Edenton softball coach Joseph Johnson knew he had a good young team this season. And that was without any new additions to the roster.

When sophomore Kelli Patrick joined the team after transferring from Columbia High School, he knew he had a special team.

Justin Falls/The Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Kelli Patrick helped the Lady Aces compile a perfect Northeastern Coastal Conference record and has been named the area Player of the Year.

"To me, we had the best all-around team," Johnson said. "But we wouldn't have been where we were without her on the mound."

Still, there were reservations about team chemistry.

"When she first came on the scene, I thought that was something we might have a little bit of trouble with," Johnson said. "But I've had so many compliments from other coaches about her attitude. From where she was at to where it is now, she's just become a better all-around player."

Her skill in the circle was never in question. She had a 17-4 overall record and went a perfect 12-0 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference. She struck out 191 and had a 0.55 ERA. In addition, she made no errors fielding her position.

"She is so good and the girls saw that right off the bat," Johnson said. "I think that helped out a lot and brought a lot of confidence. We finished up last year pretty well, but she came along and added another solid player."

She was also no slouch at the plate, hitting .395 with eight doubles, a triple and four homers. She scored 24 times and drove in 16, which, with her pitching, was often more than enough.

"She was one of our better sticks," Johnson said. "She struggled a little bit early in the year, but at the end of the year, she came on real strong."

With the total package of talent on the field and a solid attitude, Patrick filled the role of a more experienced player, bringing leadership to the Lady Aces.

"She's not your average player, to be totally honest," Johnson said. "She's very mature for a sophomore, there's no doubt about it. She's one of the most competitive players I've seen on the field."

And, much to area schools' chagrin, she has two more years of high school play to go.

All-Area Teams

Ashley Byrum Edenton

Brittani Roundtree Edenton

Morgan Cooke Edenton

Erin Buchan Currituck

Ashley Craft Currituck

Rachel Bonds Currituck

Candice Nixon Perquimans

Kristen Cochran Camden

Blair Meiggs Camden

Jalese Banks Camden