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