High school softball: The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area team
First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area softball team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brynn Nelson, Bonney Lake, sr. — Nelson started as a freshman on the Panthers team that won a Class 3A state title three years ago, returned to the state semifinals with Bonney Lake as a sophomore and, following the canceled 2020 season, guided her team to another undefeated 3A PCL title this spring in a shortened season. Bonney Lake never lost a league contest during Nelson’s high school career. The 3A PCL player of the year posted a .714 batting average while slugging at 1.265 with 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 32 RBI, and finished with a .950 fielding percentage at second base. Nelson is a three-time 3A PCL first-teamer and three-time TNT All-Area pick and will continue her softball career at Linfield.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tony Batinovich, Puyallup — The longtime coach wrapped up his 29th and final season with the program with a 10th 4A SPSL title when the Vikings topped Peninsula in the league championship game last month. “This is kinda sweet,” Batinovich said then. “It’s my last game as a head coach. Is there any better way to go out than winning a title with a group of kids you admire? That’s storybook right there.” During his three decades at Puyallup, Batinovich tallied 457 wins, the 10 league titles, five West Central District titles and 11 appearances in the 4A state tournament — including the program’s first state title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2017. He was a seven-time 4A SPSL coach of the year.
FIRST TEAM
PITCHERS
Bella Carazo, Bonney Lake, soph. — Bonney Lake’s ace was dominant in the circle this spring, posting an 11-0 record and minuscule 0.63 ERA. The 3A PCL pitcher of the year allowed only five earned runs this season and struck out 91 batters while walking eight in helping the Panthers to an undefeated 3A PCL title.
Alli Kimball, Peninsula, soph. — The 4A SPSL North most valuable pitcher was calm and consistent in the circle, finishing with a 7-2 record and 2.45 ERA in 16 appearances and helping the Seahawks to a runner-up finish in the 4A SPSL tournament. She compiled 120 strikeouts to 11 walks across her 69 innings pitched. Kimball also hit .356 for Peninsula, scored 16 runs and drove in 14 more.
Sami Potvin, Olympia, fr. — Potvin made a quick impact on the 4A SPSL in her first high school season, posting a 6-1 record and 0.88 ERA nine appearances, and struck out 90 batters while walking 11. The 4A SPSL South most valuable pitcher also chipped in on offense, adding five doubles and a home run for the Bears while hitting .362.
Justyce Porter, Thomas Jefferson, jr. — Porter was the 1A Nisqually League MVP two seasons ago as a freshman at Seattle Christian, but the program did not field a team this spring, so she joined Thomas Jefferson’s squad and impressed in the circle with her five-pitch mix on the way to 3A NPSL pitcher of the year honors, striking out 87 batters in 53 innings. She was just as valuable to the Raiders on offense, hitting .657/.717/1.571 with seven doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 26 RBI.
Isabelle Welch, Puyallup, soph. — The Vikings ace wrapped up a stellar season by tossing her 10th complete game in the 4A SPSL title win over Peninsula and picking up her ninth victory. The 4A SPSL South most valuable pitcher compiled a 9-3 record and 1.73 ERA in 12 appearances, tallied four shutouts and struck out 132 batters while walking 12 in 85 innings. Welch also hit .340 for the Vikings and drove in 12 runs.
Sarah Wright, Kentwood, fr. — The 4A NPSL pitcher of the year struck out more than half of the batters she faced in her first high school season, tallying 117 while walking 19 across 55 innings. Wright collected double-digit strikeouts in each outing and tossed a pair of no-hitters — including one in five innings against Decatur and another in seven innings against Federal Way. She finished 7-2 with a 0.76 ERA in nine appearances. Wright was also one of Kentwood’s top contributors on offense, hitting .500/.571/.821 with four doubles, a triple, home run, team-leading 16 RBI, five walks, four stolen bases, and never struck out.
CATCHERS
Emma Dazell, Tahoma, sr. — The 4A NPSL first-teamer was a force at the plate, hitting .653/.630/1.449 with eight doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 34 RBI. She led the 4A NPSL champion Bears in slugging percentage, extra-base hits, homers and RBI. Dazell was also solid behind the plate, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage in 80 2/3 innings and caught three runners stealing.
Tori Trotter, Timberline, soph. — The 3A SSC most valuable player led the Blazers in nearly every offensive category, posting a .763/.839/1.473 slash line with 11 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 24 RBI and 16 stolen bases. She was just as solid on defense with a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate in 64 1/3 innings.
INFIELDERS
Ashlyn Aven, Yelm, jr. — Aven played third base for the undefeated 3A SSC champion Tornados and was a powerful presence in the batter’s box, hitting .463/.500/.926 with 20 runs scored and a team-leading seven doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI. She was a 3A SSC first-team pick.
Samantha Bland, Puyallup, jr. — The 4A SPSL South first-teamer keyed the Vikings’ offense in the league title win over Peninsula and finished the season hitting .426/.483/.851. She played third base and led Puyallup in nearly every offensive category, tallying 17 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, four home runs and 20 RBI.
Kirsten Chung, Tahoma, sr. — Tahoma’s leadoff hitter posted a .500/.617/.773 slash line with six doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI, 12 walks, did not strike out and added a team-leading five stolen bases on her way to 4A NPSL co-player of the year honors. She added a .909 fielding percentage at shortstop for a Bears team that topped the 4A NPSL.
Alison Harris, Graham-Kapowsin, jr. — The 4A SPSL South co-MVP posted a .500/.571/1.134 slash line with seven doubles, four triples, six home runs, 30 RBI and four stolen bases. She led the Eagles in batting average, slugging percentage, doubles and home runs. Harris added a .902 fielding percentage at second base.
Kaiea Higa, Tahoma, jr. — The Oregon State commit has already broken Tahoma’s career home run record, and finished her second high school season hitting .667/.705/1.278 with nine doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBI. The 4A NPSL first-teamer led the 4A NPSL champion Bears in batting average, on-base percentage, doubles and runs scored (32). She also posted a 1.000 fielding percentage at third base. She is a two-time TNT All-Area pick.
Kailei Thompson, Yelm, jr. — The speedy shortstop helped Yelm to yet another undefeated 3A SSC title on her way to first-team 3A SSC honors. The lefty slapper hit .531/.596/551 with 26 runs scored, a double, 17 RBI and three stolen bases.
Alyssa Waltermeyer, Olympia, jr. — Waltermeyer posted team-leading totals in batting average (.630), on-base percentage (.667) and slugging percentage (.978), while tallying six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 20 RBI and seven stolen bases. She posted 10 multi-hit games on her way to 4A SPSL South co-MVP honors. She added a .961 fielding percentage at shortstop. Waltermeyer has since transferred to Tumwater and played basketball for the T-Birds this spring.
OUTFIELDERS
Kaitlyn Anardi, Auburn Riverside, jr. — The 3A NPSL first-teamer posted a 1.000 fielding percentage for the league champion Ravens while hitting .452/.510/.690 with seven doubles, a home run, 17 RBI and seven stolen bases for the team that topped powerhouse Tahoma in the 4A/3A NPSL championship crossover game.
Marisol Bergstrom, South Kitsap, sr. — The 4A SPSL North most valuable player was a four-year starter for the Wolves in center field, and hit .600/.625/.688 this spring with two doubles, a triple and eight RBI. The speedy leadoff hitter added 28 stolen bases and scored 25 runs in 11 games. She is committed to play for Saint Martin’s next season.
Hailey Rath, Eatonville, jr. — Rath posted incredible offensive numbers in leading the Cruisers to a decisive undefeated run through the 2A SPSL. She hit .704/.746/1.833, leading Eatonville in batting average and slugging percentage, with a 2.579 OPS. The 2A SPSL athlete of the year finished with 41 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs, 58 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 13 games while adding a 1.000 fielding percentage in center field.
Cady Wilton, Kentlake, sr. — The 3A NPSL first-teamer led the Falcons on offense, posting a .556/.615/.756 with two doubles, two triples, a home run, 13 RBI, and nine stolen bases as their leadoff hitter. The Central Washington signee also had a 1.000 fielding percentage in center field. She is a two-time TNT All-Area pick.
UTILITY
Gracie Higgins, Franklin Pierce, sr. — The 2A SPSL pitcher of the year guided the Cardinals to a runner-up finish in the 2A SPSL tournament, and finished with an 8-1 record and 3.29 ERA in 11 appearances. She pitched nearly every frame for Franklin Pierce this spring, and struck out 99 batters while walking 19 across 61 2/3 innings. The Bethel College commit added seven doubles, a triple and 17 RBI on offensive while hitting .444.
Shelby Lawson, Kennedy Catholic, jr. — The 4A NPSL co-player of the year played shortstop for the Lancers while also pitching in a handful of games. She was a force for Kennedy at the plate, hitting .702 with nine doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
Taylor Martinez, Tumwater, jr. — The 2A EvCo offensive MVP caught every game for the T-Birds while posting a .468 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage, and adding nine doubles and 28 RBI as a staple in the middle of the lineup.
Jasmyn Polanco, Timberline, fr. — Polanco was a standout in the circle, in the batter’s box and on the base paths for the Blazers in her first high school season. The 3A SSC pitcher of the year finished 9-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 13 appearances, and struck out 112 batters while walking 37 across 66 1/3 innings. She also posted a .636 batting average and .707 on-base percentage as Timberline’s leadoff hitter with five doubles, three triples, a home run, 26 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
Raquel Reising, Auburn Riverside, jr. — The 3A NPSL most valuable player did everything for a Ravens team that won the 3A NPSL title and topped powerhouse Tahoma in the 4A/3A NPSL championship crossover game. Reising played shortstop, center field and pitched 30 innings for Auburn Riverside with a .963 fielding percentage. She also led the Ravens offensively, hitting .756/.788/1.467 with a 2.255 OPS, and had eight doubles, three triples, six home runs, 26 RBI and 12 stolen bases.
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Emily Baxter, Tenino, jr.; Ashley Brascher, Tumwater, sr.; Haley Olson, Eatonville, sr.; Reagan Ovechka, Graham-Kapowsin, fr.; Emily Panush, Spanaway Lake, sr.; Hailey Sheffer, Tahoma, sr.; Amaya Smith, Sumner, sr.; Vivian Watts, Yelm, jr.
Catchers — Tatum Kukahiko, Sumner, jr. Isabel Quintanilla, Emerald Ridge, soph.; Hannah Tyree, Todd Beamer, sr.
Infielders — Kylie Baker, Timberline, sr.; Emily Barry, Peninsula, sr.; Mackenzie Camus, Timberline, jr.; Alex Ginnis, Curtis, sr.; Alissa Hermansen, Bonney Lake, soph.; Caroline Hofmann, Gig Harbor, sr.; Kamryn Hyland, Shelton, sr.; Bella Jones, Bonney Lake, soph.; Riley McGee, Sumner, fr.; Riley Peschek, Gig Harbor, soph.; Ainsley Porter, Kennedy Catholic, jr.; Gracie Ray, Olympia, jr.; Haley Rusbuldt, Lakes, jr.; Dakota Smith, Eatonville, jr.; Noelani Souza, Washington, sr.
Outfielders — Kyla Cross, Bonney Lake, soph.; Natalie Gomez, Bonney Lake, sr.; Maddie Higginbotham, Enumclaw, soph.; Alyssa Hoff, Olympia, soph.; Madison Knull, Tahoma, soph.; Lauryn Krick, Puyallup, soph.; Mel Larance, Sumner, jr.; Aislinn O’Reilly, Peninsula, jr.; Amy Pederson, Kennedy Catholic, soph.; Alina Quinney, Eatonville, soph.; Rudi Reyes, Curtis, jr.; Kayliana Sablan, Spanaway Lake, sr.; Emma Stamp, South Kitsap, soph.; Katryna Tuller, Timberline, sr.
Utility — Trinity Aycock, Bonney Lake, sr.; Tamsen Henry, Vashon Island, sr.; Berkeley Porter, Eatonville, jr.; Tori Smith, Olympia, soph.; Raeden Young, Tahoma, soph.
