Pitchers of the year Christian, Helton headline 2026 All-Burke County squads

After both Burke County high school baseball and softball teams provided a treat as they enjoyed the longest local playoff runs in those sports in over a decade, The Paper offers a treat with more individual awards this year as part of its 2026 all-county diamond teams.

The Paper brings back its player of the year and pitcher of the year awards and adds a new award this season, with Silver Sluggers also being recognized in both sports as well.

In baseball, Patton senior shortstop Brady Davis is the Burke County player of the year, while senior teammate Cohen Christian earns pitcher of the year honors. The inaugural Silver Slugger award is shared by Patton senior catcher Trevor Throneburg and East Burke junior third baseman Maddox Mosteller.

Meanwhile, state semifinalist Draughn sweeps the All-Burke County softball top honors, with Lady Wildcats senior Avie Helton earning the pitcher of the year award, senior right fielder Ava Aldridge claiming the Silver Slugger award, and junior catcher Lindsey Hensley and junior third baseman Braylen Clontz being named co-players of the year.

The Paper’s all-county first teams include both sets of those four players plus five more selections in each sport for a total of nine. The all-county teams also include 12 honorable mention selections in both sports.

Each of those student-athletes were already also named to the 2026 All-Western Piedmont 3A/4A Conference teams. Hensley is now a three-time all-conference and first-team all-county selection, while Christian, Mosteller, Helton, and Clontz all earn their second consecutive first-team all-county nods.

Davis this spring led all county baseball players in total hits (36), runs (26), and doubles (11), adding one triple, one home run, 10 RBIs, and five stolen bases while hitting for a .360 average and anchoring the team’s defense up the middle. He also pitched 26 innings, striking out 26 batters and earning three wins and one save while posting a 3.23 ERA.

Christian, the WPC pitcher of the year, totaled as many wins from the mound (10) as any other two county pitchers combined and did not lose a decision all year, including a 3-0 postseason record. He also led the way locally with his 88 innings pitched, 108 strikeouts (a PHS single-season record), and 1.43 ERA. He pitched seven complete games in 14 outings, including three shutouts. At the plate, Christian produced 33 total hits for a .398 average, tied for county-best honors with 25 RBIs, and added 12 runs scored and 12 extra-base hits.

Throneburg had 34 hits (second in county) and batted .400, tying Christian with 25 RBIs and adding five homers (second in county), eight doubles (second in county), and 18 runs scored (third in county). Half of Throneburg’s double total for the season came in an extra-inning second-round playoff road win at North Wilkes in which he was the Panther hero.

And Mosteller led all county players with six homers and an on-base plus slugging (OPS) percentage of 1.361. He hit for a .422 average as he tallied 27 hits, also including seven doubles, plus 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored. He also shined from the mound, striking out 57 batters in 45 1/3 innings and tallying five wins with a 2.01 ERA.

On the opposite diamond, Helton was easily the county’s top softball pitcher statistically this spring. She claimed a program-record 20 wins from the circle, striking out 112 batters in 144 2/3 innings with a 1.65 ERA that was more than two runs lower than any other county pitcher (minimum 15 innings). At the plate, Helton added 28 hits (10 for extra bases), 19 RBIs, and 11 runs scored, hitting for a .341 average.

Aldridge, the WPC player of the year, totaled 34 hits (tied for second in county) and 28 runs, also leading all county players with 34 RBIs. She hit for a .391 average, led the county with 20 extra-base hits — including 13 doubles and five triples — and added five stolen bases.

Hensley, who hit the go-ahead homer and later scored the winning run in DHS’ fourth-round home playoff victory, easily led all county players with 42 runs scored and 29 stolen bases. She collected 31 total hits and walked a team-high 19 times, hitting .403 with an on-base percentage of .531. Hensley also finished with three homers, seven doubles, and 16 RBIs.

And the three-time all-county and all-conference selection Clontz led all county softball players both with her 36 total hits and 14 doubles, hitting for a .409 average with 28 runs, 28 RBIs (second in county), two homers, and seven stolen bases.

Now here’s a look at the remainder of the all-county first teams as well as the honorable mention picks in both sports …

Rest of all-county baseball

Laine Barrier, Patton, Sr., OF/P … Tallied 31 hits including six doubles; 23 RBIs, 16 runs, five stolen bases; earned one pitching win; back-to-back all-county selection.

Colt Butcher, East Burke, Jr., P/OF … Struck out 93 batters in 57 2/3 innings with a 2.31 ERA and five wins; added 16 hits at the plate including three doubles with six RBIs and three runs scored; All-WPC selection, back-to-back all-county selection.

Landry Duvall, Patton, So., 3B/P … Pitched 56 1/3 innings with 39 strikeouts, a 3.73 ERA, two wins, two saves, and two shutouts; at the plate, added 22 hits including three doubles, 10 runs, 10 RBIs, five stolen bases.

Kaden Michaels, Freedom, Sr., 1B/P … Batted a team-best .356 on 21 hits (three doubles, one homer) with 11 runs, eight RBIs, and three stolen bases; from the mound, struck out 71 batters in 33 innings with a 2.33 ERA and one win; All-NWC honorable mention, repeat all-county first-team selection.

Jonas Weidner, East Burke, Sr., 2B/SS/P … Team-highs of 28 hits (seven doubles) and nine stolen bases with a .350 batting average with 17 runs and 11 RBIs; from the mound, struck out 40 batters in 28 2/3 innings with two saves and one win; All-WPC selection, back-to-back all-county selection.

Rest of all-county softball

Cydnee Deal, Draughn, Sr., OF … Led team with .423 batting average on 33 hits (two doubles, two homers), adding 27 RBIs (third in county) with 22 runs and five stolen bases; All-WPC selection, back-to-back all-county first-team selection, three-time all-conference selection.

Abigayle Gibson, Freedom, Sr., 3B/OF … Batted .430 on 34 hits (tied for second in county) including six doubles and three homers; 29 runs (team-high), 17 RBIs, six stolen bases; All-NWC selection.

Amanda McLean, East Burke, Jr., C … Hit .404 and led team with 23 hits while tying for county lead with five homers; county-best 1.282 OPS percentage; added 19 RBIs, 13 runs; back-to-back-to-back all-county first-team and all-conference selection.

Maria Medrano, Draughn, Sr., OF … Totaled 32 hits for a .348 average with 34 runs scored (second in county) and four homers (tied for third in county); 20 RBIs, six doubles, 13 stolen bases (second in county); back-to-back all-county first-team selection.

Kaylee Skinner, Freedom, Jr., OF/1B/3B … Tied for county-high honors with five homers, hitting .351 on 20 hits with a team-best 20 RBIs; 1.159 OPS (fourth in county); 19 runs, three doubles, two triples, four stolen bases; back-to-back all-county selection.

Baseball honorable mention

Nolan Ballard, Draughn, Jr., OF/P … Team-high 54 1/3 innings pitched, 40 Ks, 3.48 ERA, one win; 11 hits including six doubles; All-WPC selection, back-to-back all-county selection.

Nathan Fortenberry, East Burke, Sr., C/IF … 17 hits, 11 runs, eight RBIs, six stolen bases.

Zaydrin Hausley, Freedom, Jr., OF … 12 hits (four doubles), eight RBIs, seven runs, seven stolen bases.

Rhett Houston, East Burke, Sr., 3B … 21 hits (three doubles, one triple, one homer) for a .313 average; 14 RBIs, 10 runs.

Puckett Hudson, Freedom, So., C/IF … 16 hits (four doubles, two homers), team-high 13 runs, 11 RBIs, three stolen bases.

Wyatt Hullette, Patton, Sr., 2B … 20 hits, 20 runs, 12 RBIs, back-to-back all-county selection.

Gavin Johnson, Patton, Sr., OF … 20 hits (three doubles), 12 RBIs, eight runs, seven stolen bases.

River McCrary, Patton, Jr., OF … 16 hits (game-winning HR in third round of playoffs), 17 runs, seven stolen bases, five RBIs.

Luke Miller, Freedom, Jr., P/IF … 50 Ks in 40 1/3 innings, two wins, one save, 3.99 ERA; 13 hits, seven runs, seven stolen bases.

Alex Wall, Freedom, Jr., P … Team-bests of 44 1/3 innings, 85 Ks, 1.89 ERA, four saves, and three wins; All-NWC selection.

Colton Ward, East Burke, Sr., OF … 18 hits (two doubles, one triple), nine runs, four stolen bases.

Chase Yambor, Draughn, Jr., SS/P … Team-high 13 hits (three doubles), seven runs, six RBIs, two stolen bases; 42 1/3 IP, 63 Ks, one win, 5.47 ERA; back-to-back all-county selection.

Softball honorable mention

Rhiley Buchanan, Freedom, Sr., C/OF … 24 hits (six doubles, one homer) for a .358 average with 15 RBIs; All-NWC selection, back-to-back all-county selection.

Jolann Buff, Patton, Jr., C … Team-high .407 average, 22 hits (three doubles, one homer), 15 runs, 13 RBIs, five stolen bases; back-to-back all-county selection.

Rumi Campbell, Freedom, Sr., 3B … 22 hits (eight doubles, two homers), 16 RBIs, 15 runs, three stolen bases; back-to-back all-county selection.

Hayden Carlson, Patton, So., OF … Team-high 11 stolen bases, 21 hits (two doubles) for a .350 average, 14 runs, 10 RBIs.

Linda Crawford, East Burke, Sr., OF … 19 hits (two doubles, one triple), .333 average, 13 runs, 10 RBIs.

Hermione Garro, East Burke, Sr., 3B … 19 hits (four doubles), .352 average, 13 runs, three stolen bases.

Lila Hudson, Patton, Fr., UTIL … 16 hits (team-high four homers, three doubles), 14 RBIs, nine runs, four stolen bases.

Madelyn LeMaster, Freedom, So., P … 102 2/3 IP, 116 Ks, nine wins, 6.82 ERA; 22 hits (four doubles, two homers), 15 RBIs.

Alex Maines, Patton, Sr., C/UTIL … 16 hits (five doubles, three homers), 17 runs, nine stolen bases, six RBIs; back-to-back all-county selection.

Ady Moorefield, Patton, So., P/UTIL … Nine hits (double, triple), nine RBIs, six runs, five stolen bases; Team-bests of 5.42 ERA and two wins in 32 IP; back-to-back all-county selection.

Makenzie Powell, Draughn, So., SS/P … 16 hits (four doubles, one triple), 15 runs, seven RBIs, four stolen bases; 25 1/3 IP, win, save, 16 Ks, 3.87 ERA; back-to-back all-county selection.

Bailey Winkler, Draughn, So., 2B … 28 hits (two doubles, one triple), 18 runs, 13 RBIs, .373 average, 10 stolen bases; back-to-back all-county selection.