Another year and another fantastic group of athletes moving on to the college ranks out of girls softball here in Kansas. It was a year of adventure for a lot of coaches in the state and there were two glaring observations which stood out strong this season.

1. The movement of the pitching rubber back to 43 feet made it virtually impossible to "blow the ball past the hitters" as has been done by so many strong pitchers in years' past. This year's pitchers in order to be successful, had to mix their pitches and "hit their spots". With this movement back, more balls were hit solidly on pitchers in Kansas, raising batting averages and lowering fielding averages as more errors were made in the field than ever before.

2. As the season went on, it became evident that there was a strong class of freshmen players moving into the high school ranks this season, and those freshmen were doing a lot more than just making the team.

As has been the case for as long as we have been selecting a post season softball team, we have selected those players whom not only are highly sought after by major colleges around the country, but those players whom we would like to coach in an all-star game against similar teams from other states.

With that in mind, here is our starting lineup of who we feel we wish to have at the plate for us in an all-star game.

1. Kelsey Stewart, Arkansas City ss

2. Shelby Davis, Goddard cf

3. Stephanie Goodwin, Blue Valley rf

4. Erica Hampton, Bishop Carroll c

5. Kelsey Berlin, Wichita Northwest 1b

6. Niki Stokes, Olathe East lf

7. Devon McReath, Maize 3b

8. Alex Hugo, Olathe South DH

9. Taylor Zordel, Washburn Rural 2b

1. Mackenzie Millspaugh, Wichita Northwest

2. Jessica Sturm, Goddard

3. Jacinda Ramos, Olathe NW

We have selected a total of 15 pitchers from across the state of Kansas with five being designated as starters, five as relief pitchers, and another five as closers. With these pitchers we have selected four catchers as well as two players to cover each of the remaining seven positions. Then we have given ourselves a little leeway and picked three designated hitters as well as three utility players.

A fairly large group this year has been recognized with honorable mention status and we are well aware that a good number of these could challenge for spots on our team in any given week-our athletes are that good. We shall also award honorable mention status to those players whom the coaches award first or second team all-state status to when that listing comes out.

Kahli Barrett, Jr. Olathe South

Sydnee Eck, Jr. Andale

Mackenzie Millspaugh, Sr. Wichita Northwest

Jacinda Ramos, Sr. Olathe Northwest

Jessica Sturm, Sr. Goddard

Kelsey Berlin, Sr. Wichita Northwest

Alise Murray, Jr. Abilene

Kayla Oldham, Sr. Derby

Brooke Redmond, Jr. Basehor

Keelyn Bonar, Sr. Rose Hill

Jenny Brooks, So. Olathe East

Sophia Templin, So. DeSoto

Jesslyn Buie, Jr. St. James

Haleigh Rider, So. Andover

Kyndel Shelburn, Jr. Campus

Erica Hampton, Sr. Bishop Carroll

Austin Hilt, Sr. Derby

Alex Hugo, Jr. Olathe South

Sami Olson, Jr. Olathe East

Kelsey Harlow, Jr. Andale

Greer Hartman, So. Olathe East

Kristi Lee, Sr. Olathe Northwest

Devon McReath, Sr. Maize

Jenna Rangel, Jr. Newton

Kelsey Stewart, Jr. Arkansas City

Lauren Thimmesch, Sr. Saint Thomas Aquinas

Taylor Zordel, Sr. Washburn Rural

Shelby Davis, Sr. Goddard

Stephanie Goodwin, Sr. Blue Valley

Kiki Stokes, Jr. Olathe East

Domi O'Neilo, Sr. Maize

Lauran Seeman, Sr. Maize

Megan Sorlie, Jr. Andover Central

Kelsey Jones, Sr. Bishop Carroll

Alex Millspaugh, Sr. Wichita Northwest

Emily Yoder, Sr. Hutchinson

Kaitlyn Carey, Sr. Bishop Carroll

Maddie Garton, Jr. Blue Valley

Emily Griggs, Fr. Maize

It is a fairly large list of players selected for the honorable mention listing here but taking into consideration five classes of ball players, and the fact that with the ladies, more and more underclassmen are contributing to their teams with big numbers. We or our advisors have seen just about all of these players in person, and a lot more and this is who we feel are the top players in state that weren't selected to our first and second teams above. We feel that most of these athletes should, and will play at the next level should they want to. Where they will play is left up to the players, and the college coaches who are out there looking for players-our only concern is that we feel these players have the ability to play for someone.

Jaclyn Annis, Topeka West

Montana Bailey, Medicine Lodge

Lacy Bolen, Andover Central

Paige Crawford, Salina South

Baylee Creekmore, Mulvane

Logan Davis, Clearwater

Destynee Donaldson, Mulvane

Kenzie Dunlap, Girard

Jessica Fredrick, Blue Valley West

Lauren Grimes, Maize

Kelsey Henry, Washburn Rural

Brooklin Hinz, St. Thomas Aquinas

Leslie Ford, Garden City

Taylor Gard, Chanute

Lindsay Gorham Frontenac

Jessica Haffner, Bishop Carroll

Jordan Haney, Great Bend

Dellyn Hansen, Perry Lecompton

Hayley Hume, Derby

Jillian Jobe Mill Valley

Kelsey Jones, Clay Center

Taylor Kemp, Parsons

Mackenzie King, Buhler

Jody Larsen, Maize South

Maddie Lovsky Olathe Northwest

Lauren Massey, Lawrence

Breana Mogle Columbus

Audra Nelson, Holton

Kaley Patterson, McLouth

Allie Reynolds, Labette County

Chloe Rogers, Blue Valley

Kylie Rupe, Manhattan

Katelyn Schumacher, Hays

Katelynn Smith, Bishop Carroll

Perrin Spears, Valley Center

Bailey Spencer, Maize

Alliston Stewart, Olathe East

Karlie Stuteville, Louisburg

Morgan Swisher, McPherson

Kori Thornton, Garden City

Kristen Bell, Lawrence

Morgan Buie, Gardner Edgerton

Cierra Carajo, Shawnee Mission Northwest

Rachel Evans, Lawrence

Jessica Gragg, Topeka High

Bailey Holt, Mulvane

Kristen James, Maize

Sierra Kemp, Parsons

Ashley Mars, DeSoto

Megan McCracken, Olathe North

Cassidy Merriman, Holton

Katie Mertes, Wichita Heights

Wren Michaels, Manhattan

Emily Otte, Valley Center

Courtney Parker, Lawrence Free State

Kim Paterson, Buhler

Sarah Rothe, Hutchinson

Anna Varriano, Blue Valley

Lexie Zuniga Saint Thomas Aquinas

Kim Bognar, Garden City

Madeline Brungardt, Baldwin

Kaitlyn Buck, Wellington

Alyssa Carney, Washburn Rural

Liz Carney, Bishop Carroll

Baily Cline Andover Central

Meredith Cook, Blue Valle Northwest

Kaci Copeland Wichita Northwest

Kylie Emerson, Shawnee Heights

Jordon Erickson, Perry Lecompton

Kayla Guerrero, Garden City

Chloe Haffley, Kapaun Mt. Carmel

Haley Hansel, Blue Valley Southwest

Sarah Haywood, Goddard

Kristin Locke, St. James Academy

Sarah McNamara, Shawnee Mission South

Cheslyn Mitchell, Riverton

Haylee Marsteller, Lansing

Taylor Nikkel Hillsboro

Nicole Oberdorfer, Blue Valley West

Cori O'Donoghue, Goddard

Katie Pascuzzi, St. Thomas Aquinas

Rachel Potvin, Topeka Seaman

Madison Putman, Maize

Gabby Sandoval, Valley Center

Barbara Specht, Olathe North

Daria Sprew, Topeka High

Kylie Tanner, Blue Valley

Hannah Tush, Basehor Linwood

Amanda Vaupel, Olathe North

Sara Vicory, Washburn Rural

Mikayla Warren, Olathe Northwest

Bonnie Wilt, Olathe East

Makenzie Altman, Hays

Sarah Balderas, Bishop Carroll

Avery Beard, Derby

Lily Behrmann, Blue Valley West

Tori Beltz, Rose Hill

Cassidy Berry, DeSoto

Morgan Bohanan, Goddard

Sloan Brady, BVNW

Jaden Bray, Shawnee Mission West

Taylor Brunson, Mill Valley

Riley Campbell, McPherson

Christina Downs, Augusta

Brittney Dyminiosky, Newton

Colby Dresher, Bishop Carroll

Tori Gloudeman, Maize

Mary Gooding, Jr. Blue Valley North

Mackenzie Hallstrom, Paola

Taylor Hatfield, Mulvane

Blair Lewis, Olathe East

Jackie Lybarger, Blue Valley West

Madison Jones, BVNW

Payton Jones, Maize

Kennedy Long, Derby

Ashley Malone, Wichita East

Bailey Marcotte, Riley County

Paige Mason, Saint Thomas Aquinas

Becca McDonald, Blue Valley

Allie Macfarlane, Blue Valley North

Marisa McGregor, Rose Hill

Kayla McCully Baxter Springs

Lauren McKeown, Goddard

Kailyn Motley, Manhattan

Vashti Neal, Olathe Northwest

Stephanie Patterson, Buhler

Jessie Peacock, Wellsville

Cheyenne Rankin, Paola

Ali Rogers, Jr. Medicine Lodge

Bradie Schmelzer, Andale

Anna Scopp, Blue Valley West

Kelli Spring, Mill Valley

Juliahan Stockham, Wichita Heights

Max Williams, Valley Center

Kelsey Wright, Olathe Northwest

Emilee Vance, Olathe South

Jessica Zidek, Blue Valley North

Emily Henning, Wichita Northwest

Amanda Lowe, Sr. Blue Valley North

Casady Marlnee, Bluestem

Megan McGuire, Blue Valley Southwest

Raven Ortiz Valley Center

Jordan Rose, Blue Valley Southwest

Kalia Wells, Shawnee Heights

Kaitlyn Wolken, Tonganoxie