Original article by Bob Putnam, Tampa Bay Times
SS Brooke Blankenship, So., Academy at the Lakes: The FSU commit had a .467 average with homers and 20 RBIs for the Wildcats last season. In the Class 2A state championship game, Blankenship came up with several acrobatic plays in the field and scored the winning run for AATL’s first title.
P Lexi Kilfoyl, Sr., Academy at the Lakes: The Alabama signee was the most decorated player in the state last season. The ace had a 23-1 record with a 0.23 ERA and 249 strikeouts in 154 innings pitched in leading the Wildcats to their first Class 2A state title. At the plate, she hit a team-leading .482 with five home runs and 35 RBIs. Those numbers helped her earn all kinds of postseason honors. She was named the Tampa Bay Times’ North Suncoast player of the year, as well as the Florida Dairy Farmers and Gatorade state player of the year. In January, Kilfoyl was selected for the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team.