CANNONSBURG — Kelsee Hammonds put on her No. 16 Ashland Kitten uniform for the final time on Monday afternoon.

It wasn’t for one last game, but rather to have her picture made as a part of the All-Area softball team during a ceremony at Boyd County’s softball field.

While it may have been a bittersweet moment for the First Team All-State selection, there was one member of the crowd who could not have been happier to watch Hammonds walk off the Lady Lions’ field never to return again: Boyd County coach Geoff Stewart.

And for good reason. Hammonds has made some of the biggest plays of her stellar career against archrival Boyd County and Stewart.

Whether it was this year, when her defensive gem in the bottom of the seventh ended the Lady Lions’ final-inning rally helping Ashland to its fourth straight 16th Region title, or two seasons ago, when it was her RBI single that propelled the Kittens to the State Tournament. The list just goeson and on and on some more.

So before Stewart announced that Hammonds was the All-Area Co-Player of the Year for the second straight season, he said that he has never been so relieved to see a player leave the region since 2009 when Rowan County’s Amber Riddle graduated.

Riddle set the Kentucky state record for home runs in her senior season in which she was named Miss Kentucky Softball.

Even after constantly being on the wrong side of her spectacular play, Stewart had nothing but great things to say about Hammonds.

“Kelsee is just a complete player,” Stewart said. “She can run, she can field, she can hit for power and base hits, but more importantly she has a great attitude. Gosh, I have seen her for five or six years and she is just such a good player.”

Despite all the accolades, Hammonds has decided not to continue her playing career in college.

“I decided that I just want to try something new,” she said. “I am just going to go to school. I am a little burnt out (on softball).”

The shortstop/pitcher was excited after winning the Co-Player of the Year award as a junior (along with Boyd County’s Kaitlin Brown in 2011). This time around, she is full of mixed emotions.

“It is bittersweet because I am going to miss my team, but it is definitely an honor to get the award again,” she said. “It is still sad.”

Area coaches may not have to lose sleep over Hammonds any longer, but they will have to deal with Co-Player of the Year Taylor Wheeler, a Boyd County sophomore.

In contrast to Hammonds, whose career is reaching its end, Wheeler barely has enough time to enjoy the recognition because of her busy softball schedule. She has already traveled to Columbia, S.C., and Columbus, Ohio, this summer to play in tournaments.

“It means a lot. I didn’t really see it coming. I am just going to have to take it all in,” said Wheeler, who hit .465 with 13 doubles and five home runs. “I just have to keep working hard. There is really no offseason for me. I am either in the gym or on the field.”

The constant desire to get better is what helped turn Wheeler from an above-average player to a Player of the Year candidate, according to Stewart.

“My gosh, she had a good year last year, but she had a breakthrough year at the plate this year,” he said of Wheeler, who was an honorable mention All-State selection. “She comes to the ball field every day to work hard because she wants to succeed.”

In addition to putting up gaudy numbers at the plate, Wheeler also made dozens of nice plays at second base.

“She made plays over at second base that I have never seen any other second baseman make,” Stewart said.

The play of Wheeler along with fellow All-Area selections Emily Stewart, Kaitlin Brown, and Sydney Jackson led the Lady Lions to the region finals for the third straight year and helped Stewart earn Co-Coach of the Year honors.

Emily Stewart, who is taking the summer off from softball to participate in the Governor’s Scholarship Program, earned a Second Team All-State selection.

“We worked really hard and came to the field and played as hard as they could. We had a group that got along really well,” said Stewart, the coach. “They had a mission and they came up just a few innings short. It was just a great team to be around.”

Stewart shared the award with Russell coach Ron Osborn, who helped orchestrate a midseason turn around.

After a rough patch in the middle of April, the Lady Red Devils won 11 games in a row before losing to Ashland in the opening round of the 16th Region Tournament.

“The last half of the season we played great ball,” Osborn said. “We really gelled and came together as a team and that tickled me to death.”

Much of the success was due to the emergence of sophomore pitcher Mallory Powell, who was making her return to the game after a several-year hiatus.

“Mallory came out after about a three-year layoff and said she wanted to play again,” Osborn said. “I was kind of reluctant to put her out there because I wanted her to get worked in easily, but once she took the mound she owned it.”

Powell was joined by batterymate Arden Gross and switch-hitting third baseman Hannah Carter.

Along with Hammonds, the three other Ashland seniors — Kat Jackson, Emily Preece and Jordan Hensley — who have been the centerpiece of Kittens four year run as region champs were all selected. They were joined by McKenzie Vanover, a talented sophomore.

Jackson, who is a great defensive center fielder, and Preece, who earned honorable mention All-State honors as a powerful hitter and strong-armed catcher, anchored the middle of the Kittens lineup for the past three seasons. Behind the five most prominent batters in the order, Ashland outscored opponents 287-70.

Fairview catcher Maddie Kirk was the other member of the team from the 64th District.

Fellow catcher Meriah Euton, of Greenup County, is just one of two players who have signed to play in college next season. She is slated to play at Shawnee State next season. Mandy Boyd, of Fleming County, is headed to Lindsey Wilson to continue her playing career.

Leatha Reynolds and Isabella Gearhart helped West Carter to a 62nd District title. Reynolds, a sophomore, is one of the most talented young pitchers in the area and is making her second appearance on the team.

The Comets’ cross-county rival East Carter also placed a pitcher on the team, Tori Qualls.

Rowan County exceeded expectations this season, including those of coach Larry Slone, finishing 24-16. Sophomore pitcher Morgan Mitchel did a fantastic job of taking over for former All-Area selection Ashley Adkins.

Raceland shortstop Bre Grubb was joined by teammate Chloe Adkins, the Lady Rams’ sophomore third baseman.

Lewis County’s Courtnae Bolander, Lawrence County’s Taylor Porter, and Menifee County’s Erica Brewer rounded out the team.