ALL-AREA: McCollum named softball player-of-the-year

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on June 13, 2015 11:28 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Rachel McCollum is used to drawing attention from opposing coaches because of her athleticism, softball IQ and God-given ability that allows her to succeed at any position on the field.

The compliments humble the Spring Creek senior, who doesn't think about her individual achievements on game day. She enters each game with the mindset of doing what she can to help her team win.

Undoubtedly the most prolific player to ever wear a Gators uniform, McCollum -- and her fellow senior class of Sarah Ford and Hailey Jones -- has set a new standard for future teams to follow.

"I'm glad that they have something to look forward to and something to beat," said McCollum, who has been selected as the 2015 News-Argus All-Area Player-of-the-Year.

"That means that will make them better athletes coming up."

McCollum certainly put Spring Creek into the "respectability" category last season. She shattered every single-season record and helped guide the Gators to their first-ever appearance in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs.

The trend continued this season -- but in dominating fashion.

The modest and soft-spoken athlete, according to Maxpreps.com, emerged as the state leader in four different offensive categories -- batting average (.805), home runs (12), slugging percentage (1.902) and on-base percentage (.871).

All are school records.

The batting average could be a single-season state record, but must be verified after SC head coach Lester Boltinhouse and athletics director submit the information to the Association.

"I wanted to be a team leader and just play my best ... play every game like it was my last," said McCollum, who seemed surprised by the accomplishment. "I just worked every at-bat (and) took it one game at a time. This season was my best season in high school out of all four years.

"It was better statistically ... a good year."

McCollum shared her success with her teammates. She stressed the team chemistry, the camaraderie which led to a 13-4 record and the program's first-ever postseason victory. The Gators, for the second consecutive year, finished among the top three in Carolina Conference play.

The Gators met some of their goals and had a good time together on and off of the field.

"It's very rewarding when you have player of that caliber on your team," Boltinhouse said. "You can make things happen that don't happen all of the time. When you have that leadership for the younger kids to follow, it makes it easier to coach.

"I definitely know it's challenged them to improve their game and be better. Any time you have somebody who can hit the ball and pitch the ball like she can, other players just feed off of that and feel more comfortable."

McCollum's numbers -- all career records -- read like this: .776 batting average, 122 plate appearances, 67 runs scored, 66 hits, 50-plus RBI, 45 extra-base hits and 18 home runs during just two seasons at Spring Creek.

Inside the circle this season, she logged an 8-4 worksheet with a 2.04 earned run average in 72 innings of action. McCollum threw 10 complete games, held three opponents scoreless and retired 106 batters on strikeouts.