The News Tribune’s 2024 All-Area softball team
First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2024 All-Area softball team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Wright, Kentwood, sr. — 4A NPSL pitcher of the year was again a dominant force on the mound even with a lighter workload until later in the season. Compiled a 12-2 record, 1.00 earned run average and 229 strikeouts. At the plate, hit .486 with four home runs, leading Kentwood to the Class 4A state tournament semifinals. Arizona commit is a two-time TNT All-Area player of the year, also earning the honor her sophomore year.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bryce Strand, Auburn Riverside — Coached the Ravens to a 24-5 overall record, a 10-1 mark and league title in the 3A NPSL and the Class 3A state championship. In the state tournament, Auburn Riverside’s offense averaged 16 runs per game, blowing by Monroe, Mount Spokane, top-seeded University and Snohomish to win the title.
PITCHERS
Danica Butler, Auburn Riverside, jr. — 3A NPSL pitcher of the year was among the state’s elite in racking up wins, posting a 21-4 record with a 3.11 earned run average, 165 strikeouts and 61 walks in 121.2 innings pitched.
Ella Ferguson, Tumwater, jr. — Thurston County had no shortage of arm talent this spring, and Ferguson was one to watch. The 2A EvCo MVP led the T-Birds to a 2A state tournament runner-up finish, compiling a 16-4 record with 245 strikeouts, 48 walks and a 1.89 earned run average in 141 innings pitched. At the plate, hit .403 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 17 RBI.
Emma Hoffmeister, Franklin Pierce, sr. — The 2A SPSL pitcher of the year guided the Cardinals to the state tournament quarterfinals, posting a 10-0 record with 113 strikeouts and 22 walks in 65 innings pitched. At the plate, hit .426 with four doubles, two triples, 20 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Jasmyn Polanco, Timberline, sr. — 3A SSC pitcher of the year was a workhorse for the Blazers, tallying 17 wins with a 1.38 earned run average and 194 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .186 batting average against her. At the plate, hit .344 with seven home runs and 21 RBI.
Sami Potvin, Olympia, sr. — 4A SPSL MVP was a strikeout machine on the mound for the state tournament Bears, compiling a 9-2 record, 1.99 earned run average, 204 strikeouts to just 15 walks this spring in 98 2/3 innings pitched. At the plate, hit .465 with seven doubles, eight home runs, 31 runs scored and 32 RBI.
Alanna Wirtala, Emerald Ridge, jr. — The heartbeat of Emerald Ridge’s 4A state tournament runner-up squad, Wirtala posted a 15-5 record with a 2.25 earned run average, struck out 134 batters and walked just 17 in 118 innings pitched.
CATCHERS
Kalani Higa, Tahoma, jr. — A constant power threat for the Bears, Higa hit .492 with nine doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 47 RBI. First-team 4A NPSL selection.
Miken Jacobsen, Orting, sr. — Few players, if any, saw the ball better this spring than Jacobsen, who struck out just twice all spring. Hit .627 with 14 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 49 RBI, 34 runs scored and seven walks.
INFIELDERS
Riley McGee, Sumner, sr. — Complete dual-threat slashed .521/.568/1.123 with nine home runs and 30 RBI, an anchor for Sumner’s state-tournament team. Corner infielder and trusted right-hander was named 4A SPSL pitcher of the year with 1.81 ERA (81 innings). Strike-thrower and Northwest Nazarene commit fanned 109 hitters and walked 10.
Raygun Klippert, Rogers, sr. — Leadoff hitter and everyday shortstop scored 27 runs for the Rams with a 1.342 OPS (.544/.592/.750). Two-time TNT All-Area selection and Montana commit.
Kailee Pearson, Cascade Christian, jr. — It’s almost unfathomable, but Pearson still hasn’t struck out in three years at Cascade Christian. The two-time defending 1A Nisqually player of the year slashed .702/.781/1.681 with an OPS of 2.462 and crushed eight homers with 42 RBI. Pearson went 7-0 on the mound (42 innings) with a 1.23 ERA and opponents hit just .140 against her, guiding the Cougars to the state quarterfinals.
Kyra Smith, Puyallup, sr. — Smith’s 15 home runs led Class 4A and ranked fourth in Washington. The Colorado State commit slugged 1.137 (1.668 OPS) with 32 extra-base hits and drove in 60 RBI, helping Puyallup to the state tournament.
Kaylee Walker, Auburn Riverside, sr. — One of the South Sound’s premier players, Walker led Washington state with 19 home runs and 69 RBI and never committed an error in her senior campaign at third base. The 3A NPSL player of the year and Saint Martin’s commit slashed .578/.657/1.433 with a 2.091 OPS, and hit five home runs in one day (two games) of the state tournament before Auburn Riverside hoisted the first-place 3A title.
OUTFIELDERS
Lauryn Lee, Bonney Lake, jr. — Unstoppable leadoff slap-hitter flashed the best batting average (.691) among local 3A players and paced the Panthers in runs (41). The center fielder struck out just twice in 71 plate appearances and posted a 1.513 OPS.
Elissa Dewees, Yelm, sr. — Tornados leadoff hitter and 3A SSC MVP scored 43 runs and stole eight bases, batting .553 with 25 RBI and 13 walks. Saint Martin’s signee.
Lexi Vircks, Auburn Riverside, sr. — Feared slugger transformed into a high-leverage reliever for All-Area starter Danica Butler, posting both a monster 1.498 OPS at the plate and 2.91 ERA with 47 strikeouts on the mound. Union University commit slashed .573/.667/.831 with team-high 51 hits.
Danielle Biehl, Gig Harbor, jr. — 3A SSC first-teamer paced the conference in OPS (1.722), on-base percentage (.626), slugging percentage (1.095), and triples (seven). Tides captain and three-time SSC first-teamer is “the most talented outfielder I have ever coached,” says Jim Peschek. Dependable reliever went 3-0 with a 3.62 ERA and 43 strikeouts (48.1 IP).
DESIGNATED HITTER
Jess Eaton, Bonney Lake, sr. — Mistake-punisher earned 3A PCL co-player of the year alongside Wilde. A contact hitter possessing vicious power, Eaton tallied 40 runs and 46 RBI for a Bonney Lake offense among the area’s best, adding seven home runs and a 1.902 OPS.
Alosina Fuiava, Decatur, sr. — Two-time TNT All-Area pick posted other-worldly numbers en route to being named 4A NPSL player of the year. Fuiava hit 14 home runs and 47 RBI, posting team-highs in hits (43), batting average (.642), and slugging percentage (1.433).
UTILITY
Joy Wilde, Lincoln, jr. — Elite hitter, dynamite shortstop, staunch backstop: Joy Wilde is all of the above. The 3A PCL co-player of the year even appeared inside the circle for the Abes this spring, but it was her .652/.680/1.434 slash line and 2.115 OPS that gave opponents nightmares. Wilde smacked 11 doubles, five triples, and five homers. Member of the Mariners Hometown Nine Class of 2025.
Kamdyn Hagerty, South Kitsap, sr. — Colorado Mesa commit did everything for the Wolves this spring. Top arm sported a 2.82 ERA (62 IP) with 99 strikeouts, and slashed .482/.567/1.053 at the plate with a 1.621 OPS. Scored 18 runs with eight homers.
Madison Walls, Fife, sr. — Trojans ace was named the 2A SPSL MVP following another stellar campaign as a dual-threat. The West Virginia Tech commit fanned 106 batters in 54 ⅓ innings (2.45 ERA) and slashed .519/.627/.788 with a 1.415 OPS.
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Brynn Erdmann, Auburn Mountainview, jr.; Aspyn Evanson, Bonney Lake, jr.; Alyssa Harris, Enumclaw, jr.; Keagan Norfleet, Rogers, sr.
Catchers — Mia Heigh, Auburn Mountainview, jr.; Savannah Newville, Lakes, soph.; Ryan Truitt, Auburn, jr.
Infielders — Laina Baker, Bonney Lake, jr.; Brooklyn Crass, Olympia, jr.; Ava Day, Central Kitsap, jr.; Kassidy Jack, Timberline, sr.; Taylor Orgeles, Emerald Ridge, sr.; Sara Smith, Eatonville, sr.; Lillian Stariha, Emerald Ridge, sr.
Outfielders — Malia Coit, Peninsula, sr.; Taryn Jones, Tahoma; JJ Ursino, Kentwood
Designated hitter — Mia Hammington, Tahoma, soph.
Utility — Nadia Flaherty, Enumclaw, jr.; Mallory Geving, Fife, soph.; Natalie Medalia, Silas, soph.
