson for their support. “You have a lot of softball experience. That helps me and it helps the team.”

Walker thanked Softball Booster Club president Todd Peavey, vice president Debora Daniels, and secretary-treasurer Lucy Shell for their efforts during the year. He also recognized Matt Shell for his work in the concession stand and David Culpepper for serving as public address announcer.

“We have one of the best softball facilities around,” Walker noted. “We can practice indoors when it’s raining.”

Walker said his team’s 3.5 GPA was the highest in the athletic department. The team recited the blessing of the food prior to the meal. Benson achieved a 3.7 GPA.

David Culpepper briefly addressed the crowd and shared plans to improve the BHS softball facility. “We want to dress it up, plant some hedges along the fence and make it more attractive. We also want to move the outfield fence in; put up a wooden fence.”

Culpepper said the Booster Club would help host a large, summer softball tournament, June 21-23, as a club fundraiser. “Last year we raised over $2,500. We will need your help during that weekend to work the concession stand and take care of the field.”

Walker said his team would return to the South half of the state playoffs after two years in the North. “Our region opponents will be Natchez and Pearl River Central.”