The Herald’s 2021 All-Area high school softball teams

Editor’s note: The Player of the Year and All-Area teams were chosen by The Herald sports staff based on coach recommendations, season statistics and first-hand observations.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Alexis Slater, jr., P, Mariner

Click here for The Herald’s player of the year story on Slater.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Nathan Beachy, Mariner

Beachy, who took over the Marauders’ long-struggling program in 2018, guided Mariner to a breakthrough 8-5 campaign. The Marauders’ eight wins during this year’s abbreviated season matched their win total from the previous eight seasons combined, over which they went 8-152.

FIRST TEAM

Alexis Slater, jr., P, Mariner

Slater posted a 0.71 earned-run average in 89 1/3 innings pitched, while totaling 190 strikeouts and just 21 walks. The Mariner ace struck out a whopping 52.2% of the batters she faced, averaging 14.6 strikeouts per game and 2.1 per inning. She recorded a 0.72 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) and limited opponents to a .126 batting average. She tossed four shutouts, including a no-hitter against Mountlake Terrace and a 21-strikeout game against Lynnwood. She also had a strong season at the plate, batting .415 with one triple, four doubles, a .489 on-base percentage and a .560 slugging percentage. With her exceptional season, she led the Marauders’ long-struggling program to a breakthrough 8-5 campaign.

Yanina Sherwood, fr., P, Jackson

Sherwood posted a 1.21 ERA in 80 2/3 innings pitched, while totaling 156 strikeouts and just 26 walks. The freshman phenom averaged 1.9 strikeouts per inning and recorded a 0.88 WHIP and .152 opponents’ batting average. She also hit two home runs and a double at the plate. She helped lead the Timberwolves to a 10-3 season.

Annika Forseth, sr., P, Edmonds-Woodway

Forseth posted a 1.59 ERA in 57 1/3 innings pitched, while totaling 72 strikeouts and just six walks. She recorded a 0.89 WHIP and a .205 opponents’ batting average. She also excelled at the plate, batting .528 with two home runs, two triples, six doubles, a .575 on-base percentage and a .972 slugging percentage. She helped lead the Warriors to an 8-5 campaign.

Sydney Sandifer, sr., C, Snohomish

Sandifer batted .364 with five home runs and four doubles. She posted a .553 on-base percentage and .939 slugging percentage, while helping lead the Panthers to an 8-5 season.

River Mahler, jr., INF, Monroe

Mahler batted a scorching .714 with four home runs, two triples and two doubles. The star shortstop posted a .789 on-base percentage and a whopping 1.357 slugging percentage and didn’t strike out all season. She also stole six bases and committed only one error in 39 chances. She helped lead the Bearcats to a 7-5 campaign.

Kaine Marcinkowski, sr., INF, Shorecrest

Marcinkowski batted .488 with four home runs and nine doubles. The standout shortstop posted a .522 on-base percentage and .977 slugging percentage.

Jadyn Bushnell, sr., INF, Kamiak

Bushnell batted .457 with two home runs, two triples, three doubles, a .512 on-base percentage and an .829 slugging percentage. She also committed only error in 21 chances at shortstop. She helped lead the Knights to a Wesco-best 11-2 record.

Abbie Dill, sr., INF, Monroe

Dill batted .475 with three home runs, six doubles, a .562 on-base percentage and a .850 slugging percentage. She committed just three errors in 72 chances while playing a variety of positions for the Bearcats. She helped lead Monroe to a 7-5 season.

Laila Carpenter, soph., OF, Glacier Peak

Carpenter batted .429 with two home runs, three triples and six doubles. She posted a .478 on-base percentage and .857 slugging percentage, while helping lead the Grizzlies to a 10-3 campaign.

Janell Williams, sr., OF, Snohomish

Williams batted .462 with one home run, two triples and four doubles. The Saint Martin’s University commit posted a .562 on-base percentage and .744 slugging percentage, while helping lead the Panthers to an 8-5 season.

Morgan Epperson, jr., OF, Marysville Getchell

Epperson batted .436 with two home runs, one triple and seven doubles. She posted a .538 on-base percentage and a .897 slugging percentage and played a variety of positions on defense for the Chargers.

Cameron Dunn, soph., Designated player, Mountlake Terrace

Dunn batted .517 with four home runs and three doubles. The Mountlake Terrace catcher posted a .632 on-base percentage and 1.034 slugging percentage.

Makayla Miller, sr., Utility, Glacier Peak

Miller batted .525 with six home runs, six doubles, a .568 on-base percentage and a 1.125 slugging percentage. She also posted a 3.48 ERA in 54 innings pitched, with 66 strikeouts and 30 walks. She helped lead the Grizzlies to a 10-3 campaign.

SECOND TEAM

Katelyn Sonnichsen, sr., P, Kamiak

Sonnichsen posted a 1.42 ERA in 64 innings pitched, while totaling 103 strikeouts and just 10 walks. She averaged 1.6 strikeouts per inning and recorded a 0.84 WHIP and .181 opponents’ batting average. She helped lead the Knights to a Wesco-best 11-2 record.

Riley Mae Swanson, sr., P, Lakewood

Swanson posted a 2.61 ERA in 75 innings pitched, while totaling 84 strikeouts and just 18 walks. She also batted .459 with two home runs, four doubles and a .533 on-base percentage. She helped lead the Cougars to a 10-3 season.

Kelsey Harris, sr., P, Marysville Pilchuck

Harris posted a 2.92 ERA in 62.1 innings pitched, while totaling 59 strikeouts and just eight walks. She tossed a perfect game against rival Marysville Getchell in the season finale and finished the year with a .415 batting average. She helped lead the Tomahawks to a 10-3 campaign.

Ashtyn Falor, sr., C, Lakewood

Falor batted .414 with two home runs, two triples, four doubles, a .518 on-base percentage and an .897 slugging percentage. She helped lead the Cougars to a 10-3 season.

Cassidy Phelps, sr., INF, Marysville Pilchuck

Phelps batted .474 with two home runs, two triples, two doubles and a .789 slugging percentage. She also committed just two errors in 39 chances at shortstop. She helped lead the Tomahawks to a 10-3 campaign.

Rachel Sysum, fr., INF, Jackson

Sysum batted .349 with six home runs and three doubles. The freshman shortstop posted a .420 on-base percentage and .837 slugging percentage and also stole six bases. She helped lead the Timberwolves to a 10-3 season.

Mackenzie Graham, sr., INF, Mariner

Graham batted .500 with two home runs, one triple and four doubles. The standout shortstop posted a .596 on-base percentage and .815 slugging percentage and also stole three bases. She helped lead the Marauders’ long-struggling program to a breakthrough 8-5 campaign.

Avery Henderson, sr., INF, Lake Stevens

Henderson batted .429 with one home run, one triple and six doubles. She posted a .444 on-base percentage and .762 slugging percentage and played strong defense at first base.

Hailey Johnson, jr., OF, Lynnwood

Johnson batted .511 with three home runs and played every position on defense for the Royals.

Gracie Long, jr., OF, Shorewood

Long batted .469 with one home run, one triple and five doubles. She posted a .471 on-base percentage and .781 slugging percentage, while helping lead the Thunderbirds to a 10-3 season.

Kelci Carroll, sr., OF, Kamiak

Carroll batted .419 with one home run, three doubles, a .486 on-base percentage and a .613 slugging percentage. She committed no errors in 11 chances and helped lead the Knights to a Wesco-best 11-2 record.

Christie Tadvick, sr., Designated player, Monroe

Tadvick batted .409 with three home runs, one triple and two doubles. The Monroe catcher posted a .447 on-base percentage and .704 slugging percentage and committed only one error in 72 chances. She helped lead the Bearcats to a 7-5 campaign.

Sofia Chamorro, sr., Utility, Edmonds-Woodway

Chamorro batted .462 with three triples, six doubles, a .476 on-base percentage and a .769 slugging percentage. She stole three bases and split time between catcher and third base while helping lead the Warriors to an 8-5 season.