Cherokee County junior softball pitcher Tori Davis knew she had some big shoes to fill prior to this season. She was replacing an all-state performer in the circle in Lauren Millsaps, who is now at Shorter College.

Davis got to see some action in the circle during the 2011 season, but she knew she had a lot of work ahead of her to become the Lady Warriors’ top pitcher.

That’s where big sister Deidra Davis, herself a former Lady Warrior softball standout, stepped in to help.

“I couldn’t have done it without her,” the younger Davis said. “She does a good job catching me and helping me. If I did something wrong and she noticed it, she would tell me. After practice, I’d just go out there and pitch as long as I felt like I needed to pitch. I really worked on trying to get my spin under. I was trying to get it quicker and trying to build up my speed. I would do long throws, high throws, whatever I felt I needed to work on.

“It was all for my team. I knew we were coming off a strong season (Class 4A state runner-up), and we wanted to have another strong season. I think it’s worked out pretty well.”

Not only did the Lady Warriors have another strong season, but Davis did too.

She led the Lady Warriors (39-6) to their second straight Class 4A state runner-up by compiling a 39-3 record in 255 innings, accumulating 275 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.60 ERA.

As impressive a job as she did in the circle, Davis also did her part at the plate. She batted .496 with 17 doubles, five home runs, a pair of triples, 14 walks, 38 runs and 42 RBIs.

When it came time for the Cherokee County softball coaches to choose their All-County Softball Most Valuable Player, Davis’ numbers helped make their decision an easy one.

She was selected as their MVP for the 2012 season.

“It’s a great honor to be up there with the ones who have come before me,” Davis said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. Softball’s a team sport. We played together as a team, and we won together as a team. They were always there helping me. They always had my back.”

Cherokee County coach Travis Barnes said he admires Davis’ work ethic. He said she was most deserving of the MVP honor.

“She is the best player in the county, and I think the coaches recognize that,” Barnes said. “What I like about her is she’s so humble. She’s not flashy. The thing about her is she’s going to give all the credit to her team. She’s not going to take any credit for herself, but in softball, it all revolves around the pitcher. She may not say that, but she knows it. She worked at it, and I’m extremely proud of her.”

Joining Davis from the Lady Warriors are four other selections on the All-County team: senior shortstop Candace Blanchard, junior second baseman Darbie Rosser, sophomore first baseman Molly Brewer and sophomore catcher Madison Millsaps.

Blanchard batted .360 with 16 doubles, four home runs, a triple, 29 runs and 44 RBIs. Rosser batted .413 with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 20 walks, 32 runs and 45 RBIs. Brewer batted .380 with eight doubles, 26 walks, 32 runs and 18 RBIs. Millsaps batted .551 with 20 doubles, seven home runs, a triple, 18 walks, 38 runs and 42 RBIs.

Spring Garden (23-14) has four representatives on the All-County team: senior outfielders Jordan Sides and Elizabeth Spoon, junior shortstop Heather Smart and junior pitcher Hayden Bates.

Sides batted .500 with eight doubles, two triples, 23 walks, 60 runs and 29 RBIs. Spoon batted .339 with four triples, four doubles, nine walks, 22 runs and 45 RBIs. Smart batted .583 with 13 doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 15 walks, 46 runs and 39 RBIs. Bates compiled a 19-13 record with a save and a 2.60 ERA in the circle. She struck out 161 batters and gave up 65 earned runs in 175.2 innings.

Sand Rock (28-13) has three representatives in senior first baseman/pitcher Kristin Ray, junior catcher Kelsey Hayes and eighth-grade pitcher/third baseman McKenna Morgan.

Ray batted .362 with six doubles, 12 walks, 14 runs and 16 RBIs. As a pitcher, she compiled a 7-5 record with five saves in 102.2 innings. She gave up 61 runs (47 earned) on 107 hits with 13 walks and 47 strikeouts and a 3.20 ERA.

Hayes batted .278 with six doubles, 12 walks and 10 RBIs.

Morgan compiled a 19-8 record with a save in 131.1 innings. She gave up 81 runs (68 earned) on 115 hits with 48 walks, 88 strikeouts and a 3.62 ERA. At the plate, Morgan batted .468 with 17 doubles, three home runs, eight walks, nine runs and 33 RBIs.

Cedar Bluff (15-17) has a pair of selections in senior outfielder Suzie Quarles and sophomore shortstop Katie McGinnis.

Quarles batted .424 with 14 doubles, a triple and a home run. She also stole 20 bases, had 16 walks, scored 33 runs and had 26 RBIs. McGinnis batted .436 with 11 doubles and three triples. She also stole 24 bases and had 10 walks.

Gaylesville (9-13) also has a pair of selections in senior pitcher Katlin Hammett and sophomore catcher Taylor Tomlin.

Hammett went 9-13 in the circle with 107 strikeouts. At the plate, she batted .471 with eight doubles, two triples, 10 stolen bases, six walks, 20 runs and 16 RBIs.

Tomlin batted .303 with five doubles, a triple, 13 stolen bases, nine walks, 15 runs and eight RBIs.