ROGERS — Ashlye Pool, who transferred from Gentry to Rogers for the last school year, hit .486 as a freshman and helped Rogers Heritage claim its first Class 7A State Tournament berth in softball this season.

She was named the All-Northwest ArkansasBig 6 Newcomer of the Year for her performance this season.

Pool pointed to an ankle injury suffered near midseason and she’s got statistical proof of its effects. The 14-year-old was hitting a robust .609 through 11 games. But after missing five games, Pool hit just .409 over her final 12 games.

Heritage coach Trace Briggs said he didn’tsee anything physically wrong when she returned to the lineup.

Pool drove in a teamhigh 29 runs for the Lady War Eagles and also struck out just four times in 77 at-bats.

But Pool also showed her unselfishness by going behind the plate after not catching in three years, Briggs said. “Ashlye had a great attitude about it,” Briggs said.

Sports, Pages 7 on 06/23/2010