Local softball players earn postseason recognition

The All-SEMO Conference Softball Team is a celebration of the best and brightest that the conference has to offer, and the 2023 edition features players who have shown us what it means to persevere in the face of challenge and have demonstrated the true meaning of sportsmanship, both in victory and defeat.

While Abby Deshaney, a senior centerfielder who batted .354 with 17 hits, six doubles, two triples, eight RBIs, and 13 runs scored, was the lone selection for Sikeston, Kelly placed two players on the team in senior third baseman Ava LeGrand, who batted .386 with 44 hits, eight doubles, 25 RBIs, and 30 runs, and junior centerfielder Blaire Riley, who led the Lady Hawks in batting average (.417), hits (48), doubles (12), triples (1), home runs (6), RBIs (35), and runs (42).

Chaffee's selections were senior Ayne Held, freshmen Carlyanne Cossou and Paizleigh Graham, and junior Reese Van Pelt; Jackson's were sophomore Ashlyn Dawes, juniors Jaylie Walther, Miley Conklin, and Kaiden Weisbord, and seniors Kam Tucker and Maddie Stelling; Poplar Bluff's were seniors Ashtyn Reese and Kennedy Zgaynor; Farmington's were Elly Robbins (jr.), Jayce Javris (sr.), and Shelby Bowling (sr.); Notre Dame's were juniors Jacie Smith and Taylor Kutz; and North County's were freshman Madison Carroll and senior Sammy Waller.

Kelly's Blaire Riley (13) sprints for first base�during an 11-1 Senior Night win over Cape Central at KHS on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.�Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

ALL-REGION AND ALL-DISTRICT

LeGrand, Riley, Graham, Held, Cossou and Van Pelt were named to the All-Class 2, Region 2 first team, while Kelly senior catcher Allie Daniel made the second team. Daniel finished the season with a .354 average, 34 hits, 27 RBIs, and five runs scored.

Other first-team selections include Saxony Lutheran's Maddie Preusser, Iberia's Kya Yoakum and Acelyn Bauer, Dixon's Kinsley Lipscomb, Eugene's Shaelyn Boessen, Neelyville's Reese Dobbins and September Preslar, New Covenant's Jacey Byler, and St. Pius X's Rylee Bohnert.

Kelly's Ava LeGrand (22) takes a swing�during an 11-1 Senior Night win over Cape Central at KHS on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.�Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

Other second-team selections include Saxony Lutheran's Lilly Roth and Shyanne Weibrecht, Dixon's Emma Thiltgen, Eugene's Kaylee Kempker, Hartville's Katia Todd, Jefferson's Lia Ott, Neelyville's Parker Ernst, New Covenant's Rachel Harper, St. Pius X's Mackenzie Quick and Bridget Flanagan, and Twin Rivers' Alexis Parson.

LeGrand, Riley, Daniel, Cossou, Preslar, Parson, Roth, Ernst, Dobbins, Preusser, Graham, Quick, Ott, Weibrecht, Held, Flanagan, Van Pelt, Bohnert and Neelyville’s Jade Crosswhite were named to the All-Class 2, District 1 Team.

Second-team selections were Kelly’s Macy Burger, Gwen Essner, Katelyn Dannenmueller and Miley Estes; Chaffee’s Pauge Wilhite, Jocelyn Hanlon, Bailey Robertson, Addi Uhrhan and Jordynn Brown; Saxony Lutheran’s Makayla Braeuner, Bekkah Yunck and Myra Roth; St. Puis X’s Katelyn Torrence, Jessie Robertson, Quick; Twin River’s Katie Acre, Reese Crismon and Layla Tompkins; Chaffee’s Pauge Wilhite, Jocelyn Hanlon, Bailey Robertson, Addi Uhrhan and Jordynn Brown; Jefferson’s Annabelle Richardson and Chloe Burger; and Neelyville’s Delayni Dobbins.