Today’s edition of The Atmore Advance feature the 2010 Diamond Queens consisting of each player deemed worthy of being on the Atmore Advance All-Area Team.

Although there are only 10 girls on the team, it was tough to choose which girls should be placed on the team and who should be named Player of the Year.

This year’s Player of the Year earned the designation as the top player in the area because of her leadership and character.

Northview Lady Chiefs junior Emily Vickrey proved to be a driving force behind her team’s run to a district championship.

Vickrey posted a .309 batting average with two homeruns, 29 RBI, five doubles and three triples.

She also worked as the defensive leader helping make sure her teammates always kept their spirits up.

Vickrey had tough competition for the distinction as Player of the Year especially from several of her teammates.

Her coach, Sammy Day noted in an interview that Vickrey is the “quarterback” of the Lady Chiefs.

Along withVickrey, Day’s Lady Chiefs boast four other players that helped the team earn a district championship and a school record 24 wins.

Shawna Montgomery, Ashley Digmon, Kolbi Cobb and Misty Doran were all vital in Northview’s success in softball this season.

These girls gave 100 perecent throughout the 2010 season and fought hard all the way with everything coming to a close with a tough loss in the state playoffs.

The notable strengths of this team were their defense and pitching. Offensively, they were also able to crush several of their opponents.

Showing off three of its own players is Escambia County with Jasmine Tolbert, Minikai Smith and Michaela Norman.

These three players were the heart and soul of their team despite not performing as highly as last season.

Norman was the leader of the team especially at the plate where she rocked seven homeruns and knocking in 35 runs.

For Escambia Academy, Tori Rodriguez and Amber Huskey repeated as members of the Diamond Queens.

They helped lead the Lady Cougars to an improved record as well as a berth in the AISA state playoffs.

So, there are your 2010 Diamond Queens.

Check the Atmore Advance next week for the 2010 Diamond Kings.

Chandler Myers is sports editor of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123 or by e-mail at sports@atmoreadvance.com