Eddies’ Pion, Ryker earn first-team All-Wolverine

Published 10:18 am Thursday, June 28, 2018

EDWARDSBURG — Ashley Pion and Courtney Ryker of Edwardsburg, as well as, Amiyah Smith of Dowagiac, were first-team selections on the All-Wolverine Conference softball team, which was released Monday.

Conference champion Three Rivers (18-0) dominated the all-league squad with four players on the first team, as well as Kendra Kutz being named coach of the year.

The Wildcats also had two second-team selections and an honorable mention pick.

Dowagiac’s Anna Dobberstein was a second-team selection, while Taylore Froehlich earned honorable mention status.

Jordan Tighe of Edwardsburg was named to the second team. Bailey Anson was an honorable mention pick.

Smith, a junior, hit .446 with 15 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 23 RBIs for the Chieftains, who finished 5-13 in conference play.

Amiyah is our best player,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke. “She led us in RBIs from the leadoff spot, so if girls got on base in front of her they usually scored.”

Dobberstein, a freshman, hit .330 with eight doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs.

“Anna stepped up as a freshman and played great for us behind the plate,” Behnke said. “She became a leader for the team, listens and is very coachable.”

Froehlich, a senior, hit .247 with three doubles, a home run and 15 RBIs.

“Taylore improve dramatically from her junior season to her senior season,” Behnke said. “This year she flew around in the outfield getting to balls that I didn’t think were catchable. She came out of her shell so to speak to become a team leader.”

ALL-WOLVERINE

CONFERENCE SOFTBALL

First team

Kylee Nash, Three Rivers

Kali Heivilin, Three Rivers

Amy Jo Tavernier, Three Rivers

Halle Carpenter, Three Rivers

Keagan Kelley, Vicksburg

Rylie Richter, Vicksburg

Camille Waldey, Vicksburg

Haley Krieger, South Haven

Anna Bocock, South Haven

Ashley Pion, Edwardsburg

Courtney Ryker, Edwardsburg

Kendra VanderLugt, Otsego

Brooke Bodi, Sturgis

Amiyah Smith, Dowagiac

Coach of the Year

Kendra Kutz, Three Rivers

Second team

Erin Brady, Three Rivers

Jessica Barnes, Three Rivers

Tailynn Knapp, Vicksburg

Kali Yant, Vicksburg

Grace Ellis, South Haven

Torie Loikits, South Haven

Jordan Tighe, Edwardsburg

Skylar Anderson, Otsego

Anna Dobberstein, Dowagiac

Shanyn Jewell, Plainwell

Meg Manley, Allegan

Honorable mention

Emma Thatcher, Three Rivers

Avery Slancik, Vicksburg

Frances Lyons, South Haven

Bailey Anson, Edwardsburg

Avery Neville, Otsego

Anna Castellucio, Paw Paw

Madison Pueschel, Sturgis

Taylore Froehlich, Dowagiac

Rachel Axelson, Plainwell

Cambria Rader, Allegan

Final standings

Three Rivers 18-0

Vicksburg 16-2

South Haven 14-7

Edwardsburg 11-7

Otsego 9-9

Paw Paw 8-10

Sturgis 6-12

Dowagiac 5-13

Plainwell 3-15

Allegan 0-18