All-BCR team catching on in 2009
2009 All-BCR Softball Team
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With three catchers among the BCR dozen, including Player of the Year Erin Polte of Hall, it’s safe to say the 2009 All-BCR Softball team, was catching on in 2009. Here’s a look at the top area softball players.
Brittany Burgess, infielder, St. Bede: There was no sophomore jinx for the Lady Bruins third baseman. Last year’s BCR Player of the Year hit .362 this spring, with 13 RBIs, five doubles, five stolen bases and a home run. Burgess was a first-team Tri-County all-conference selection for St. Bede this season. “Britt is just a tremendous athlete,” St. Bede coach Father Phillip Davey said. “She brings a tremendous focus to every play and every at-bat.”
Claire Faletti, pitcher, Hall: The junior ace finished the spring on top of all area pitchers with a stellar 0.64 ERA and also led the area with 108 strikeouts, while tallying a record of 7-3 for the Lady Red Devils. A first-team NCIC Lincoln all-conference and second-team all-state selection, Faletti was “an overpowering type pitcher,” Hall coach Pete Kasperski said, helping lead the Lady Red Devils to their first regional title since 1993. “She did a good job on the mound.”
Gwen Holmes, pitcher/infielder, Princeton: The three-year varsity starter finished her senior campaign with a 1.66 ERA (second in the area), with 92 strikeouts and a record of 9-6. In addition to her success pitching, Holmes was an offensive standout, batting .328 with four doubles and a triple this spring. A second-team NCIC Lincoln all-conference selection, Holmes progressed well as a pitcher during her time at PHS coach Bob James said. “Gwen evolved from a thrower into a pitcher,” James said. “She was an all-around player and a team leader for us.”
Alyssa James, infielder, Princeton: The Tigresses second baseman finished the spring third in the area with a .395 batting average, second in the area with 23 RBIs, and swiped five bases. For her play on the field this season, James was rewarded with a unanimous first-team NCIC-Lincoln selection. She is the daughter of PHS coach Bob James, who said she led by example for her teammates with her consistency and work ethic. James will take her game to the collegiate level when she joins the softball team at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, starting this fall.
Rikki Kessler, catcher, Bureau Valley: If there was one thing Storm coach Brian Humphrey could count on every day the Storm took the field, it was Rikki Kessler behind the plate. He said the three-year starter caught every pitch of every game this year for the 7-18 Storm. She had another solid year, batting .329 with a team high three doubles. Humphrey said Kessler picked a tough year vying for all-conference at catcher in the TRAC-8, earning honorable mention honors. “I think she’s one of the better catchers in area and one of the most competitive players. She hated to lose,” Humphrey said.
Brianna Kamphuis, catcher, Princeton: The sophomore catcher debuted with the PHS varsity, and was a valuable asset to the Tigresses both at and behind the plate. Kamphuis batted .368 for the spring with 20 RBIs, five doubles, and tied for the area lead with two home runs. An honorable mention NCIC-Lincoln selection at catcher, Kamphuis managed PHS’ pitching staff well and “was a rock behind the plate for us,” James said. “The sky’s the limit for her ... She’ll definitely be one of the leaders for our high school program in the coming years.”
Cally Kowalski, pitcher/infielder, Hall: The Lady Devils senior finished the spring with a 9-3 record with an ERA of 2.20, and 78 strikeouts for the regional champ Red Devils. Offensively, the senior hit .269 with 11 RBIs, three doubles and a home run. For her pitching prowess this season, Kowalski was rewarded with a first team NCIC Lincoln all-conference selection. She will continue her career with the Eagles of IVCC next year. “Cally had a fantastic year,” Kasperski said. “Any time I needed innings or anybody to pitch, she stepped up.”
Brooke Mueller, senior outfielder, PHS: The PHS senior made quite a successful move from the infield to centerfield this season. She hit .333 with 10 RBIs for the Tigresses this spring, raising her batting average more than 100 points from the .222 average she had last year as a junior. Once on base, Mueller was always a threat to steal, finishing second in the area with with 15 stolen bases. “Speed was the main part of her game,” said James. A unanimous first team NCIC-Lincoln all-conference selection. Mueller made the switch from the infield to the outfield to help out her team this season. “She was a total team player,” said James.
Erin Polte, senior catcher, Hall: Whether managing the Hall pitching staff behind the plate or slapping hits at the plate, Polte was a team leader for the regional champ Lady Red Devils. The unanimous first team NCIC Lincoln all conference selection hit .400 (second in the area), and she led the area in doubles (8), triples (2), and stolen bases (16). Kasperski said Polte, who will continue her softball career at Graceland University next year, will be hard to replace both for her bat and poise at the catcher position. “She’s a tremendous athlete, and almost like another coach on the field,” Kasperski said.
Chelsea Sweezey, senior infielder, Hall: A three-year starter for the Lady Red Devils, Sweezey hit .325 this spring with four doubles. Sweezey also showcased her speed on the base paths with 14 stolen bases. For her play on the diamond this spring Sweezey was a first team NCIC Lincoln all-conference selection. A three-year starter at Hall, Sweezey was an “ideal No. 2 hitter,” Kasperski said.
Mindy Taliani, freshman pitcher, St. Bede: The Bruins’ cub burst onto the area scene as a freshman this year and quickly established herself as one of the top talents in the area, both on the pitching rubber and at the plate. She hit .395 with eight RBIs and five doubles. Pitching this spring, Taliani amassed a 9-2 record with an ERA of 1.82, with 41 strikeouts. Taliani was rewarded for her work on the diamond with Tri-County all-conference honorable mention nod. “Mindy did a tremendous job coming back from a knee surgery that took place before the season started,” Davies said. “She’s a tremendous competitor with a real will to win.”
Taylor Williams, sophomore pitcher/infielder, PHS: In her second year of varsity action, Williams led the area with a stout .436 batting average to go along with her 13 RBIs and five doubles. A first team NCIC Lincoln all-conference selection, Williams also had a top season on the pitching rubber, compiling a 7-4 record with a 2.11 ERA, and finishing second in the area with 96 strikeouts . “Hustle is the name of her game,” said James. “She never takes a play off, or takes a pitch off.”
Honorable mention:
Brittany Burkhart, infielder, St. Bede: The SBA sophomore hit .386 with 15 RBIs, four doubles, and tied for the area lead with two home runs this season.
Stevie Fisher, freshman, St. Bede: Fisher hit .350 and scored 21 runs for the Lady Bruins this spring.
Chelsea Gross, pitcher, LaMoille/Ohio: The senior leader for the Lady Lions hit .289 this spring and handled most of the pitching duties.
Monica Mackey, outfielder, Hall: The junior outfielder hit .340 for the regional champ Lady Red Devils this spring.
Anna Phillips, outfielder, Bureau Valley: The Storm sophomore made the switch from track to softball this spring and hit .346 in her rookie campaign.
Leah Shaw, third baseman, Princeton: “Big Red” was defensively solid at third base for the Tigresses and hit .277 this spring.
Sam Shephard, pitcher, Bureau Valley: The Storm’s sophomore hurler overcame a scary injury, returning to action 10 days after a batted ball struck her in the face, breaking her orbital bone.
Sara Smoode, shortstop, Hall: The senior infielder led the area with 24 RBIs and hit .292 with seven doubles, two triples and a home run this spring for the Lady Devils.
Jillian Stariha, outfielder, St. Bede: The junior outfielder hit .339 with eight RBIs for the Lady Bruins this season.
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