Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Softball coaches would probably call them The Fab Four.
Four area girls were named to the Ohio High School Softball Coaches Association’s All-Ohio teams.
Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ senior first baseman Aley Carmon, Coal Grove Lady Hornets’ pitcher Kasey Murphy and Rock Hill Redwomen senior pitcher Jill Hairston were all honored in Division III while Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ junior outfielder Taylor Webb earned second team honors in Division IV.
Carmon capped off a stellar career by being named to the All-Ohio first team.
The four-year starter hit a lofty .468 for the season that included 13 doubles, three triples, a home run and 36 runs batted in. She walked nine times and did not strike out.
Murphy was a second team selection as a pitcher but also had some impressive offensive numbers.
On the season, Murphy posted a 17-8 record in 26 games. She logged 162 innings pitched and had a 2.81 earned run average as she allowed 150 runs but only 65 were earned.
Murphy struck out 152 batters while walking 59. She gave up 168 hits.
On the offensive end, Murphy had a .557 batting average with 54 hits in 97 at-bats.
She hit eight home runs, 20 doubles and drove in 45 runs. She scored 45 runs and struck out just twice. He slugging percentage was 1.031.
Hairston made her career mark as a pitcher with an impressive career and was an honorable mention selection.
During her senior season, Hairston posted a 13-9 record with a microscopic 1.83 earned run average.
She struck out 112 batters in 149.1 innings and walked just 18 while allowing 147 hits and 78 runs — only 39 that were earned. Opposing teams had just a .241 on-base percentage.
Besides her pitching, Hairston batted .308 and she had a .938 fielding percentage.
Webb enjoyed an outstanding season that earned her a spot on the All-Ohio second team.
Webb batted .636 in 22 games as she had 49 hits in 77 at-bats. She had eight home runs, 12 doubles, four triples and 43 runs batted in.
Webb had a 1.208 slugging percentage and struck out only once the entire season.
Besides being All-Ohio, Webb was named the Southern Ohio Conference Division I Player of the Year.