Lakota East, Fairfield, Monroe headline 2019 JN All-Area softball team

Lakota East’s players celebrate May 22 after a Division I regional softball semifinal against Mason at Centerville. East won 5-4 in 10 innings. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

Lakota East’s players celebrate May 22 after a Division I regional softball semifinal against Mason at Centerville. East won 5-4 in 10 innings. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

COACHES OF THE YEAR

Dan Castner and Jess Howard, Lakota East — The assistant coaches directed the Thunderhawks to a 14-2 record over the second half of the season after head coach Steve Castner was forced to leave the team because of an undisclosed medical issue. East won the Greater Miami Conference title and advanced to the Division I state championship game, losing to Louisville 14-10 in 10 innings after being within one strike of its first state crown.

» RELATED: 2019 Journal-News All-Area Softball Statistics

POSITION PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Cassidy Hudson, Lakota East, junior, third baseman — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division I All-Ohio first team, Greater Miami Conference Athlete of the Year. Verbally committed to Fairmont State University.

Lindsey Mitchell, Fairfield, senior, third baseman — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division I All-Ohio first team, Greater Miami Conference first team. Will play at Georgetown College.

Lakota East coaches Jess Howard (left) and Dan Castner talk between innings May 31 during their 4-3 victory over Westerville Central in a Division I state softball semifinal at Firestone Stadium in Akron. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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PITCHERS OF THE YEAR

Sydney Larson, Lakota East, senior — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division I All-Ohio first team, Greater Miami Conference Pitcher of the Year. Will play at Ohio University.

Alyssa Wagner, Monroe, junior — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division II All-Ohio first team, Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division Pitcher of the Year. Verbally committed to Urbana University.

FIRST TEAM

First Base: Ashleigh Riffle, Lebanon, senior — Greater Western Ohio Conference National Division first team

Second Base: Ashley Shelton, Ross, sophomore — Southwest Ohio Conference first team

Third Base: Regan Dorman, Madison, sophomore — Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division first team

Shortstop: Jenna O'Hair, Madison, senior — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division III All-Ohio second team, Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division first team

Lakota East’s Cassidy Hudson points to her dugout May 31 after smacking a double against Westerville Central in a Division I state softball semifinal at Firestone Stadium in Akron. That’s the Warhawks’ Emily O’Dee (21) waiting for the ball. East advanced to the state final with a 4-3 win. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Outfielder: Kristin Earles, Franklin, junior — Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division first team

Outfielder: Belle Hummel, Lakota West, freshman — Greater Miami Conference first team

Outfielder: Ally King, Madison, junior — Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division first team

Catcher: Grace Gressly, Lebanon, senior — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division I All-Ohio second team, Greater Western Ohio Conference National Division first team

Designated Player: Cali Hoffman, Lakota East, senior — Greater Miami Conference first team

Utility Player: Jenna Monk, Cincinnati Christian, senior — Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division first team

Pitcher: Rachel Berling, Fenwick, junior — Greater Catholic League Coed North Division first team

Pitcher: Briahna Bush, Cincinnati Christian, sophomore — Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division Pitcher of the Year

Lakota East pitcher Sydney Larson delivers a pitch to the plate May 17 during a Division I district softball championship game against Lebanon at Centerville. East won 3-0. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Pitcher: K.K. Mathis, Lakota West, freshman — Greater Miami Conference second team

Pitcher: Carly Metcalf, Middletown, junior — Greater Miami Conference second team

SECOND TEAM

First Base: Annabelle Thomas, Fenwick, senior — Greater Catholic League Coed North Division first team

Second Base: Abby Beckham, Lakota East, junior — Greater Miami Conference second team

Third Base: Alyssa Triner, Lakota West, senior — Greater Miami Conference first team

Shortstop: Arianna Layne, Middletown, junior — Greater Miami Conference first team

Outfielder: Alexia Ploehs, Ross, sophomore — Southwest Ohio Conference first team

Outfielder: Ashley Shannon, Edgewood, sophomore — Southwest Ohio Conference second team

Outfielder: Jordan Shotwell, Fairfield, senior — Greater Miami Conference first team

Catcher: Abby Niehaus, Lakota East, junior — Greater Miami Conference first team

Designated Player: JoJo Peregrina, Lakota West, sophomore — Greater Miami Conference second team

Fairfield’s Lindsey Mitchell deals to the plate April 9 during a 2-1 nonconference softball loss at Harrison. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Utility Player: Ashley West, Lebanon, senior — Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division I All-Ohio honorable mention, Greater Western Ohio Conference National Division first team

Pitcher: Haylee Hook, Fenwick, junior — Greater Catholic League Coed North Division second team

Pitcher: Samantha Iannarino, Ross, freshman

Pitcher: Emma Kent, Badin, sophomore — Greater Catholic League Coed Central Division first team

Pitcher: Chloe Miller, Franklin, junior — Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division first team

THIRD TEAM

First Base: Ali Lewis, Lakota East, junior — Greater Miami Conference second team

Second Base: Taylor Williams, Lakota West, junior — Greater Miami Conference second team

Third Base: Kaylee Lawson, Carlisle, freshman — Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division second team

Shortstop: Mya Halcomb, Hamilton, senior — Greater Miami Conference first team

Outfielder: Erin Dyke, Monroe, sophomore — Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division second team

Outfielder: Logan Mueller, Lebanon, junior — Greater Western Ohio Conference National Division first team

Monroe pitcher Alyssa Wagner winds up to make a delivery April 30 during a Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division softball game against Brookville at Monroe. The host Hornets won 1-0. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Outfielder: Kylee West, Lakota East, junior — Greater Miami Conference second team

Catcher: Claudia Miller, Fenwick, senior — Greater Catholic League Coed North Division first team

Designated Player: Maddie Schaeffer, Fairfield, senior — Greater Miami Conference second team

Utility Player: Caitlyn Stewart, Carlisle, junior — Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division first team

Pitcher: Jess Church, Lakota East, junior

Pitcher: Ashley Earick, Talawanda, senior — Southwest Ohio Conference second team

Pitcher: Abby Goodpaster, Carlisle, sophomore

Pitcher: Hannah Miller, Fairfield, senior — Greater Miami Conference first team

HONORABLE MENTION

Badin — Sydney Feenstra, Sydney Rawlings, Caitlin Smith

Carlisle — Bailey Naylor, Erin Ridinger

Cincinnati Christian — Kaitlyn Fritz, Merrick Heid, Ashley Veldkamp

Edgewood — Erin Robinson, Sarah Schiavone, Jenna Smith

Fairfield — Natalie Elliott, Maiah Hodge

Fenwick — Abby Gustely, Leah Hemmingsen

Lakota East third baseman Cassidy Hudson makes a throw across the diamond May 22 during a Division I regional softball semifinal against Mason at Centerville. East won 5-4 in 10 innings. RICK CASSANO/STAFF

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Franklin — Madison Earles, Brooke Stover

Hamilton — Lilli Hilsercop, Hailey Reynolds

Lakota East — Madison Cureton, Hailey Holtman

Lakota West — Kendall Forren, Haley Hibbard, Ariah Peregrina, Corey Weaver, Cameron Wesley

Lebanon — Emma Ball, Audrey Masenheimer, Emily Smith

Madison — Lilly Dennis, Taylor Johnson

Middletown — Katie Pearson

Middletown Christian — Beau Pagnard

Monroe — Makenzi Moore, Sam Ross, Sam Schwab

New Miami — Camry Jenkins, Arielle Scalf

Ross — Whitley Arno, Kaitlyn Justice, Emily Poling, Emilie Toney

Talawanda — Hannah Lightfield, Maggie Pierce

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