State Signees Secure Major Awards, Troutman And Ernstes Selected To National All-Star Games
June 07, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball's top-15 signing class has added multiple accolades to its resume this month as players conclude their high school and travel ball careers before heading to Starkville.
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Most notably, outfielder Taylor Troutman (Henderson, Ky.) has been chosen to play in the PGF High School All-American Game, and catcher Paige Ernstes (New Palestine, Ind.) was selected for The Alliance All-Star Game in July. All eight of State's true-freshman signees were named to The Alliance All-Star Game Watch List earlier this year, and Sara Phillips and Morgan Stiles joined Troutman on the PGF Watch List.
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The Alliance All-Star Game will be played in Ernstes' home state of Indiana on July 21. The PGF High School All-American Game will be played on July 27 and air live on ESPNU. The Alliance All-Star Game enters its fourth year, and the PGF All-American Game has been contested every year since 2016.
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Josey Marron (2022) and Jessie Blaine (2021) have previously played in The Alliance All-Star Game, and Lexi Sosa played in 2019's PGF All-American Game. Former Bulldogs Mia Davidson-Smith (2017) and Alyssa Loza (2016) also played in the PGF All-American Game. Troutman previously played in the PGF All-American Futures Game in 2022.
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Along with the national awards, Phillips and Stiles have both earned Alabama state awards. Phillips was tabbed the 7A Pitcher of the Year and MaxPreps Player of the Year in Alabama after leading Hewitt-Trussville High School to its third state championship in the last four years. She struck out 50 batters in 32.0 postseason innings and allowed just one earned run. Her 9.0 shutout innings in the state championship game lifted Hewitt-Trussville to a 1-0 victory.
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Stiles, meanwhile, was named Alabama's 6A Player of the Year average turning in a .516 batting average and 1.808 OPS. She drove in 65 runs with 40 of her 63 hits going for extra bases. She led Athens High School to its second state title in the last three years.
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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Most notably, outfielder Taylor Troutman (Henderson, Ky.) has been chosen to play in the PGF High School All-American Game, and catcher Paige Ernstes (New Palestine, Ind.) was selected for The Alliance All-Star Game in July. All eight of State's true-freshman signees were named to The Alliance All-Star Game Watch List earlier this year, and Sara Phillips and Morgan Stiles joined Troutman on the PGF Watch List.
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The Alliance All-Star Game will be played in Ernstes' home state of Indiana on July 21. The PGF High School All-American Game will be played on July 27 and air live on ESPNU. The Alliance All-Star Game enters its fourth year, and the PGF All-American Game has been contested every year since 2016.
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Josey Marron (2022) and Jessie Blaine (2021) have previously played in The Alliance All-Star Game, and Lexi Sosa played in 2019's PGF All-American Game. Former Bulldogs Mia Davidson-Smith (2017) and Alyssa Loza (2016) also played in the PGF All-American Game. Troutman previously played in the PGF All-American Futures Game in 2022.
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Along with the national awards, Phillips and Stiles have both earned Alabama state awards. Phillips was tabbed the 7A Pitcher of the Year and MaxPreps Player of the Year in Alabama after leading Hewitt-Trussville High School to its third state championship in the last four years. She struck out 50 batters in 32.0 postseason innings and allowed just one earned run. Her 9.0 shutout innings in the state championship game lifted Hewitt-Trussville to a 1-0 victory.
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Stiles, meanwhile, was named Alabama's 6A Player of the Year average turning in a .516 batting average and 1.808 OPS. She drove in 65 runs with 40 of her 63 hits going for extra bases. She led Athens High School to its second state title in the last three years.
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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