Southeast Conference (SEC)- The conference awards have been released for softball and here’s the recipients and where the teams ended up.
Burlington won the conference with a 14-1 record, their only loss coming against Washington, and they had four players named to the All-Conference 1st Team. Kylee Hill, an 8th grader, will be giving the conference fits for years to come as she crushed 14 home runs on the season with 41 RBIs (led the conference) to go with her 0.482 average. Saydee Plummer was the ace in the circle for the Grayhounds as she collected a 12-4 record on the season with 163 strikeouts and a 1.12 ERA. Her strikeouts and ERA led the conference. Keirah Wiseman batted 0.330 for her sophomore season as she tallied 15 RBIs and scored 29 runs. Lastly, Aubrey Hesler, a freshman, batted 0.360 on the season while being the #2 pitcher for the Grayhounds as she picked up 8 wins on the season.
Hannah Heuvelmann and Lilly Hand made the All-Conference 2nd Team. Sophie Brown and Ava Fawcett were All-Conference Honorable Mentions.
Washington finished in 2nd place with an 11-4 record and had three All-Conference 1st Team players. Leighton Salazar represents part of the young talent in the SEC as the freshman led the conference in batting average, hitting 0.550 with 13 doubles and 24 RBIs from the plate. She also stole 24 bases and scored 58 runs. Ella Greiner, a sophomore, crushed the ball this year as she tallied 5 home runs and 39 RBIs, 2nd in the conference, to go along with her 0.475 batting average. Colbie Greiner got the last spot for the Demons with a 0.347 average at the plate and 26 runs scored; the 8th grader also picked up 5 wins in the circle with 16 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA.
Lauren Hinrichsen and Isabella Salazar were named to the All-Conference 2nd Team. Haley Mitchell and Emery Walton were All-Conference Honorable Mentions.
Fairfield finished with a conference mark of 8-6 with Coty Engle being the only Trojan named to the All-Conference 1st Team. Engle was efficient not only at the plate with a 0.390 batting average with 26 RBIs, but the senior also collected 10 wins in the circle with 103 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA, both ranked 2nd in conference.
Savannah Hollander and Olivia Hollander each made the 2nd Team for All-Conference and Morgan Amendt and Laney Norris were All-Conference Honorable Mentions.
Fort Madison collected a conference record of 7-8 and had three Bloodhounds make the All-Conference 1st Team. Neely Rehm, a senior, tallied 18 RBIs, with a 0.337 batting average. Rehm also picked up 12 wins on the season with a 3.84 ERA and 67 strikeouts. Erika Kruse batted 0.444 for her senior season, which included 8 home runs and 25 RBIs. She also had 8 doubles and 4 wins in the circle. Lauryn Helmick batted 0.427 in her junior campaign with 21 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
Emily Steffensmeier and Elizabeth Tanner were named All-Conference 2nd Team. Gabrielle Ruble and Kylie Lumino were Honorable Mentions.
Keokuk finished with a 3-11 conference record and two Chiefs named to the All-Conference 1st Team. Rachel Moore batted 0.382 in her senior season with 7 doubles and 10 RBIs. Ada Wood showed off her power as she demolished 5 home runs for 17 RBIs with a 0.360 batting average.
Suzie Whitaker earned a 2nd Team All-Conference nod and Gracie Thompson and Brylee Balentine were Honorable Mentions.
Mt. Pleasant finished with a 1-14 conference record with Emma Starr being named to the All-Conference 2nd Team. The Junior was a stalwart center fielder for the Panthers as she also collected 10 RBIs at the plate with a 0.262 batting average.
Addison Clark and Kynlee White were also All-Conference Honorable Mentions. Clark batted 0.316 on the season with two home runs and 18 RBIs, tied for the team lead. White led the team in batting average with a 0.329 average as she scored 16 runs and stole 15 bases.
Saydee Plummer and Leighton Salazar took home Co-Conference Player of the Year honors.