Payson Roundup

Dennis Fendler/Roundup

Senior Skye McNeeley was the only Payson player to be named to the All-East first team.

Dennis Fendler/Roundup

Rylee Halenar was a steady infielder who also shined at the plate for the Lady Horns. Her performance this season earned her a spot on the All-East second team, along with Payson’s pitcher Mary Hagen.

Skye McNeeley was the lone Lady Longhorn player to be selected to an All-East first team dominated by region and 3A state champion Blue Ridge.

Payson did have Rylee Halenar and Mary Hagen tapped second team and Chrissy Heron and Cydney Figueroa awarded honorable mention plaudits.

Blue Ridge had five players on first team, three on second team and one honorable mention.

Also, BR coach Chris Fraze was selected Coach of the Year and the Yellow Jackets’ Lacee Cannon named Player of the Year.

Cannon was also a member of the all-tournament team at the Gracie Haught Classic played in March at Rumsey Park.

The season’s highlight for McNeeley, a senior first baseman, might have been the dramatic game-winning grand slam home run she hit during the Classic.

The round-trip ticket earned the Horns a victory over Prescott Bradshaw Mountain, and McNeeley a spot on the all-tournament team.

Hagen was the Lady Horns’ mound ace all season long, and Halenar a steady infielder who also shined at the plate.

The selection of the five players for all-region honors might have eased the sting of the team not receiving a berth into the 3A state tournament, even though the Lady Horns were among the top 16 teams in power points.

The final state berth went to Holbrook on a highly controversial selection process that left coach Will Dunman outraged.