Laurel Scales and Tiffani Weaver are both quick to give credit to their teammates and coaches for their success on the softball diamond. Maybe that's part of what makes them great.

"This year been a great experience," Scales, Kennett's standout pitcher, said. "It would not have been as great without the great teammates and great coaching. Teamwork was just a big key in all of our success."

Weaver, who helped Holcomb win the Tri-County Conference regular-season and tournament titles, echoed Scales' sentiments.

"One of the main reasons that we were better this year than in years past was because of (new head) coach (Seth McBroom)," said Weaver. "He taught us a lot. He taught us how to bunt and different hits...and he pushed us hard to win."

Humility and ability often make for a great combination in a high school athlete, and it does again for Scales and Weaver, the 2008 Daily Dunklin Democrat Players of the Year in softball.

After a strong freshman season, Scales emerged as the best pitcher in the Bootheel Conference and in all of southeast Missouri as a sophomore.

First, Scales helped the Lady Indians to a better-than-expected 10-9 record in the school's first season of fall softball, then turned in a dominant spring that saw Kennett win the Bootheel Conference title and win its first 12 games.

In one three-game stretch late in the spring, Scales had 38 strikeouts in 15 innings without allowing an earned run as she pitched Kennett to three big wins down the stretch.

"This is a great honor (not only) for Laurel but also our team," Kennett coach Laurie Vaughan said. "She is a great asset to Lady Indians softball. She had two great seasons both in the fall and in the spring. I have really enjoyed the privilege of coaching a player like Laurel. She comes to practice each and every day ready to give her all in anything and everything that you ask her to do."

It is therefore no surprise that Scales has a strong work ethic.

"I pretty much practice every day," said Scales. "It takes a lot of hard work and determination. It's not one of those things that you just go out there and pick up a ball -- you have to work hard."

That work ethic and ability made her one of the area's most feared hurlers this season.

"I heard she was really fast and really accurate," Weaver said. "So when I stepped up to bat, I knew that if I wasn't swinging she would strike me out more than likely."

Quite a compliment coming from Weaver, who emerged as one of the Bootheel's top hitters, baserunners and centerfielders this season.

Weaver hit over .400 for the Lady Hornets, leading the team to an 11-3 mark and the conference title in McBroom's first year of coaching softball.

One of the most memorable moments of Weaver's senior season came in the finals of the Tri-County Conference Tournament, a game that saw Holcomb rally from eight runs down to win 21-13, scoring 20 runs in the later innings to take the title.

"We were behind 9-1 and Coach McBroom called a timeout to pump us up and tell us to get our heads in things," said Weaver. "Then we came back in our dugout to hit and everybody began to hit. We got confident in our batting and we played as a team to win."

Weaver's hitting ability also earned her the respect of Scales when the two went head-to-head in Kennett's regular-season finale May 1 at Holcomb.

"You always have to be ready for those good hitters," said Scales. "You just have to go out there and get the job done."

Honorable mentions: With so many talented players in the Daily Dunklin Democrat coverage area, it is not easy to pick the top 12. Here are some others who stood out on the diamond this spring:

Ashlee Gore, Kennett; Kalee Gore, Kennett; Haley Morrow, Kennett; Jordan Wagster, Kennett; Magen Hembrey, Southland; Megan Parker, Gideon; Lindsey Bryant, Delta C7; Leigha Blankenship, Delta C7; Hannah Kennedy, Senath-Hornersville; Tabitha Berry, South Pemiscot; Hali Leathers, South Pemiscot; and Brittany Tidwell, Delta C7.