The State Journal-Register | Friday, July 3, 2015 P37

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MorganHigginbotham■ Williamsvillesenior catcher

The SJ-R All-AreaHonorary Captain stepped intothe catcher's role full time andwas an offensive and defensiveleader for the Bullets' 27-7 Class2A sectional champions. Shewas No. 2 on the team in battingaverage (.400), home runs (six)and RBIs (36) and will play atQuincy University. ICA 2A third-team all-state, first-team All-Sangamo Conference.

LakynWagoner■ Havana junioroutfielder

The athletic juniorhit .496 with two home runs, 14RBIs and an area-leading 43stolen bases. Wagoner struck outnine times in 113 at-bats. ICA 2Asecond-team all-state, unani-mous All-Prairieland Conference.

2015 ALL-AREA SOFTBALL

Julia O'Conner■ Williamsvillesenior first baseman

O'Conner made All-Area for the secondstraight year as she swung a bigbat for the Sangamo Conferencechampions. She batted a team-leading .432 with 12 home runsand 44 RBIs and struck out just11 times in 125 plate appear-ances. Will play at St. AmbroseUniversity. First-team All-Sangamo Conference.

Kelsie Allen■ Pawnee seniorinfielder

Third basemanAllen (below) wasa force for theIndians, who earned their thirdstraight 1A regional title. She bat-ted .476 with 18 doubles, eighttriples, three home runs and 33RBIs. She had a .526 on-basepercentage. Will play at LincolnLand Community College. ICA 1Athird-team all-state, unanimousAll-MSM Conference.

AileanaRawlins■ Beardstownsenior infielder

A standout three-sport athlete, shortstop Rawlinshelped the Tigers to a 26-9record and PrairielandConference and 2A regionaltitles. She batted a team-high.474 with 30 RBIs, 55 hits and 15stolen bases. Will attend SIU-Edwardsville, but is unsure aboutcontinuing to play. ICA 2A third-team all-state; unanimous All-Prairieland Conference.

Kayla Thoron■ North Mac senior infielder

Thoron led thePanthers in battingaverage (.511),home runs (seven), RBIs (29)and doubles (15). The shortstopalso struck out just three timesin 96 plate appearances. Willplay at Missouri Baptist. ICA 2Athird-team all-state, first-teamAll-Sangamo Conference.

Ali Nowicki■ PetersburgPORTA junior outfielder

Nowicki was solidat bat and in thefield for the Bluejays. While com-mitting just one error, she batted.417 with 24 RBIs and 12 doubles,striking out seven times in 93plate appearances. Already hascommitted to HeartlandCommunity College. First-teamAll-Sangamo Conference.

Kailey Talley■ Taylorvillejunior outfielder

A three-year varsitystarter in centerfield, Talley led thearea in hits (60) and was third inbatting average (.526). Shehelped lead the Tornadoes tothird place in the ApolloConference at 6-4. First-teamAll-Apollo Conference.

MorganHeckman■ Riverton seniordesignated hitter

Heckman (below)was a much-needed leader for ayoung Riverton team, batting.530 with three home runs and30 RBIs in addition to going 23-for-24 in stolen-base attempts.She played shortstop aftercatching the last three years andhad a .986 fielding percentage.Will play at Lincoln Land. First-team All-Sangamo Conference.

Lexi Law■ Litchfield juniorutility player

While shortstopwas Law's mainposition, Litchfieldcoach Jen Bitter said the juniorcan play any position other thanpitcher. Law's .468 batting aver-age included six doubles, seventriples and two home runs. Shealso stole 17 bases. ICA 2A sec-ond-team all-state, unanimousAll-South Central Conference.

AddisonBryant■ Gillespiesophomore pitcher

At a school that'sproduced some exceptionalpitchers, Bryant entered the con-versation after posting an area-high 243 strikeouts against 31walks. She went 16-9 with a 1.58earned run average, throwing aperfect game in a regional titlewin over North Mac. First-teamAll-South Central Conference.

Olivia Carter■ Pleasant Plainssophomore pitcher

Carter went 12-9for a young Plainsteam and helpedlead the Cardinals to a 2Aregional championship. Thesophomore struck out 144 andwalked just 34 while posting a2.10 ERA. First-team All-Sangamo Conference.

PaytonSturdy■ Buffalo Tri-Citysophomore pitcher

Sturdy stepped intothe Tornadoes' No. 1 pitchingspot and responded with a 13-1record and 2.00 ERA with 98strikeouts against 14 walks in 74innings. She also batted an area-leading .534 with 28 RBIs as Tri-City finished 27-4. First-team All-MSM Conference; ICA 2A third-team all-state.

HannahTomasko■ North Macsophomore pitcher

Tomasko pitchedthe Panthers to a 19-8 finish asshe went 17-6 with a 2.29 ERA.She racked up 230 strikeouts(No. 2 in the area) and walked 60in 147 2/3 innings. Tomasko alsohelped her own cause with 19RBIs. Second-team All-SangamoConference.

Honorablemention■ Catchers — PaigeEnlow, Sr., Taylorville.Maddie Fox, Sr.,Beardstown. KatieJarrett, So., Tri-City.Mackenzie Kasarda, Fr.,Gillespie. Skylar Krager,Jr., Raymond Lincolnwood.Carly Kulenkamp, Sr.,Carlinville. Ali Peden, Jr.,Edinburg. Sarah VanBebber, Sr., Auburn■ First base — DanielleDennis, Fr., Williamsville.Katie Patton, Jr., Taylorville■ Infielders —EmilyAckerson, So., Auburn.Cheyenne Ashcraft, Sr.,Pana. Abby Brockmeyer,So., RaymondLincolnwood. BayleeHughes, Jr., Carlinville.Morgan Leka, Sr., Tri-City.Molly McCray, Sr., NorthMac. Mercedez Morgan,Sr., Taylorville. LaurenMulacek, Jr., North Mac.Macie Nagel, So., NewBerlin. Jenna Sale, So.,Lincolnwood. AbbySalzeider, Sr., Pawnee.Riley Scharf, Sr., Litchfield.Brianne Seiders, Sr.,Calvary. Megan Spain,Sr., Buffalo Tri-City. TaylerSpindel, So., New Berlin.■ Outfielders — KarlyBruntjen, Fr., Lincolnwood.Madyson Butkauskas,So., Pana. Ally Clay, Fr.,Gillespie. Kylee Kabeah,Sr., Pleasant Plains.Karlie Mackenzie, Fr.,Auburn. Hailey Patrick,So., Tri-City. KyleeSchnirring, So., NewBerlin. Emma Walbert,Fr., Williamsville.■ Designated hitter —Lizzie Nance, Jr.,Gillespie.■ Utility player —Courtney Kernich, So.,Mount Olive.■ Pitchers — SamanthaBlair, Sr., Beardstown.Alex DeVaney, Sr.,Williamsville. KrystinaKernich, Sr., MountOlive. Adriana Suter, Jr.,Pana. Tessa Steffens, Sr.,Litchfield. Haley Stewart,Sr., Taylorville. MackenzieTanner, So., Auburn.

Past HonoraryCaptains2005 — Rachel Smith(Williamsville)2006 — Katie Ward(North Greene)2007 — Kelcie Matesa(Gillespie)2008 — Kelcie Matesa(Gillespie)2009 — Jillian Hills(Williamsville)2010 — Marissa Jenkins(Pleasant Plains)2011 — Chelsea Minor(Petersburg PORTA)2012 — StephanieWatkins (Tri-City)2013 — Hayley Long(Williamsville)2014 — Lexie Jarrett(Buffalo Tri-City)2015 — MorganHigginbotham(Williamsville)

North Mac sophomore Hannah Tomasko finished with thesecond-most strikeouts among area pitchers with 230 thisseason. TED SCHURTER/THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

HITTING(Minimum 1 at-bat per team game)

AB R H HR RBI AvgSturdy, T-C 73 29 39 0 28 .534Heckman, Riv 66 26 35 3 30 .530Talley, Tay 114 42 60 1 21 .526Scharf, Litch 82 22 43 0 26 .524Ashcraft, Pana 84 20 44 1 30 .524Thoron, NMac 90 26 46 7 29 .511Patrick, T-C 76 45 38 0 11 .500K. Kernich, M.O. 30 13 15 1 11 .500Wagoner, Hav 113 42 56 2 14 .496Steffens, Litch 82 28 40 3 29 .488Allen, Paw 103 36 49 3 33 .476McCray, NMac 82 17 39 5 27 .476Rawlins, Beard 116 41 55 2 30 .474Walters, Riv 70 29 33 0 11 .471L. Law, Litch 77 31 36 2 21 .468Schneider, Nok 69 27 32 1 36 .464Kahbeah, Plains 74 19 34 0 13 .459C. Kernich, M.O. 74 30 34 2 26 .459Fox , Beard 92 10 42 3 32 .457Peden, Edin 77 5 35 1 19 .455Enlow, Tay 113 36 51 3 53 .451Brockmeyer, Lwood 99 26 44 1 25 .444Jarrett, T-C 70 12 31 5 38 .443Hughes, Carlin 85 30 37 5 28 .435Leka, T-C 83 34 36 6 34 .434O'Conner, Wville 111 35 48 12 44 .432Kulenkamp, Carlin 91 33 39 3 20 .429Patton, Tay 87 28 37 1 19 .425Nagel, N.B. 102 19 43 1 25 .422Hunt, T-C 43 15 18 3 17 .419A. Nowicki, Porta 84 27 35 1 24 .417Magness, Tay 72 17 30 0 23 .417Bruntjen, Lwood 90 24 37 0 19 .411Spain, T-C 103 43 42 0 31 .408Ackerson , Aub 79 27 32 3 19 .405Higginbotham, Wville115 13 46 6 36 .400Dennis, Wville 100 36 40 1 26 .400Ballard, Hav 90 19 36 0 24 .400Salzeider, Paw 90 44 36 0 31 .400Morgan, Tay 111 42 44 2 25 .396Durham, Tay 101 24 40 0 19 .396Butkauskas, Pana 94 25 37 0 7 .394Kasarda, Gill 77 22 30 2 24 .390Turasky, Porta 72 16 28 0 18 .389Mathias, T-C 85 9 33 0 24 .388O. Dour, Beard 80 34 31 5 35 .388Kane, Hav 93 29 36 2 26 .387Fields, M.O. 75 34 29 4 18 .387Sale, Lwood 102 35 39 0 19 .382Mahoney, Porta 79 17 30 0 21 .380MacKenzie, Aub 82 27 31 1 16 .378McClelland, T-C 45 26 17 0 8 .378Walbert, Wville 107 37 40 0 11 .374Burton, Wville 83 20 31 1 26 .373Virgin, Porta 73 24 27 1 6 .370Allen, T-C 84 27 31 1 32 .369R. Kernich, M.O. 79 20 29 1 19 .367K. Cox, Nok 94 27 34 2 21 .362Mulacek, NMac 95 36 34 2 21 .358Niehaus, M.O. 71 24 25 4 27 .352Matthews, Litch 66 12 23 1 18 .348Harmston, Pana 78 13 27 0 16 .346Spindel, N.B. 93 21 32 2 20 .344Hull, Wville 102 25 35 0 28 .343Bee, Plains 73 12 25 0 15 .342Van Bebber, Aub 82 5 28 0 22 .341Kirchner, Beard 100 18 34 4 33 .340Ireland, Riv 56 9 19 0 4 .339Nance, Gill 68 8 23 1 13 .338Goldsmith, Nok 93 25 31 0 8 .333Murphy, Hav 84 22 28 4 14 .333Carter, Plains 78 17 26 1 20 .333McCormick, Wville 39 8 13 0 4 .333

Beaty, N.B. 82 12 27 0 6 .329Frerichs, Litch 79 16 26 4 22 .329Galloway, Paw 79 17 26 0 22 .329Bollman, M.O. 70 12 23 1 18 .329Fields, Gill 52 20 17 3 14 .327DeVaney, Wville 120 4 39 0 20 .325Yockey, Plains 71 15 23 0 12 .324Krager, Lwood 93 36 30 0 13 .323K. Nowicki, Porta 56 14 18 0 9 .321Vehovc, Riv 60 12 19 0 10 .317Schnirring, N.B. 87 17 27 0 9 .310White, Beard 94 22 29 2 29 .309B. Cox, Nok 79 12 24 0 10 .304Cowell, Beard 86 26 26 0 15 .302Maxedon, Aub 93 26 28 0 15 .301

STOLEN BASESWagoner (Hav) 43; Heckman (Riv) 23; C. Kernich(M.O.) 22; Bryant (Gill) 21; Patrick (T-C) 21;Salzeider (Paw) 21; Fields (M.O.) 19; Schneider(Nok) 19; McClelland (T-C) 18; Goldsmith (Nok) 17;L. Law (Litch) 17; Steffens (Litch) 17; Roth (Paw)16; Scharf (Litch) 16; Allen (Paw) 15; Kasarda (Gill)15; Rawlins (Beard) 15; Strohbeck (M.O.) 13;Butkauskas (Pana) 12; Sturdy (T-C) 12; Worker(Paw) 12; Inman (Nok) 11; Spain (T-C) 11;Gebhards (Plains) 10; Kane (Hav) 10; Krager(Lwood) 10; Rush (Plains) 10.

PITCHING(Minimum 1 inning per team game)

IP H BB SO W L ERADeSpain, Carlin 104 70 30 123 11 4 1.55Bryant, Gill 159.1 116 31 243 16 9 1.58Long, Wville 85.2 77 35 99 8 4 1.63Mahoney, Porta 135 188 34 83 12 10 1.64K. Kernich, M.O. 23 14 15 33 3 1 1.85Sturdy, T-C 73.2 47 14 98 13 1 2.00Rutherford, T-C 69.1 68 16 45 9 2 2.02Hemmerle, Aub 45 48 9 33 3 3 2.02Carter, Plains 143 130 34 144 12 9 2.10Blair, Beard 147 141 30 87 18 6 2.27Tomasko, NMac 147.2 90 60 230 17 6 2.29Steffens, Litch 131.2 111 71 160 13 9 2.39DeVaney, Wville 126 120 37 92 19 3 2.40Craig, Beard 50 57 18 36 5 1 2.62Tanner, Aub 77.1 58 31 97 7 7 2.63Murphy, Hav 121.2 171 31 90 10 10 3.10Stewart, Tay 191.1 213 63 156 18 13 3.59Brckmeyr, Lwood 119 106 103 107 10 10 3.59Brown, Nok 136.2 192 30 84 10 12 3.94R. Kernich, M.O. 42 42 15 37 1 3 3.94Ackerson , Aub 46.2 57 34 39 5 2 4.05Thornton, Paw 171 227 69 70 14 13 4.46Baptist, Riv 96 166 16 52 9 9 4.74C. Kernich, M.O. 74 82 67 63 6 8 4.90

(x-denotes unanimous selection)

APOLLO CONFERENCEPitchers — Karra Wilwick, Sr., Mount Zion;Katelyn Fisher, Sr., Mattoon; Cassi Dow, Soph.,MattoonFirst Team — Bailey Sarff, Sr., Mount Zion; AlexDavis, Sr., Mount Zion; Sarah Wilkerson, Jr.,Mount Zion; Alli Davis, Soph., Mount Zion;Kyliegh Basham, Jr., Mattoon; Ivy Nichols, Soph.,Mattoon; Madison Weis, Jr., Effingham; PaigeEnlow, Sr., Taylorville; Kailey Talley, Jr., Taylorville;Alley O'Dell, Soph., CharlestonTaylorville second-team selection — Sr.Haley Stewart

MSM CONFERENCEFirst Team — x-Katie Jarrett, Buffalo Tri-City; x-Kelsie Allen, Pawnee; Payton Sturdy, Buffalo Tri-City; Brianne Seiders, Calvary; Abby Salzeider,Pawnee; Krystina Kernich, Mount Olive; MorganLeka, Buffalo Tri-City; Kara Brockamp,Morrisonville; Courtney Kernich, Mount Olive.Second Team — Ali Peden, Edinburg; AbbyBrockmeyer, Raymond Lincolnwood; MeganSpain, Buffalo Tri-City; Rachael Kernich, MountOlive; Hailey Patirck, Buffalo Tri-City; MarcyLangen, Morrisonville; Jill Niehaus, Mount Olive;Karly Bruntjen, Raymond Lincolnwood; SkylarKrager, Raymond LincolnwoodHonorable mention — Christin Mathias,Buffalo Tri-City; Aubrey Hunt, Buffalo Tri-City; EllaRutherford, Buffalo Tri-City; Caitlyn Fields, MountOlive; Jenna Sale, Raymond Lincolnwood

PRAIRIELAND CONFERENCEFirst TeamPitchers — x-Morgan Florey, Brimfield; x-Payton Reed, Lewistown; Samantha Blair,Beardstown; Alli Sprague, FarmingtonFielders — x-Madyson Fox, Beardstown; x-Aileana Rawlins, Beardstown; x-Lakyn Wagoner,Havana; x-Morgan Ledbeter, Brimfield; x-Kennedy Dura, Brimfield; x-Ariel Towery,Lewistown; Kaylee Renfroe, Farmington; BreSpringer, Farmington; Skyler Mikulich,Lewistown; Alexis Kegley, Cuba North Fulton;Kylie Crouse, Astoria South Fulton; JessicaHerndon, Sciota West PrairieArea second teamPitchers — Tayler Murphy, Havana.Fielders — Kaila Kirchner, Beardstown; OliviaDour, Beardstown; Madaline Kane, Havana;Hannah Etter, Rushville-Industry

Area special mentionFielders — Kayla McDaniel, Havana; KrystaBallard, Havana

PRAIRIE STATE CONFERENCEFirst TeamPitchers — Victoria Beachum, East Alton-WoodRiver; Meghan Schorman, Alton MarquetteCatcher — Ashley Schneider, NokomisOutfielders — Delaney Goldsmith, Nokomis;Abby McMahon, Edwardsville Metro-EastLutheran; Sydney Schwegel, Bunker HillInfielders — Karmyn Cox, Nokomis; MallorySchwegel, Bunker Hill; Haley Shewmake, EastAlton-Wood River; Emma Taylor, Alton MarquetteDesignated hitter — Brea Cox, NokomisUtility player — Courtney Beneke, East Alton-Wood RiverArea honorable mentionKrystina Kernich, P, Mount Olive; CourtneyKernich, C, Mount Olive; Taylor Inman, IF,Nokomis; Rachael Kernich, IF, Mount Olive

SANGAMO CONFERENCEFirst TeamAuburn — Emily AckersonMason City Illini Central — Bailey PaskachNew Berlin — Macie NagelNorth Mac — Molly McCray, Kayla Thoron,Lauren MulacekPetersburg PORTA — Ali NowickiPleasant Plains — Kylee Kebeah, Olivia CarterRiverton — Morgan HeckmanWilliamsville — Morgan Higginbotham, AlexDeVaney, Julia O'ConnerSecond TeamAthens — Destiny VanCleave, Sarah LindsayAuburn — Karlie MackenzieMason City Illini Central — Dakota SchmeidererNew Berlin — Tayler SpindelNorth Mac — Hannah TomaskoPetersburg PORTA — Quinlan MahoneyPleasant Plains — Jenny Rush, Lexy YockeyRiverton — Abigail WaltersWilliamsville — Emma Walbert, Danielle Dennis,Courtney TurnbullHonorable MentionAthens — Evelyn Heyen. Auburn — Sarah VanBebber, Liz Plessa, Carly Coleman, MackenzieMaxedon, Skyler Pieper. Mason City Illini Central— Lorena Leinweber. North Mac — KylieNerone, Brenda Barnes, Michaela Royer.Petersburg PORTA — Shaye Virgin, KayceeTurasky. Pleasant Plains — Mary Beth Yates

SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCEFirst TeamPitchers — Addison Bryant, Soph., Gillespie;Hannah Rexford, Fr., Roxana; Delissa Dennison,Jr., StauntonCatcher — Carly Kulenkamp, Sr., CarlinvilleInfielders — x-Lexi Law, Jr., Litchfield; MarcyMcCalla, Soph., Staunton; Maddie Nichols, Jr.,Staunton; Baylee Hughes, Jr., CarlinvilleOutfielders — x-Ashlynn Ringhausen, Sr., PiasaSouthwestern; Ally Clay, Fr., Gillespie; NatlieGusewelle, Soph., StauntonDH/utility — Lizzy Nance, Jr., GillespieArea Second TeamAlyssa DeSpain, Fr. P, Carlinville; Riley Scharf,Sr. IF, Litchfield; Taylor Hannig, Sr. IF,Carlinville; Cheyenne Ashcraft, Sr. IF, Pana;Beth Hammann, Jr. OF, Gillespie; Abby Munios, Jr.OF, Gillespie; Tessa Steffens, Sr. DP/utlity,LitchfieldArea Third TeamTessa Steffens, Sr. P, Litchfield; Adrianna Suter,Jr. P, Pana; Devin Barrett, Sr. C, Staunton; CarlyCameron, Jr. IF, Hillsboro; Jenna Parmentier,Soph. IF, Staunton; Grace Nichols, Fr. OF,Staunton; Abby Frerichs, Jr. OF, Litchfield;Madyson Butkauskas, Soph. OF, Pana; EmilyRedeker, Soph. DP/utility, Staunton

TOMAHAWK CONFERENCEFirst TeamGlasford Illini Bluffs — Sr. Rachel May; Soph.Katie David; Jr. Carly ScottHartsburg-Emden — Fr. Emme Olson, Sr. MegMeeker, Sr. Erica WolpertManito Midwest Central — Soph. BriannaTurner; Sr. Rachel LeeMason City Illini Central — Jr. Carly Scott, Soph.Dakota Schmeiderer, Sr. Bailey PaskachArea Second TeamLorena Leinweber, Jr., Mason City Illini Central

WESTERN ILLINOIS VALLEY CONFERENCENORTH DIVISIONJacksonville Routt — Cassidy Abbott, SarahNewell, Caroline CaslerConcord Triopia — Lauren O'Daniell, Emily BurnsMount Sterling Brown County — MadisonRyssman, Megan Winston, Mariah Markert,Alissa HodgeGriggsville-Perry — Peyton Bonds, HannahDewitt, Jordan Brite, Lexi Kessinger, Lynley EllisWest Central — Sydney Rock, Mackenzie Evans,Alexis Moore, Kaitlyn Moore

2015 ALL-AREA SOFTBALL

ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

On the WebTo see stories on previousArea Softball HonoraryCaptains, go tobit.ly/sjrawards. To seemore of this year’s springhigh school sportsawards recipients, go tosj-r.com.

Capsules by DAVE KANE | Staff Writer | dave.kane@sj-r.com | 788-1544

FINAL STATISTICS