Eds. note: The Herald’s All-Area teams and Player of the Year are selected by Herald staff based on first-hand observations and voting by area coaches and fans.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ronnie Ladines
Arlington, P, Sr.
To read more about Ladines, click here.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dan Eng, Arlington
Returning to coach the Eagles after leading them from 2007-2010, Eng led Arlington to a state championship this past season.
ALL-AREA TEAMS
First Team
Pitcher
Ronnie Ladines
Sr., Arlington
The Eagles star pitcher didn’t return until midway through the season but she still put together a season-worth of stats, winning 12 games and striking out 154 batters. She also hit .552 and had 10 home runs. In the state tournament, the Eagles senior gave up just 15 hits and one run in 28 innings pitched to lead Arlington to its first fastpitch state title.
Alyssa Reuble
Sr., Meadowdale
In any other year the Maverick pitchers would likely be player of the year. She had 16 wins, 1.94 ERA, and 118 strikeouts and led Meadowdale to an unbeaten regular season in league play anda third-place finish at state. She pitched every inning for the Mavericks at the state tournament, limiting teams to 12 runs over 31 innings.
Coach’s comment: “She’s the greatest. Probably one of the best players I’ve ever coached. I’m going to miss her big time, but we’re such a young team that she’s left them with a great legacy to follow behind.”
Makinlee Sellevold
Jr., Cascade
The Bruins pitcher had 15 wins and 149 strikeouts to lead Cascade to a first-place finish in the Wesco 4A South. She also hit .556 with 14 doubles, five home runs and 30 RBI.
Catcher
Morgan Greenlee
So., Snohomish
The Panthers catcher hit .309, had five doubles and threw out 10 of 12 base stealers as Snohomish finished the regular season with a Wesco 4A North title.
Coach’s comment: “She called her own games, played strong defense behind the plate and has one of the quickest releases I’ve ever seen.” — Lou Kennedy
First baseman
Anna Whitehouse
Sr., Archbishop Murphy
The Wildcats slugger battered much of Cascade Conference pitcher, finishing with a .611 batting average, 1.222 slugging percentage and 34 RBI. She also had seven doubles and eight home runs.
Coach’s comment: “Anna is such a strong, competitive athlete and has been great leader for Murphy softball. Her game is so consistent, both offensively and defensively. There isn’t anyone in the league who compares to what she’s done this year or the last three years.” — Stephanie Harmon
Second baseman
Jordyn Nickolson
Sr., Marysville Pilchuck
The Tomahawks infielder hit .541, slugged .865 and had 34 RBI to pace a powerful MP offense. She started all 22 games at second base and had just three errors.
Coach’s comment: “Great kid. She plays the game as hard as any kid I have ever seen.” — Aaron Zachry
Shortstop
Jessica Roy
Sr., Jackson
The Timberwolves senior hit .400, slugged .923 and had seven doubles and three triples to lead Jackson to a second-place finish in the Wesco 4A South. Roy hit home runs in six of the team’s first seven games to lead a young Timberwolves team to a 8-4 start.
Coach’s comment: “She had more extra base hits than singles; pretty impressive.” — Kyle Peacocke
Third baseman
Katlyn Purvis
Sr., Snohomish
The Panthers corner infielder hit .417, had 22 RBI and hit three home runs in leading Snohomish to a first-place finish in the Wesco 4A North. She was also strong in the field, finishing with a fielding percentage of .985.
Coach’s comment: “Amazing glove work at third. Quick feet and a strong arm. She loves to challenge me to get a ball by her. I seldom win.”
Outfield
Anna Pisac
Sr., Snohomish
The Panthers outfielder hit .532, with 13 doubles, four triples and four home runs to lead the Panthers to a first-place finish in the Wesco 4A North.
Coach’s comment: “Where flying things go to die. Diving and sliding catches are her specialty. ‘Team leader’ doesnt really cover it.” — Lou Kennedy
Trysten Melhart
Jr., Snohomish
The Panthers outfielder led the area with eight triples and hit.625, a school record, to lead Snohomish to a Wesco 4A North title. She also had nine doubles, scored 38 runs, 22 RBI and was 14 of 15 stealing bases.
Coach’s comment: “To say speedy is underrating her. She turns singles into doubles, but I’d say her favorite double is a single then a steal of second.” — Lou Kennedy
Jazzy Edwards
Jr., Lynnwood
The Royals outfielder hit .410 despite missing some time due to an ankle injury. She really started to turn it on toward the end of the season. In a one-game playoff to advance to districts, Edwards went 4-for-5 and scored three runs and drove in two more and went 5-for-5 in a district tournament game against Jackson.
Coach’s comment: “She’s a triple threat hitter: power, speed, and slapping.” — Matt Rockne
Utility
Maddy Kristjanson
Jr., Mountlake Terrace
The Hawks utility player hit .522, slugged .958 slug, had 38 RBI and scored 35 runs to lead Mountlake Terrace to a berth at state and an eventual seventh-place finish. She also had nine home runs, 10 stolen bases and six wins on the mound.
Coach’s comment: “Maddy is a great all-around player who can do just about anything on the field. She has great hands at shortstop and makes even the difficult plays look incredibly easy. She has an equally impressive bat that when combined with her defensive skills, makes hers a fun player to watch.” — Shannon Rasmussen
Designated hitter
Alyssa Egan
Sr., Monroe
The Bearcats DH hit .560 with five home runs to lead Monroe to a berth in the district tournament.
Coach’s comment: “Alyssa has a great passion for the game of softball. She is a tough competitor and rises to the occasion not only in the circle but also at the plate.” — Curt Eskeback
Second Team
Pitcher
Bailey Seek, Jr., Snohomish
Callie Bircher, Jr., Glacier Peak
Stats: 12 wins, 1.32 ERA, 152 Ks, 9 BB
Hailey Malakowski, Sr., Lakewood
Stats: 16 wins; Hitting: 5 doubles, 5 HR
Haley Fritz, Sr., Marysville Pilchuck
Stats: 9 wins, 2.71 ERA, 88 Ks, .609 avg., 1.014 slug, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 3 HR
Coach’s comment: “Great kid, unselfish player, competitor; she knew how to make things happen. She’s a real student of the game.” — Aaron Zachry
Catcher
Lindsey Haub, Jr., Kamiak
Stats: .300 avg., 527 slug, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 22 runs
Coach’s comment: “Lindsay was the go to lead off hitter for the team this year and did a great job of getting on base to start things off. She is a leader and competitor behind the plate when she is catching, and does a great job in the out field when needed.” — Nicole Kellar
Lynsey Amundson, Sr., Arlington
First baseman
Katelyn McDonald, Jr., Arlington
Second baseman
Cassidy Fifield, So., Lake Stevens Stats: .373 avg., .470 slug, 23 runs, 6 doubles, 49 putouts, 2 errors
Coach’s comment: “She was our lead-off hitter all season, and she is very versatile. She can bunt, hit with power and she can see a lot of pitches and take a walk. Once she is on base, she often scores. Cassidy is a hard worker. She always is trying to improve herself and as good as she is, always puts her team first.” — Adrianna Lartz
Shortstop
Kiana Smith, Sr., Lakewood
Cascade Conf. Offensive POY
Third baseman
Hayden Fields, Sr., Arlington
Outfield
Shelby Merk, Sr., Kamiak
Stats: .419 avg., .554 slug, 8 doubles, 10 SBs, 18 runs
Coach’s comment: “Shelby had a stellar senior season and was a rock for our team all season, at the plate and in center field. She consistently made things happen offensively and has grown in to quite an athlete over her three seasons as a varsity player at Kamiak.” — Nicole Kellar
Katelyn Kazen, Jr., Arlington
Sarah Casel, Jr., Jackson
Stats: .380 avg., .458 on base, 17 runs, 5 SBs
Coach’s comment: “She was our leadoff hitter all year and did a fantastic job. She did a fantastic job in center field as well … Solid, steady leader and performer.” — Kyle Peacocke
Utility
Hayley Fields, Sr., Arlington
Stats: 81 IP, 2.25 ERA, .522 avg., .767 slug, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR
Designated hitter
Amanda Hartley, Sr., Shorecrest
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