Buckingham County High School led varsity softball teams in the area with four 2019 All-James River District (JRD) accolades, including one first team honor. Prince Edward County High School was represented by three selections, with one on the first team, and Cumberland County High School had one representative on the second team.

Area players making the all-district first team included Lady Knights senior outfielder Jayda Chambers and Lady Eagles sophomore second baseman T’Asia Beasley.

On the second team, area players selected were Buckingham junior utility player Tyshea Chambers, junior pitcher Mia Garrett and sophomore designated hitter Morgan Randolph, Prince Edward sophomore pitcher Jaden Capati and junior outfielder SaRoya Walton and Cumberland junior first baseman Caroline Seal.

Buckingham Head Coach Mark Christian reflected on his team’s all-district representation and said, “I was glad for what we did get.”

After a 3-7 start this year, the Lady Knights ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak to finish third in the district. They went 1-1 in the Region 2C tournament to finish 12-8 overall.

Christian said Chambers, the team’s speedy leadoff batter, was certainly well-deserving of the first-team honor, estimating her batting average for the year, including the postseason, as being .449.

“She had probably nine or 10 stolen bases,” the coach said. “I think she accounted for 26 runs for us, and then she had probably 21 RBIs, I believe. She just did a great job.”

Chambers also played error-free defense in center field.

Reacting to her team’s all-district recognition, Lady Eagles Head Coach LaDonia Mujahid said, “I feel it was well-deserved, and due to the voting, other coaches feel the same way.”

Prince Edward finished the season with a 9-11 overall record, including a 1-1 run in the Region 2A tournament.

Beasley helped fuel the Lady Eagles’ success this year, finishing with a .483 batting average, 28 hits, including 11 doubles and two triples, 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Mujahid noted that at the time of the all-district voting, Beasley had an estimated batting average of .567.

“Her stats really spoke for themselves,” the coach said. “With her batting .567 at the time, there was no other player that played second base that was batting .500, period.”

Mujahid noted that players filling the second baseman and shortstop roles see lots of balls hit their way, and Beasley acquitted herself well under those circumstances.

The coach said opposing coaches remember Beasley “a little bit defensively, but they remember her more offensively. Thirteen RBIs, 11 doubles and two triples — that’s pretty good.”