Staff Report

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association has announced its State Softball All-Star team, and its 2020 player and coaches of the year for each classification.

Under normal circumstances, the FACA All-Star game series is usually made up of four region teams of seniors from across the state, with each district nominating three players and MLB scouts filling in the rest of the rosters for the game. The FACA All-Star series has been held annually at various sites, most recently in Lakeland at Florida Southern College. This season’s series has been cancelled, however, the FACA is still recognizing seniors deserving of the All-Star teams.

RELATED: Wilken, Minacci, Centala, Lee, DeVito head area FACA 2020 Baseball honorees

Hillsborough County makes up FACA’s District 15 and the area coaches, who are also members of the FACA, selected the five Hillsborough County players for the honorary All-Star Team.

FACA All-Star Team – District 15 representatives
(listed in order of coach voting results)


Jada Smallwood, Util/3B, Newsome

Smallwood had 10 runs scored and 10 RBI this season to go along with her .538 batting average. She is headed to the University of Maryland to continue her career, and leaves Newsome after a career with 12 home runs, 30 doubles, and 83 RBI, while also being named the District 15 FACA Class 7A Player of the Year.

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Kayla Swinson, P/2B, Durant

Swinson went 7-0 this season, with just a 0.50 ERA and 58 strikeouts. The Webber International commit finished her high school career with 159 strikeouts, a 15-3 record and a 1.32 ERA, while also being named the District 15 FACA Class 6A Player of the Year.

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Ellis Erickson, Freedom

Erickson hit .536 in 2020 with eight RBI, nine runs scored and four stolen bases. The Northern Illinois signee finished her career with the Patriots totaling 10 doubles nine triples, 62 RBI and 71 runs scored.

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McKayla Timmons, 1B, Newsome

Timmons finished her three-year varsity career at Newsome with a combined .503 average and is signed at Ball State University. This season, Timmons paced the Wolves with 12 runs scored, while she hit 13 career homers, drove in 70 and scored 73 times.

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Kelly Swank, 1B/C, Durant

The University of Minnesota-Duluth signee hit .417 in 2020 with 15 RBI in just seven games as one of Durant’s captains. Swank finished her Cougars career playing in 77 games, hitting .333, with 39 RBI, 48 runs and a .956 fielding percentage.

FACA Region 15 Player and Coach of the Year
(by classification)


Class 2A Player of the Year – Olivia Elliott, C/OF, Cambridge Christian

The Lancers sophomore had a .636 average in 2020 with five triples, two home runs, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored.

Class 2A Coach of the Year – Mike Cates, Seffner Christian

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Class 3A Player of the Year – Samantha Miller, 3B, Academy of the Holy Names

The Jaguars senior and Georgetown commit hit .455 with 13 RBI, eight runs and two homers in 2020.

Class 3A Coach of the Year – Jeff Krone, Holy Names

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Class 4A Player of the Year – Destiny Dehoyas, 1B, Robinson

The UCF softball signee had a .432 average in 2020 with two doubles, two triples, three home runs and 10 RBI.

Class 4A District Coach of the Year – Ed Gallio, Robinson
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Class 5A Player of the Year – Kathyria Garcia, Util, Jefferson

The Dragons sophomore hit .688 (22 hits), with three doubles, three triples, and a home run, while scoring 20 runs and stealing 16 bags.

Class 5A Coach of the Year – Eve Soto-Suarez, Jefferson

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Class 6A Player of the Year – Kayla Swinson, P, Durant

Class 6A Coach of the Year – Olivia Cuellar, Durant

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Class 7A Player of the Year – Jada Smallwood, Util/3B, Newsome

Class 7A Coach of the Year – Ally Lendedham, Newsome

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