KFDM COOP Posted June 20, 2009 Report Posted June 20, 2009 Beach named Leader's Female Athlete of the Year Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader ORANGEFIELD — To say Orangefield’s Allie Beach had an outstanding senior year would be quite the understatement. Beach’s performances in four sports made it easy to name her the 2009 Orange Leader’s Female Athlete of the Year. “I am very pleased with my senior year,†Beach said. “I worked very hard to get where I am at.†Beach started her sports days when she was 4-years-old and her parents, Brian and Jenna Beach, got her to sign up for softball. “I didn’t play volleyball or basketball until I was in the fifth grade,†Beach said. “Now I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t play all the sports.†Orangefield fans and coaches would not what they would do without Beach either. Beach started her senior year on the volleyball court. The Lady Bobcats and first-year coach Kristen Holbrooks reached the playoffs in 2008 and Beach was named District 21-3A’s Offensive Player of the Year. She was given the same title on The All-Orange Leader Volleyball Team. Orangefield (20-11) defeated Bridge City in a third place, play-in game after the two Orange County squads split in district season. The Lady Bobcats went on to topple the Liberty Lady Panthers in four games in the bidistrict round of the playoffs and then fell to 21-3A champion Hamshire-Fannett in the quarterfinals. Beach and the Lady Bobcats’ season will always be remembered for the kindness they showed to the Lady Cardinals. Bridge City’s gym along with many of the Lady Cardinals’ homes were devastated by Hurricane Ike. The Lady Bobcats quickly stepped up by working in Bridge City homes and also allowing the Lady Cardinals to practice in Bobcat Gym. “It was nice to be able to help them out and help them get through that,†Beach said. Beach said even though she was proud to help the Lady Cardinals out, it was also a pleasure reaching the playoffs after defeating Bridge City. “It was really great,†Beach said. “We really came together as a team and worked a lot harder than normal. Coach Holbrooks really made volleyball important to us this season instead of only waiting on basketball to begin.†After volleyball Beach moved on to basketball or as she said “basketball, basketball, basketball.†The Lady Bobcats’ season in basketball is always one of the hottest times for Orangefield sports and Beach was right in the middle of another playoff run. Beach was named to the first team of both the District 21-3A team and All-Orange Leader Team. Beach and the Lady Bobcats shared the District 21-3A championship with the Hardin-Jefferson Lady Hawks in 2008-09. Orangefield then was defeated by the Navasota Lady Rattlers in the area round after a first round bye. “I love the competition and like playing great teams like we always seem to do in basketball,†Beach said. “We shoot for the playoffs and then to go further than we did the year before. That is always our goal during basketball season. “ Beach was a terror down low for her opponents in the paint and the stellar play she put on in her senior year helped in a big way. Beach will soon be headed off to play for Texas Lutheran University. “I am real excited about heading off to college,†Beach said. “It is something I worked hard for and I’m ready to go. I know the college work outs are a lot tougher and I have been preparing for that.†Beach did not get to slack off any after basketball season, in fact she went to work in two sports. She would be named First Team All-District 21-3A in softball as a first baseman and was a second team selection on the All-Orange Leader Softball Team. “The highlight of my senior year was of course being Bridge City in district play,†Beach said. “That is the first time Orangefield has ever beat them.†Beach was not just busy on the diamond in the spring. While holding down the softball front, she also had a district championship to strive for in track. Beach won the District 21-3A championship in the discus and moved on to the regional meet in Humble. “I would sometimes go from a track meet and hurry back to play in a softball game,†Beach said. “I had to really practice discus on my own. My dad built a discus ring at home so I could practice there.†Beach also had to contend with hurting her hand in softball which put a lot of pain when throwing a discus around. “Making it all the way to the regional meet was great,†she added. “I was very excited and I am really pleased overall with my senior year.†With all the accomplishments listed above, it is no wonder Beach makes it a habit to walk around with a smile on her face.
Cat22 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Posted June 22, 2009 Congrats to Allie! She did have a great senior year. Offensive MVP in Volleyball, 1st Team All District in both Basketball and Softball, and won district in the discus. Best of luck to you at Texas Lutheran!
Let’sGetAlong Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 Congrats...she's a very good athlete The Lady Bobcats and first-year coach Kristen Holbrooks reached the playoffs in 2008 and Beach was named District 21-3A’s Offensive Player of the Year. She was given the same title on The All-Orange Leader Volleyball Team. Misquote in the article. She was outstanding middle voted on by District 21-3a. There was not an Offensive Player of the Year.
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