By Matt Turer — @MattTurer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The All-O-Zone Fall Softball selections are split up as follows (and listed in alphabetical order): one catcher (2 honorable mentions), four infielders (4 honorable mentions), three outfielders (2 honorable mentions), one utility player (1 honorable mention), five pitchers (2 honorable mentions). Plus, one Player of the Year, one Pitcher of the Year, and one Golden Slugger Award.
We now present OzarksSportsZone.com’s 2017 All-O-Zone Fall Softball Team: this year’s top players on the softball diamond.
O-Zone Player of the Year: Izzy Erickson, Reeds Spring, Sophomore
O-Zone Pitcher of the Year: Tressa Hughes, Dixon, Senior
O-Zone Golden Slugger: Morgan Loggins, Waynesville, Senior
All-O-Zone Catcher
Morgan Loggins, Waynesville, Senior
.643 AVG, 54 H, 13 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 42 R, 59 RBI, 1.968 OPS
Loggins put up the biggest statistical percentages of anyone in the Ozarks this fall. Her .643 average and 1.968 OPS led the region and were among the highest numbers in the state. That dominance helped produced 59 RBIs—the second-highest total in MSHSAA single-season history.
Honorable Mention: Nya Morgan, Ozark, Junior (.474 AVG, 6 2B, 15 HR, 19 R, 37 RBI, 12 BB, .532 OBP, 1.542 OPS)
Honorable Mention: Alyssa Sims, West Plains, Junior (.432 AVG., 35 H, 11 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 33 R, 27 RBI, 1.291 OPS)
All-O-Zone Infield
Katie Kurima, Monett, Senior
.517 AVG., 61 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 12 RBI, 43 R, 47 SB
The sparkplug at the top of the lineup for Monett’s Class 3 state championship team, Kurima was excellent all year at the plate and in the field. Her 61 hits tied her for 10th-most all-time in a single MSHSAA season and her 47 steals put her one off the Top 10 in that category as well.
Ally Stolte, Republic, Senior
.467 AVG., 42 H, 8 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 39 R, 36 RBI, 11 BB, 7 HBP, 8 SB, .556 OBP, 1.512 OPS
Showing an extended stat line for Stolte is no mistake. The senior was a huge part of Republic’s season in what could have been (but wasn’t) a rebuilding year. Her 10 homers and 1.512 OPS are some of the biggest totals in the region, but her 11 walks and seven HBPs are important overlooked production categories.
Mareika Turpen, Webb City, Senior
.524 AVG., 43 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 41 R, 44 RBI, 18 BB, 6 SB, .614 OBP, 1.541 OPS
A great high school career came to an end this fall for Turpen, but she showed out in her final months. Turpen was the leader of a powerful Webb City lineup that came within a game of state in Class 4. She showed power (20 XBH/1.541 OPS), patience (18 BB/.614 OBP) and elite contact (.524 AVG.) all year.
Shelby Webster, Camdenton, Junior
.546 AVG., 53 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 38 R, 37 RBI, 1.575 OPS
Webster isn’t only one of the best bats in the Ozarks, but one of the region’s elite fielders as well. Playing short and third, her power at the plate (21 XBH, 10 HR, 1.575 OPS) is matched by her arm on the left side of the infield.
Honorable Mention: Zoe Bisby, Marshfield, Senior (.430 AVG., 37 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 34 R, 23 RBI, 11 SB, 1.229 OPS)
Honorable Mention: Cally Blattel, Lebanon, Senior (.500 AVG., 38 H, 8 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 26 R, 26 RBI, 1.389 OPS)
Honorable Mention: Gracie Fatino, Wheatland, Senior (.486 AVG., 36 H, 7 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 32 R, 36 RBI, 1.014 SLG)
Honorable Mention: Haley Frillman, Hillcrest, Junior (.512 AVG., 44 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 26 R, 32 RBI, 1.553 OPS)
All-O-Zone Outfield
Mariah Newby, Webb City, Senior
.490 AVG., 51 H, 49 R, 7 HBP
Newby didn’t post eye-popping power numbers, but she was one of the best contact bats around in the outfield and scored 49 runs as a part of Webb City’s powerful offense. That effort at the plate and her play in the field earned her all-state honors.
Krysta Rader, Willow Springs, Junior
.452 AVG., 33 H, 3 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 29 R, 32 RBI, 1.244 OPS
Rader took some big steps from her sophomore to junior years and really bolstered a Willow Springs lineup that struggled at times in 2016. She has the ability to hit for power with at least three doubles, triples and homers and posted one of the highest OPS marks for outfielders in SWMO.
Karsyn Smith, West Plains, Senior
.471 AVG., 41 H, 17 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 31 R, 25 RBI, 18 SB, 1.290 OPS
Smith’s 17 doubles tied her for ninth most in a single season in MSHSAA history. That combo of power and speed helped her to a 1.290 OPS, 18 steals and a .471 average in what was a memorable senior year at the plate.
Honorable Mention: Hailey Brown, Rogersville, Senior (.467 AVG., 49 H, 35 R, 4 2B, 11 RBI, 34 SB)
Honorable Mention: Maddi Coones, Monett, Junior (.404 AVG., 42 H, 6 2B, 5 3B, 29 R, 35 RBI, 12 SB)
All-O-Zone Utility
Addie Darby, Webb City, Senior
.500 AVG., 44 H, 9 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 20 R, 49 RBI, 1.441 OPS
8-2, 2.04 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 78 K, 68.2 IP, 2 Sho, 4 CG
Webb City’s rotation went four deep, which meant Darby spent as much time in the field as on the mound this season, and she was great in both spots. She finished her senior year with a 1.441 OPS and .500 average and coupled that with a 2.04 ERA and 8-2 record on the mound, all of which earned her an all-state selection.
Honorable Mention: Morgan Jones, Nixa, Senior (.490 AVG., 47 H, 7 2B, 9 HR, 23 R, 38 RBI, 14 BB, .559 OBP, 1.402 OPS)
All-O-Zone Pitchers
Emily Admire, Kickapoo, Senior
21-5, 1.26 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 161 IP, 156 K, 21 CG, 3 Sho
.430 AVG, 43 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 17 R, 1.416 OPS
Admire was a true ace this year for a Chiefs team that lacked significant varsity experience. Her dominance on the mound and performance at the plate helped lead Kickapoo to one of its best seasons in program history while she posted the lowest area ERA among Class 4 starting pitchers.
Josie Allcock, Monett, Senior
16-6, 1 SV, 139 IP, 66 K, 2.57 ERA, 16 CG, 3 Sho, 1.37 WHIP
.466 AVG., 12 2B, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 28 R, 1.218 OPS
Allcock didn’t put up dominant regular season numbers, but her incredible postseason performances land her here. The senior allowed just a single run at state in 14 innings and posted a 1.00 WHIP over the two games. She tossed four straight complete games from sectionals to the state championship and allowed just nine earned runs over the season’s final 49 innings, winning all seven of those games.
Izzy Erickson, Reeds Spring, Sophomore
13-5, 1.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 117 IP, 185 K, 1 SV
.570 AVG., 49 H, 8 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 29 R, 29 RBI, 25 SB, 1.516 OPS
The Wolves have something special in Erickson. Just a sophomore, she may be the most complete player in the Ozarks regardless of Class. Her combo of power (185 Ks in 117 IP) and control (1.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) on the mound are matched by a combo of power (17 XBH, 1.516 OPS), contact (.570 AVG.) and speed (25 SB) at the plate and on the base paths. It should be an exciting next two years in Reeds Spring.
Tressa Hughes, Dixon, Senior
23-1, 143 IP, 291 K, 0.88 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 11 Sho, 2 perfect games, 1 no-hitter
It was truly a magnificent season by Hughes. Dixon’s ace led the Bulldogs to a 23-0 start and a Class 2 quarterfinals berth before finally suffering a loss. Her 0.88 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 291 strikeouts in 143 innings are sparkling. She also posted a pair of perfect games and a no-hitter.
Katelyn Voris, Halfway, Senior
21-7, 165 IP, 207 K, 1.92 ERA
.438 AVG., 18 2B, 2 HR, 31 RBI
Voris led Halfway on a memorable run to a district championship and a Class 1 quarterfinals berth in what ended up being the program’s best year in a decade. Her power pitching helped overwhelm a strong Hermitage team in sectionals. At the plate, her 18 doubles tied her for seventh most in a single season in MSHSAA history.
Honorable Mention: Abbey Gann, West Plains, Senior (17-4, 1.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 122.1 IP, 141 K, 2 SV, 14 CG, 9 Sho)
Honorable Mention: Brooke Pridgen, Ozark, Senior (17-10, 2.61 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 114 K, 155.2 IP, 16 CG, 1 SV, 4 Sho)
