Softball All -Area
June 26, 2012 11:20PM
Updated: July 28, 2012 6:04AM
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Nikki Steinbach, Andrean senior
By the numbers: 25-2 record, 0.47 ERA, 304 Ks in 193 innings, .308 avg., 23 RBI. Raves: She was rarely hittable and came through with her best efforts in the biggest games to lead the 59ers to the 3A state title. She struck out 11 in her final game.
Pitcher: Megan Tymorek, Chesterton junior
By the numbers: 17-9 record, 1.60 ERA, 175 Ks in 171 innings; .434 avg., 9 HR, 41 RBI, 13 doubles. Raves: She was a very good pitcher but was an even better hitter in leading the Trojans to a sectional title. She had two home runs in the regional win over Lake Central.
Catcher: Haley Hodges, Portage junior
By the numbers: .493 avg., .904 slug. pct., 5 HR, 26 RBI, 9 doubles, threw out 13-of-22 steal attempts. Raves: In addition to her monster hitting ability, the first-team all-stater threw out more than half of would-be base-stealers and had no errors.
Catcher: Emily O’Leary, Hebron senior
By the numbers: .484 avg., .779 slug. pct., 3 HR, 25 RBI, 12 runs. Raves: The all-district player got off to a slow start, but finished strong, adding to several team offensive records and rarely having runners attempt a stolen base on her.
Utility: Mollie Lindeman, Hebron senior
By the numbers: .451 avg., .703 slug. pct., 14 doubles, 0.79 ERA, 141 Ks in 98 innings. Raves: The third-team all-stater was dominant as a Hebron pitcher, including some of her best efforts against bigger schools such as Chesterton and Andrean.
Infield: Kaitlin Barajas, Andrean senior
By the numbers: .467 avg., 8 HR, 33 RBI, 41 runs, .790 slug. pct. Raves: The third baseman was second in the area in home runs and finished her career in style with a 3-for-4 effort in the 59ers’ state championship victory.
Infield: Lizzie Seymour, Lake Central Soph.
By the numbers: .416 avg., 23 RBI, 36 runs, 8 doubles, 5 triples, 4 HR. Raves: The shortstop was solid defensively, but was also an integral part of the Indians’ offense with 36 runs scored and 23 runs batted in.
Infield: Nikki Adams, Lake Central senior
By the numbers: .407 avg., 25 RBI, 23 runs, 13 doubles, 1 HR. Raves: The second-team all-state first baseman broke the Lake Central career record for doubles after hitting 13 of them this season.
Infield: Caitlin Acker, Lake Station Soph.
By the numbers: .563 avg., 29 RBI, 35 runs, 14 doubles, 5 HR. Raves: The third baseman was the Eagles’ most clutch run producer in a sectional title campaign, including a walk-off homer among her five dingers on the season.
Outfield: Kaitlyn Ranieri, LC senior
By the numbers: .360 avg., 21 RBI, 24 runs, 4 doubles, 1 HR. Raves: Her numbers weren’t the best in Lake Central’s outfield, but she was important enough to earn team most valuable player honors.
Outfield: Sydney Cooley, Chesterton Soph.
By the numbers: .360 avg., .470 on-base pct., 6 HR, 28 RBI. Raves: She was moved around in the batting order, but still produced with clutch RBI and was a pretty good No. 2 pitcher for the Trojans.
Outfield: Lauren Murray, Portage junior
By the numbers: .395 avg., .568 slug. pct., 26 RBI, 3 HR, 19 runs. Raves: She was named Portage’s most improved player and all-state honorable mention after not only producing solid offensive numbers, but only having one error all year.
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Ashley Dobson, KV senior
By the numbers: 0.81 ERA, 12-7 record, 20 RBI, .333 avg. Raves: She was one of the toughest pitchers to hit this season, but was also one of the Kougars’ best hitters in the clutch.
Pitcher: Vanessa Hartzell, Noll senior
By the numbers: 0.91 ERA, 15-6 record, 190 Ks in 122 innings. Raves: She was a feared pitcher in the GSSC with multiple coaches saying they worried about facing her overpowering fastball.
Catcher: Morghyn Neal, Andrean junior
By the numbers: .376 avg., 40 RBI, 5 HR, .667 slug. pct., 27 runs. Raves: The latest in a long line of stellar Andrean catchers produced some clutch moments, including a home run in the semistate final.
Catcher: Cali Young, South Central senior
By the numbers: .472 avg., 24 RBI, 7 doubles. Raves: The all-PCC pick missed three games with a broken finger, but it didn’t stop from leading the sectional champs in average and fielding percentage.
Utility: Ashley Yoways, Hanover sophomore
By the numbers: 1.31 ERA, .407 avg., 22 RBI, 20 runs, 4 HR. Raves: She improved immensely from a tough freshmen year in the circle and in the batter’s box by hitting more than .400.
Infield: Jameka Collins, Michigan City junior
By the numbers: .481 avg., 29 RBI, 28 runs, 6 HR, 11 stolen bases. Raves: She keeps getting better at shortstop with a .915 fielding percentage, while adding power numbers with six home runs.
Infield: Jaren Lynch, South Central senior
By the numbers: .469 avg., 24 RBI, 37 runs, 16 stolen bases, 5 doubles, 3 triples. Raves: The all-PCC and north all-star shortstop led the satellites in runs scored and stolen bases.
Infield: Alyssa Matson, KV junior
By the numbers: .456 avg., 16 RBI, 27 runs, 15 stolen bases, 6 doubles, 5 triples. Raves: The third baseman led the Kougars in most offensive categories, including stolen bases and runs scored.
Infield: Sara Kruszynski, Clark sophomore
By the numbers: .441 avg., 22 RBI, 28 runs, .552 on-base pct. Raves: The third baseman was the Pioneers’ most consistent hitter with clutch hits during the team’s best season in a few years.
Outfield: Katie Piotrowski, Westville Soph.
By the numbers: .431 avg., 25 RBI, 9 stolen bases, .472 on-base pct. Raves: Along with her sister Beth, she was part of a potent offensive outfield for the Blackhawks, and they’ll be there two more years.
Outfield: Aubria Smith, Mich. City junior
By the numbers: .405 avg., 20 RBI, 21 runs, .950 field. pct. (2 errors). Raves: Part of the Wolves sectional champion hoops team, she was a solid defensive center fielder and a pretty good hitter, too.
Outfield: Aspyn Novak, LC freshman
By the numbers: .426 avg., 13 RBI, 25 runs, 5 doubles. Raves: The all-DAC freshman jumped into high school softball without a hitch by being one of the Indians top offensive producers.
Honorable mention
Andrean: Brenna Boyle, Savvy Kinsella; Bishop Noll: Jade Acevedo; Boone Grove: Kaitlin Stone, Kayla Yadron; Calumet: Kaitlyn Magiera, Amber Redd; Chesterton: Megan Matheny; Clark: Valarie Ruiz, Courtney Mansfield; Crown Point: Courtney Holm, Siena Gyure, Allison Rock; Gavit: Erika Ramirez; Griffith: Rhiannon Cox, Sammi Adams, Sarah Galambos; Hammond: Andrea Davila; Hanover Central: Melissa Balkema, Katie Klopp; Hebron: Maggie Lindeman; Highland: Kylie Hirchak; Hobart: Dana Claussen; Kankakee Valley: Ashley Stahl; Kouts: Alyse Rosenbaum, Breanna Seber; LaCrosse: Gabbie Sievers; Lake Central: Bridget Boyle, Morgan Moseley, Lily Del Toro, Annabel Karberg; Lake Station: Shelby Jorgensen, Lexy Brock; LaPorte: Samantha Becker, Meghan Bunch; Lowell: Morgan O’Hanlon; Merrillville: Mercedes McClendon; Michigan City: Peyton Webb; Morton: Cierra Charbonneau, Angelica Justiniano; Munster: Sadie Conner, Taylor Michalski; North Newton: Allyson Leach, Morgan Lang; Portage: Kiley Jones; Rensselaer: Chelsea Hughes; River Forest: Kayla Smith; South Central: Alex Snyder, Kayla Pritchard; Valparaiso: Clarisse Fletcher; Washington Twp.: Maddy Johnson, Ashley Hines; Westville: Kristyn Swanson, Shelly Cunningham, Beth Piotrowski; Wheeler: Nickole Finch, Karessa Sweeney; Whiting: Mollie Lovasko
