There was arguably no one with better 2-way numbers this season than Carson Hobbs. The Commerce senior was dominant in all phases in claiming her well-earned BLITZ POY award.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• .525 AVG (42 Hits)
• 5 HR, 41 RBI
• 18 R, 14 2B, 5 BB, .525 OBP
• .968 FLD%
• 14-3, 1.48 ERA
• 100 K, 17 BB, 85.1 IP

Carson Hobbs was dominant across the board. The senior first baseman/pitcher led the Lady Tigers in another deep playoff run, and in the process batted .525 while getting on base to the tune of a .525 OBP. She had 42 hits, with 5 of them going over the fence. While driving in 41 runs, she also scored 18 times, blasted 14 doubles, drew 5 walks, and was excellent in the field, evidenced by her .968 FLD percentage. In the circle, she was 14-3 overall with a sparkling 1.48 ERA. That included 100 strikeouts against just 17 walks in 85 1/3 innings of work. Remarkable.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Carson Hobbs – 67.5 pts (12 1st-place votes)
2. Gabby Whiddon – 27.5 pts
3. Emma Hare – 26.25 pts (2)
4. Taylor Wade – 24.5 pts (1)
5. Layne Bailey – 23.75 pts (1)
6. Sierra Burnette – 18.25 pts
7. Taylor Spivey – 8.25 pts

Voting included our 16-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts

Hobbs won by a HUGE margin, but the voters were still torn to a degree, as 3 others notched 1st place votes, including Emma Hare (2), and Taylor Wade and Layne Bailey each getting one. One voter had a 5th-place vote for Hobbs, but all the rest were in the top 3 for her.

HISTORY OF SOFTBALL POY

• 2021 – Carson Hobbs – Commerce SR 1B/P
• 2020 – Madi Cronic – Banks Co SR SS
• 2019 – Tybee Denton – Banks Co SR P/DH
• 2018 – Jaycie Bowen – Banks Co SR 1B/P
• 2017 – Jessica Morgan – White Co SR C
• 2016 – Paige Cooke (Habersham SO SS) & Emma Whitfield (Stephens SO P)
• 2015 – Laken Chambers – Union Co JR P/1B
• 2014 – Laken Chambers (Union Co SO P/1B) & Jessica Morgan (White Co FR C)
• 2013 – Georgia Webb – Habersham SR OF/P
• 2012 – Jenna Abbott – Dawson Co SR P
• 2011 – Angie Hughes – Union Co SR P
• 2010 – Stephanie Satterfield – White Co SR P/1B
• 2009 – Stephanie Satterfield – White Co JR P/1B

Hobbs’ win is important, as it’s the first POY award for Commerce despite some great talent coming through there on the softball field. She’s the first 2-way player since Tybee Denton at Banks County in 2019 to win it. In all, 2-way players have won this award 8 times. Interestingly enough, it’s the 5th straight time the award goes to a senior, which means next year will be the 9th different winner in an 8-year span (tie in 2016).

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?