Friday, Jun. 27, 2008

All-State softball as distinct Olathe flavor

Tod Palmer

sports editor

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Eight of the 18 players chosen by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association for its All-State Class 6A team are from Olathe.

That’s not a complete shock given that Olathe Northwest, Olathe North and Olathe East all qualified for the 6A state tournament, but it remains impressive nonetheless.

Four other players from city schools also were named Thursday to the second team All-Class 6A.

That gives the coaches all-state selections a distinct Olathe flavor.

Pitchers Hannah Dale, who led Olathe Northwest to a runner-up finish at state, and Sarah Espy, who helped Olathe North place fourth, headline first-team choices from Olathe.

Dale, a junior who went 12-2 and posted a 0.43 ERA in the regular season, was joined by two other Ravens on the first team: shortstop Amy Pierce and center fielder Chantelle Dietz.

Pierce, a sophomore who bats leadoff for Northwest, hit .479 with 16 RBIs, scored 27 runs and swiped 28 bases.

Dietz, meanwhile, provided some pop in the middle of the Ravens’ lineup, where she hit .400 with 12 extra-base hits as a junior.

The Hawks also placed three players on the first team — senior catcher Kristen Rock, junior center fielder Kendall Grimm and sophomore shortstop Laura Vickers.

Rock, who will continue her career at the University of Wisconsin, capped a brilliant career hitting .406 with 27 RBIs and remained one of the top game-callers in the state.

Grimm, who also committed to the Badgers, is a perfect fit atop East’s lineup. She posted a .547 average, scored 33 runs and drove in 24.

Vickers narrowly clipped Grimm for the Hawks top average, finishing the year hitting .550. with 23 extra-base hits and an eye-catching 1.112 slugging percentage. She also drove in 45.

In addition to Espy, who went 15-2 with a 0.29 ERA and 165 strikeouts during the regular season, the Eagles also placed University of Kansas recruit Marissa Ingle on the first team.

She led North with a .484 average and 15 RBIs.

Eagles junior second baseman Amy Vanderwell was chosen to the second team, along with Hawks ace Emily Gerstner, a senior, and two more Ravens, freshman pitcher Jacinda Ramos and sophomore second baseman Kendra Wright.

2008 Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-State Team Class 6A

First team

Pitchers

Hannah Dale, Olathe Northwest; Sarah Espy, Olathe North; Jenny Heery, Goddard; Paige Lindenburger, Washburn Rural.

Catchers

Ashley Fox, Washburn Rural; Kristen Rock, Olathe East.

Infielders

Liz Buck, Blue Valley West; Marissa Ingle, Olathe North; Amanda Kirkhart, Goddard; Amy Pierce, Olathe Northwest; Laura Vickers, Olathe East; Kelsey Warkentine, Washburn Rural; Taylor Zordel, Washburn Rural.

Outfielders

Chantelle Dietz, Olathe Northwest; Stephanie Goodwin, Blue Valley; Kendall Grimm, Olathe East; Taylor Lynch, Washburn Rural.

Utility

Lindsey Muller, Blue Valley.

Second team

Pitchers

Emily Gerstner, Olathe East; Jessica O’Dell, Wichita Northwest; Jacinda Ramos, Olathe Northwest; Courtney White, Maize.

Catcher

Kellie Davis, Shawnee Mission South

Infielders

Summer Kelly, SM Northwest; Kaity Riffel, Maize; Amy Vanderwell, Olathe North; Kendra Wright, Olathe Northwest.