All Ruston Daily Leader Softball Team

Amid the talented crop of softball players in Lincoln Parish, Ruston senior Cala Wilson and Simsboro junior Carlei Wheeler have been selected to lead the 2024 All-Ruston Daily Leader Softball Team.

Wilson, earning Player of the Year honors, proved to be one of the best hitters in the area with a .574 batting average, 61 hits, 42 runs, 45 RBIs, 14 doubles, and 15 home runs – a single-season program record.

When she wasn’t launching balls for extra bases, Wilson, a Lamar University commit, also acted as the Lady Bearcats’ top pitcher with 103 strikeouts in the circle.

Wheeler, selected as Pitcher of the Year, was lights out all year for Simsboro as she helped lead the Lady Tigers to the program’s first playoff berth since 2019. In 117 1/3 innings, Wheeler allowed just 48 earned runs, good for a 2.89 ERA, as she racked up a career- high 227 strikeouts.

Ruston’s Lauren Garvie earned Coach of the Year honors after a breakthrough turnaround season for the Lady Bearcats, making the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

In just her second season leading the program, Garvie led Ruston from four wins in 2023 to 17 this spring, the program’s first district win since 2021, and the most district wins since 2018.

Here's the entire All-RDL Softball Team:

Pitcher: Carlei Wheeler, Simsboro JR 

Pitcher: Holly Bennett, Choudrant JR 

Pitcher: Ava Lantrip, Creek 7th  

Pitcher: Kendall Ramsey, Creek FR 

C: Zoey Smith, Choudrant JR 

INF: Mallory Smith, Creek JR 

INF: Shelby Freeman, Ruston SR 

INF: Kaylea Murphy, Simsboro SR 

INF: Anna Fitzgerald, Creek FR 

OF: Bailey Adams, Creek SR 

OF: Morgan Foster, Ruston JR
OF: Olivia Underwood, Creek SR 

UTL: Cala Wilson, Ruston SR 

UTL: Addison Worley, Choudrant FR 

UTL: Jacoya Lewis, Simsboro JR 

UTL: Allie Richardson, Ruston SR 

UTL: CiCi Caldwell, Simsboro 7th 

Player of the Year — Cala Wilson (SR), Ruston 

Pitcher of the Year — Carlei Wheeler (JR), Simsboro 

Coach of the Year — Lauren Garvie, Ruston