NATCHEZ — Five Cathedral High School and four Adams County Christian School softball players earned All-District honors this season.

Ashleigh Williams, Brianna Henson, Shelby Mason and Jordan Petty were selected for ACCS, while Abby Brown, Elizabeth Smith, Emily Rascoe, Caroline Kaiser and Baylee Graning were selected for Cathedral.

Both Cathedral head coach Gary Blackwell and ACCS head coach Rick Fife said they were ecstatic to have so many selections from their respective teams.

“I’m very proud to have four representatives on the team,” Fife said. “It is a great honor for them and for us.”

Blackwell agreed.

“It really makes you proud when you get that many and know you have the caliber of athletes to be selected,” he said. “It was a trying year for us, a rebuilding one, but to know we had five step up and get all-district in a new association is exciting.”

Fife said each of his players had a significant impact in ACCS’ run to the state tournament this year.

Williams, who batted .338 with six doubles, two triples and two home runs was a key contributor both in the batter’s box and in the circle pitching.

“Ashleigh pitched very well before her injury, and then to come back in state and pitch a gem coming off injury, I was really proud of her.”

Along with Williams, fellow senior Petty had a solid season.

She hit .253 with five doubles and was a wall behind the plate at catcher.

“Both Ashleigh and Jordan did a great job being team leaders this season,” Fife said.

Henson, who finished with a .324 average, three doubles and a triple, also played a major role in the Rebels’ success.

“Brianna did a good job at shortstop as well as pitching,” Fife said. “Especially in south state when she threw a ton of innings.”

Rounding out the bunch is Mason, who Fife said did a great job stepping up even as a young player.

“She came on as the year went on as a freshman,” Fife said. “With Ashleigh and Brianna pitching, she played a lot of additional infield.”

For Cathedral, Blackwell also noted his girls were an important piece to the puzzle this season.

Smith, who was the ace on the mound, also led the team at the plate.

“I would say the biggest thing was her bat,” Blackwell said. “She hit some that I would be scared to get in front of to catch.”

In the outfield, Blackwell said Kaiser did a good job tracking down many fly balls.

“I know one play where she made a sliding catch in the outfield that ended the inning,” Blackwell said. “The hit would’ve scored some runs and put the other team ahead of us. That’s one I’ll remember for sure.”

In the infield, Rascoe and Graning shined.

“Baylee made some great catches, did a good job running the bases, and stepped in and took over third base and did a great job,” Blackwell said. “Emily at first base, she came around this year. It was one of her better years. She really stepped it up batting and in the field.”

Rounding out the bunch is Brown, who was the lone senior.

“Abby made several great catches for us this year in the field,” Blackwell said. “Whatever you needed out of Abby, you knew you could count on her. Her leadership and hustle was the biggest thing this year.”

Cathedral will return everyone but Brown, while ACCS loses Williams and Petty.