Yates Center High’s dominance on the softball diamond did not go unnoticed this season.
The Wildcats placed three players on the all-Three Rivers League first team for 2022. Only Northeast had as many all-league first-teamers.
Leading the way were Morgan Collins, a unanimous selection by the TRL coaches, Molly Proper and Allie Chrismas.
They were joined on the first team by Marmaton Valley’s Aly Ard and Crest’s Anna Hermreck.
Earning honorable mention were Marmaton Valley’s Kendall Scharff and Payton Scharff, Crest’s Kayla Hermreck and Yates Center’s Hannah Jones.
Collins was dominant at the bat and on the pitching mound.
She went 9-1 on the season, and was unbeaten in TRL play, with a 2.17 ERA. Meanwhile, she batted .644 with 33 hits and 33 RBIs.
Proper was nearly as prolific in both pitching and hitting. She batted a robust .515 with 35 hits and 26 RBIs, while going 7-3 on the mound with a 3.42 ERA.
“Molly and Morgan pitched well and played great at shortstop all season,” Yates Center head coach Abbie Collins said. The two would alternate as shortstop when the other was pitching.
Chrisman chipped in with 21 hits and 22 RBIs. “Allie was a strong hitter, especially in big games,” Coach Collins said.
Jones, wreaked havoc on the basepaths for the Wildcats, leading the team in steals and batting .385.
Ard and the Scharffs provided leadership all season for MV, head coach Brenda Mills said.
“Aly is an experienced, solid all-around athlete that takes care of business,” Mills said. “Kendall performed well under pressure, and really took care of the mound for us this year.”
Ard hit at a .689 clip and scored 38 runs to lead the Wildcats.
Kendall Scharff hit .657 and scored 27 runs, while striking out 58 opposing batters this season.
Payton Scharff, like her sister, also batted .657. She scored 34 runs.
