Shaking away any doubts that her freshman season was a fluke, South Brunswick softball's Kina Davis upped the ante in her sophom*ore season this spring, pushing the envelope for what's possible for the Cougars.
Davis threw a Mideastern Conference-best 229 strikeouts (76 more than the next-closest pitcher) this spring and led South Brunswick (18-5, 10-2 MEC) to one of its best seasons in recent memory.
But the story of success for Davis and South Brunswick goes back to the spring of 2022, when the team presented a new set of players.
While the Cougars finished 16-8 that season and Davis led the MEC in strikeouts, the sophom*ore says a sense of underestimation loomed – and has yet to go away.
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"We're still overlooked," Davis said after the conclusion of this season. "Last year, it was just like, 'Oh, the freshmen,' you know. I just feel like there's more talk about us this season."
Despite her big year, Davis battled a quad injury and some mental obstacles as the season progressed.
"I always say don't get too satisfied," she said. "I think in the Hoggard game, I was just satisfied with not letting anyone score, so when it came to people getting on base, I kind of just got too comfortable."
That game against Hoggard was one of two conference losses for South Brunswick this spring, and the team rebounded with a 5-2 win over the Vikings a few weeks later.
Davis was undoubtedly special as a pitcher this spring, but she was also one of the Cougars' best batters.
"I feel like I'm a little bit overlooked at the plate," she said. "I see the ball good off the hand, and I know what pitch (is being thrown)."
Davis' big season and subsequent recognition as one of the Mideastern Conference's best players is significant as she feels it helps other South Brunswick athletes recognize what's possible.
"It means a lot to me (to be recognized) because it shows people around this area and in my school that we're not counted out," she said. "Anybody from our school can do it."
2023 StarNews All-Area Softball Player of the Year: Kina Davis, Soph., South Brunswick
The sophom*ore showed that her freshman season was no fluke, throwing an area-high 229 strikeouts this spring. While she might be known for her pitching, Davis also batted .480 with 18 RBIs.
2023 StarNews All-Area Softball First Team
P Macey Ciamillo, Soph., Hoggard:A force to be reckoned with in the MEC this spring, as she batted .519 with an area-best 41 RBIs, seven home runs and 13 doubles. Ciamillo also threw 102 strikeouts in 122 innings.
P Kennedy Sloan, Jr., Topsail:Slaon and the Pirates may have taken some time to warm up this spring, but the junior led the team to a state regional by throwing 153 strikeouts while batting .407 with 28 RBIs.
P Ali Bunch, Sr., Laney:Leading the area's best regular-season team, Bunch threw 138 strikeouts while batting .465 with 23 RBIs this spring.
C Sydney Ciamillo, Sr., Hoggard:The Vikings catcher finished her career in style as she batted .370 with 27 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
IF Jordan Martin, Sr., Hoggard:Another Viking senior with a big season, Martin batted .455 and scored 26 runs this spring.
IF/P Mackenzi Curry, Jr., Laney:Curry batted .421 with 20 RBIs, 20 runs scored, and three home runs.
IF Blair Sampson, Jr., North Brunswick:Amidst a challenging season for the Scorpions was the glistening light of Sampson's .412 batting average and 21 runs scored.
OF Zoey Vincent, Sr., Topsail:Vincent led the MEC in stolen bases (20) and batting average (.553) while also recording 47 hits and 32 runs scored.
OF Emmy Clark, Soph., Topsail:Clark turned in another impressive season as she batted .480 with 20 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
OF Layla Carr, Soph., Laney:One of the Buccaneers' best hitters, Carr batted .380 with 25 runs scored and 16 RBIs.
Utility Bailey Bettencourt, Soph., Laney:The sophom*ore batted .328 with 16 RBIs and a home run this spring.
2023 StarNews All-Area Softball Second Team
P:Olivia Brown, Fr., West Brunswick; Chloe Barnhill, Jr., Trask.
C:Vayda Lequire, Fr., Ashley; Rylee Reuter, Jr., Topsail
IF: Jaylyn Noble, Jr., Topsail; Haley Kirby, Sr., South Brunswick; Gracie Mabrey; Jr., Hoggard.
OF: Reagan Meadows, Sr., Topsail; Emma Bartlett, Jr., West Brunswick.
Utility: Audrey Bergum, Sr., Laney.
All-Mideastern Conference
Player of the Year: Macey Ciamillo, Hoggard
Pitcher of the Year: Kina Davis, South Brunswick
Coach of the Year:James Pierce, South Brunswick
Team Sportsmanship:West Brunswick
First Team
Ali Bunch, Laney; Layla Carr, Laney; Macey Ciamillo, Hoggard; Sydney Ciamillo, Hoggard; Emmy Clark, Topsail; Makenzi Curry, Laney; Kina Davis, South Brunswick; Gracie Mabrey, Hoggard; Zoey Vincent, Topsail.
Second Team
Emma Bartlett, West Brunswick; Audrey Bergum, Laney; Ariana Flores-Acosta, South Brunswick; Sinaiya Gonzalez, Ashley; Haley Kirby, South Brunswick; Vayda LeQuire, Ashley; Jordan Martin, Hoggard; Jaylyn Noble, Topsail; Rylee Reuter, Topsail; Blair Sampson, North Brunswick; Makaylee Sanders, West Brunswick.
All-Waccamaw Conference
Alexuz Barnes, South Columbus; Ava Jacobs, East Columbus; Chloe Barnhill, Trask; Kaley Mitchell, East Columbus; Karli Godwin, East Columbus; Layla King, West Columbus; Lillie Hansen, Pender; Linde Cline, Pender; Nilah Holmes, Trask; Reah Lee, South Columbus; Xztashya Porter, Whiteville.
