Several area players were named to the 2012 N.C. Softball Coaches Association all-state teams. Each classification has their own all-state team, with a player and pitcher of the year for the West and East.

We've attached the full list, and included Triangle-area players plus individual awards below.

Middle Creek's Allie Geiner was co-4A East player of the year, North Johnston's Ashleigh Mason (pictured right) was 2A East player of the year and Holly Springs' Erica Nunn was 4A East pitcher of the year.

The final Tri-Nine softball conference standings at the end of the playoffs, plus the all-conference team.

Holly Springs has a chance to wrap up its second straight 4A East softball title today, but be careful about using the word "repeat." Very little will be replicated from last year's experience at this stage.

The North Carolina Softball Coaches Association released its extensive 2011 All-State list and a number of Triangle-area players were named.

Among the highlights of the list: Holly Springs pitcher Erica Nunn was named 4-A East pitcher of the year, Fuquay-Varina shortstop Alexa Cannon (above left) was named 4-A East player of the year, N.C. School of Science & Math senior Whitney Johnson was named 1-A pitcher of the year and sophomore Tyler Ross of Union Pines was the 3-A player of the year.

Below is a list of all local NCSCA 2011 All-State players. To see the full list, download the attached pdf file.

Tri-Nine all-conference softball

Player of the Year: Erica Nunn, Holly Springs

Co-coach of the Year: Jill Munchick, Holly Springs; Miles McCaskill, Lee County

First Team

Erica Nunn struck out 15 batters in Holly Springs' 4-1 Tri-Nine 4-A softball victory over Fuquay-Varina on Wednesday. She allowed only four hits.

Holly Springs' Erica Nunn and Apex coach Bonnie Hodge win Tri-Nine softball honors.

Holly Springs sophomore pitcher Erica Nunn was named Tri-Nine softball player of the year by conference coaches. Nunn was among the area leaders in strikeouts, posting 211 in 21 games.

Apex's Bonnie Hodge, after leading her team to a 14-2 conference record and winning the conference title for the first time in more than a decade, was named Tri-Nine coach of the year.

Player of the Year: Erica Nunn, Holly Springs (pictured left)

Coach of the Year: Bonnie Hodge, Apex (pictured right)

Here are the rest of the Tri-Nine all-conference teams.

The high school sports season is winding down, so consider this one of our final Outer Loop Sports Shows for the 2009-10 athletic year. This week myself, Chris Edwards and D. Clay Best discuss:

• That pesky Fuquay-Varina softball team still has a chance to go to Walnut Creek — again! 

• What a wacky East Regional baseball bracket it's been. Of the final four teams — none of them finished higher than third in their conference! Clay has seen Laney and Rose over the past two years while I talk about the two Tri-Nine squads, Apex and Lee County.
• Speaking of Apex, kudos to Mike Valder for getting his team to the fourth round. Four straight years, his teams have made it to at least the third round, despite the talent level seemingly dipping each year. Bottom line: don't count out a coach who has the playoff structure figured out.
• A lot of local flavor at the track & field championships. State records were set by the Cary 4x800 team and Panther Creek's Cassie Crawford.
• My Tri-Nine players of the week were Holly Springs pitcher Erica Nunn for her no-hitter in the second round and Panther Creek pole vaulter Cassie Crawford for her state record she set — in the rain no less! Crawford has four pole vault titles, two indoor and two outdoor. Which begs the question... why are we pole vaulting in the rain?
• I also add a little bit about Cary's new AD.

To view the Outer Loop Sports Show, just click here.

Holly Springs pitcher Erica Nunn, a sophomore, threw a no-hitter in the second round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs in a 1-0 win over Person County on Friday.

Nunn also had a double in the victory. Holly Springs did commit two errors in the game.

The team will host in the third round either Tuesday or Wednesday. It is the first time in school history the Golden Hawks have participated in the third round.

Nunn has verbally committed to the University of South Florida.