TERRE HAUTE — Leadership on the diamonds proved to be the determining factor as the Tribune-Star selected its Athletes of the Year for high school spring sports.

A.J. Boyll emerged from a pack of contenders in baseball by helping his North Central Thunderbirds get within a game of Victory Field and Class A championship play.

Haley Chambers went even further with her Riverton Parke softball team, and her distinction over two other worthy candidates for the same award was being the one of the three who was able to get the last out from the pitching circle in the state championship game.

Boyll now takes his considerable talents to a budding small-college power, the University of South Carolina-Beaufort. Chambers, having just completed her sophomore year at Riverton Parke, would like nothing better at this point than to see the softball complex at Ben Davis High School one or two more times.

Which could mean that the smile of coach Joe Cox of the Panthers might be slightly wider right now than that of Darin Simpson of the T-Birds.

“Where do I start?” Cox asked rhetorically last week when asked again about the talents of his young lefthander. “[Chambers is] just an outstanding athlete. She’s excellent on the basepaths [leading the Wabash Valley in stolen bases], she’s an excellent hitter [.481 batting average heading into the state-championship game] and of course she’s an excellent pitcher [21-1 final record, earned run average well below 1.00]. That puts her in an elite class for the state of Indiana.”

When Chambers’ teammates gave her a run in the top of the first inning of the final game against Indianapolis Lutheran last week, Cox felt confident. What happened in the bottom of that inning was the evidence of why he felt that way.

After the Panthers got their 1-0 lead — against a team that had beaten them by that score in an extra-inning game a year earlier — their advantage was immediately in jeopardy. But with runners at second and third and one out in the bottom of the first, Chambers struck out the Saints’ cleanup and No. 5 hitters and was on her way to a 1-0 win of her own.

“When the chips are up against her, she seems to step up even more,” Cox said, “and she proved that in the first inning.

“She has that knack, that attitude of ‘They’re not going to hit me.’ ”

The early lead, therefore, was as comforting to the coach as it was to his team.

“It’s just one run, so [the game] is never totally under control,” Cox said, “but with Haley, you feel a little better … and after that first inning, I felt we had it under control.”

Boyll also has a stat line that any player would enjoy, Simpson noted. The North Central shortstop batted .549, had an on-base percentage of .641 and a slugging percentage of .915, scored 43 runs and drove in 25 with seven homers among his 15 extra-base hits in just 26 games, walked 18 times with only six strikeouts, and stole 39 bases in 41 attempts.

The stats aren’t even the best part, the coach added.

“He has all the athletic tools he needs,” Simpson said. “But he also has the smarts, and that helps him take advantage of his tools.”

A four-year starter at North Central who played several positions as a freshman before settling in at shortstop the last three years, Boyll was the natural choice to lead an extremely young team this spring.

There was just one problem: a lot of the younger North Central players were awestruck in his presence.

“[Boyll] would try to light a fire any way he could at the beginning [of the season],” Simpson recalled, “but that didn’t seem to work. After awhile we tried a more laid-back approach, and then [the younger players] did respond.”

Did they ever. After finishing the regular season with a record barely above .500, the Thunderbirds roared through sectional and regional play to finish among the final four teams in Class A. Once they realized that all Boyll wanted was for them to succeed, his teammates seemed to take their play to a new level.

“It was great playing with the younger guys,” Boyll said. “We started off a little slow, but when it came down to win or go home, we had a lot of fighters … our expectations [for postseason play] were to come out and play our best ball and see what happens, and from there it just blew up.”

“At the very end of the year, when every game came down to ‘If we lose, A.J. and the other seniors’ careers are over,’ there wasn’t much more that needed to be said,” Simpson noted.

Chambers can relate. She and all but one of her teammates can look forward to other state-championship hopes — but the one who couldn’t was pretty important.

“I think we have a good chance to come back here,” she said last week at Ben Davis while cheering for Terre Haute North’s team. “We’re only losing one senior, so if it wasn’t this year, [a state championship] could be next year.

“But we were all very pumped and ready to win for our only senior, Makenzie [Haltom],” Chambers continued. “It meant everything to her, and she worked the hardest for it all year. We wanted to do it for her and for the community.”

Both athletes are already immersed in summer competition, Boyll for the Indiana Yankees — an Evansville-based 18U team that also includes Terre Haute South’s Zach Duggins — and Chambers for the Indy Dream. The Dream, a 16U team from Indianapolis that also includes Chambers’ teammate Sarah Burnham and North’s Hailee Travioli, was a national champion two seasons ago.

Both also expect to keep winning in the future.

“This is only the second year [for the baseball program at SC-Beaufort] and they’ve already been ranked,” Boyll said. “I’m looking forward to making it a long way through the [national] tournament [in college].”

He admits to being just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds — “[His teammate] Cole Johnson called him ‘the scrawniest power hitter he’s ever seen,’ ” Simpson noted — but would love to find a way to stay in baseball as long as possible. His coach feels Boyll’s knowledge of the game will make that possible.

“I’ve [coached] him three of his four years, and he just got better and better,” Simpson said. “It was cool to see him mature as a person as well.

“He’s extremely special,” Simpson added. “It’s been an honor to coach him. He’s a once-in-a-blue-moon baseball player.”

Cox couldn’t have said it better himself.

“She’s only a sophomore,” he said of Chambers. “To accomplish what she’s accomplished already speaks very highly of her.

“She’s a Division I ballplayer,” Cox added, “and just a super kid too.”

In a spring with more than its share of high school athletic heroes, A.J. Boyll and Haley Chambers were judged the best.

“That’s fantastic,” Boyll said when told of his award. “I never would have guessed it. There’s a lot of great talent in the Wabash Valley.”

“That’s awesome,” echoed Chambers. “I didn’t know that was going to happen. It’s a great opportunity for me and our school to be recognized.”

All-Wabash Valley teams

Baseball

A.J. Boyll, North Central, Player of the Year, 2010 Spring Sports Athlete of the Year

Bryce Bement, Sullivan

Clay Bess, Paris

Tyler Bridgewater, Clay City

Dougie Collett, Terre Haute North

Andrew Davidson, Marshall

Josh Dove, Terre Haute South

Jeff Earl, Rockville

Parker Fulkerson, Terre Haute North

Andrew Gauer, Terre Haute North

Derek Gregg, Rockville

Tyler Grissom, Shakamak

Jordan Grooms, Marshall

Derek Hannahs, Robinson

Jacob Hayes, Terre Haute South

Dustin Howard, Union

Zach Hull, Northview

Scott Johansen, South Vermillion

Cole Johnson, North Central

Tim Johnson, Riverton Parke

Zac Kempf, Rockville

Zack Kent, West Vigo

David Knight, Terre Haute North

Kaden Lawson, South Vermillion

James Lisman, Sullivan

Evan Magni, Linton

Caleb Mason, Northview

Brodey McCalister, West Vigo

Brian McCollough, Robinson

Coty Moretto, Riverton Parke

Cody Mumaw, South Vermillion

Billy Newton, Shakamak

D.J. Newton, Clay City

Zac Niehaus, Northview

A.J. Reed, Terre Haute South

Nolan Schaefer, Marshall

Tyler Scott, Linton

John Smith, Shakamak

Connor Strain, North Central

Joey Thomas, Northview

Jake Tucker, Marshall

Jarred VanHorn, Shakamak

Tyler Wampler, West Vigo

Scott West, West Vigo

Zach White, Riverton Parke



Boys Golf

Thomas Goss, Terre Haute South, Golfer of the Year

Derek Andre, Sullivan

Chris Arnold, Cloverdale

Brandon Bekkering, South Vermillion

Ben Boyd, Linton

Dreyson Boyd, Sullivan

Cole Bradbury, Linton

Logan Burdick, South Vermillion

Austin Cook, Turkey Run

Spencer Dunham, South Vermillion

Daniel Eaglin, Northview

Clayton French, Linton

Cory Gertz, Terre Haute South

Eric Gertz, Terre Haute South

Jordan Gilbert, Sullivan

Brad Haussin, Greencastle

Josh Hoskins, Northview

Reed Jackson, Sullivan

Jackson Jarvis, Terre Haute South

Luke Jerrells, Linton

Grant Lewellyn, Terre Haute North

Jordan Lowry, South Vermillion

Eric Newton, Turkey Run

Nick Parham, Terre Haute North

Sam Pollock, Terre Haute North

Will Pollock, Terre Haute North

Chase Rhoten, Linton

Ryan Sneddon, Terre Haute North

Drew Snyder, Northview

Shelby Stewart, Terre Haute South

Ryan Turner, Northview

James Wheeler, Greencastle

Jake Wrightsman, Turkey Run



Softball

Haley Chambers, Riverton Parke, co-Player of the Year, Spring Sports Athlete of the Year

Stephanie Fougerousse, Linton, co-Player of the Year

Bethany Sullivan, Terre Haute North, co-Player of the Year

Katie Anderson, Hutsonville-Palestine

Carmen Beabout, Hutsonville-Palestine

Brittany Bezy, Sullivan

Brooke Boetjer, South Putnam

Madison Booe, Clay City

Kate Brown, North Central

Sarah Burnham, Riverton Parke

Sam Butt, Linton

Taylor Carter, Northview

Bethany Chew, North Vermillion

Hannah Chew, North Vermillion

Kelsey Coffey, Terre Haute North

Alyssa Conrad, Northview

Randi Cookus, Riverton Parke

Logan Cox, Turkey Run

Janet Crafton, South Putnam

Mikayla Crane, Shakamak

Adara Crooks, North Central

Sara Dickey, Riverton Parke

Natalie Draper, South Vermillion

Daphne Dunegan, South Vermillion

Raven Enders, Northview

Casey Fougerousse, Shakamak

Gina Furrey, West Vigo

Shelby Gott, Bloomfield

Lindsey Greene, Rockville

Mikayla Grindle, Riverton Parke

Ciara Hall, Terre Haute South

Kellie Harvey, Turkey Run

Darien Huffman, Linton

Taylor Kail, White River Valley

Danielle Ketner, Terre Haute North

Alisha Lowery, Sullivan

Savannah Mason, Linton

Kelsey Maus, Oblong

Hali Murray, Linton

Chelsea Newnum, Turkey Run

Shayna Nicol, Union

Kristi Pearson, Shakamak

Taylor Poynter, North Vermillion

Tehya Pritts, Robinson

Kara Repp, Casey

Kory Reynolds, Marshall

Arieca Rich, Oblong

Emma Riffe, Rockville

Taylor Robinson, Casey

Shelbie Scamihorn, Terre Haute South

Sydney Scamihorn, Marshall

Ashli Scott, North Central

Shaya Stevenson, Clay City

Megan Stone, North Central

Marissa Stout, Terre Haute South

Shelby Targett, Clay City

Alicia Tally, White River Valley

Jenny Thompson, South Putnam

Macy Toon, Terre Haute South

Hailee Travioli, Terre Haute North

Karen Treadway, Clay City

Kirsten Weaver, Turkey Run

Kristal Welch, South Putnam

Casey West, North Vermillion

Katie West, Linton

Kylee West, North Vermillion

Rachel Whitlock, Sullivan

Kayla Wilson, Rockville

Hillary Woodard, Rockville

Alicyn Woodward, West Vigo

Marlee Yeager, Terre Haute North

Holly Zschiedrich, Bloomfield



Girls Tennis

Emma Bilyeu, Terre Haute South, co-Player of the Year

Mallory Metheny, Terre Haute South, co-Player of the Year

Katie Behnke, Terre Haute North

Jacqualynn Bogle, Terre Haute South

Taylor Bullock, Terre Haute South

Paige Cook, Terre Haute North

Mary Kate Etling, Terre Haute North

Addisson Ficklin, Sullivan

Kaci Kehrt, Northview

Maddie Kesler, Terre Haute South

Morgan Mills, Terre Haute North

Hannah Pond, Northview

Anna Potter, Terre Haute North

Sarah Potter, Terre Haute North

Eesha Purohit, Terre Haute South

Alli Summers, West Vigo

Lexi Summers, Terre Haute South

Makenzie Utterback, Terre Haute North

Andrea Vonfeldt, Sullivan



Boys Track

Drew Gambill, Shakamak, co-Athlete of the Year

John Mascari, Terre Haute North, co-Athlete of the Year

Dylan Bertsch, Terre Haute North

Jonathan Brainard, Terre Haute North

Colin Carver, Casey

Matt Collier, Terre Haute South

Jacob Creasey, West Vigo

Connor Curley, Terre Haute North

Stewart Dagnon, Terre Haute South

Austin Dart, Robinson

John Davis, Terre Haute North

Lee Davis, Terre Haute North

Austin Deal, West Vigo

Brian Depasse, Terre Haute North

Michael Flora, Northview

Mark Grubbs, Clay City

Chris Guymon, West Vigo

Devon Hall, Clay City

Logan Hambrock, Terre Haute South

Dillon Hare, Terre Haute North

Clayton Harlan, Terre Haute South

Wade Harrison, North Vermillion

Nathaniel Harmon, North Central

Brady Harp, Robinson

Taylor Head, Terre Haute South

Jordan Hickam, Greencastle

Broc Hudson, Terre Haute North

A.J. Hughes, Terre Haute North

Damon Hyatt, Northview

Chris Jackson, South Vermillion

Nick Jaeger, Terre Haute South

James Kent, Rockville

Ben King, Terre Haute North

Andrew Kump, West Vigo

Robert Miller, North Central

Parker Modesitt, Clay City

Tyeson Mundy, Terre Haute North

Evan Myers, Terre Haute South

Bobby Nero, Sullivan

Kris Nickle, Rockville

Tyler Randolph, West Vigo

Shawn Riggs, Terre Haute North

Travis Rubey, Terre Haute South

Dakota Schefke, Terre Haute North

Dion Scott, South Vermillion

Ethan Shaw, Clay City

Chris Simpson, Sullivan

Stefan Sparks, Linton

Conor Strain, Northview

Aaron Sullivan, Terre Haute South

Trey Trudeau, Marshall

David Tucker, Terre Haute North

Jake Van Bever, Terre Haute North

Jordan VanHorn, Northview

Ryan Vernelson, Sullivan

Andy Walsh, South Vermillion

Luke Waltz, Rockville

Jon Weakley, Terre Haute South

Joel Whittington, Northview

Dakota Williams, Terre Haute South

Riley Witvoet, Sullivan

Shane Wycoff, West Vigo

Lemuel Young, Terre Haute South



Girls Track

Shelby Higginbottom, North Central, Athlete of the Year

Mika Allen, Terre Haute South

Kelsey Andis, Linton

Kassie Ashburn, Sullivan

Bradlea Beard, Linton

Arianne Bell, Terre Haute South

Carlee Bell, Northview

Lane Bond, Sullivan

Lauren Borders, Terre Haute North

Tasia Brewer, Terre Haute South

Ashley Burkins, Terre Haute North

Emily Cotterman, Terre Haute North

Alex Daluga, Linton

Sara Dickey, Riverton Parke

Sheldan Falls, Riverton Parke

Kelli Greenberg, Terre Haute North

TaPring Goatee, Terre Haute North

Christie Hasbrouck, Terre Haute North

Lindy Jones, Terre Haute North

Erin Keilly, Terre Haute North

Lexie McBride, Linton

Alexa McFadden, Terre Haute North

Annie Mullican, Terre Haute North

Chanli Mundy, Terre Haute North

Molly Nasser, Terre Haute South

Allie Piper, Paris

Meaghan Reardon, South Vermillion

Julie Riggins, Bloomfield

Ashton Searing, Riverton Parke

Annie Smiley, Northview

Brittany Solomon, West Vigo

Samantha Solomon, Northview

Krista Stearley, Northview

Rachel Stephens, Terre Haute South

Tara Summers, Northview

Samantha Thompson, Sullivan

Allison Vaeth, Terre Haute South

Kerri Waskom, Linton

Elyse Weddle, Bloomfield

Rachel Welker, Terre Haute North