The pendulum of dominance in high school softball swung from pitchers to hitters when the pitching rubber was moved back three feet four years ago, and the 2015 season was evident that it might not swing back to pitchers anytime soon.
Offenses once again dominated and great hitters were plentiful throughout the state, especially in Oakland County.
The best of the best are unveiled below as we present this year’s all-county softball team, which also includes three pitchers that did their best to buck the trend of higher-scoring games.
Here is the all-county squad, starting with the first team.
Infielders
Alex Sobczak (Sr.), Farmington Hills Mercy – Sobczak split her time between catcher and third base this year, but whatever position she played in the field, she was the state’s most feared hitter when she came to bat. Named Miss softball for position players, Sobczak batted .440 with six home runs 33 RBI and an astounding 39 walks because teams constantly tried to pitch around her. Signed with national runner-up Michigan, Sobczak finished her career with 40 home runs, 151 RBI and a .524 career batting average.
“She really matured beyond years not only as a player but a leader this year,” Mercy head coach Alec Lesko said. “She embraced the role and did whatever she could to help.”
Rachel Vieira (Sr.), Clarkston – One of the state’s best overall shortstops the past four years, Vieira closed out her high school career by having a monster season on offense, batting .571 with 10 home runs, 55 runs and 67 RBI. Signed with Central Michigan and named first team all-state in Division 1, Vieira was also a vacuum at shortstop defensively.
“Absolutely loves the game and is an ambassador of the game,” Clarkston head coach Don Peters said. “Several coaches approach me during the season saying they love the way Rachel plays the game. I can’t say enough positive things about Rachel. She is one of the best players I have seen in over 30 years of coaching.”
Mikayla Blaska (Sr.), Clarkston – The leadoff hitter who made the Wolves go, Blaska was named first team all-state after batting .487 with 63 runs and 35 RBI. Blaska also led the team with six triples and was one behind Vieira for the team lead in hits. She will play in college at Princeton.
“She is constantly working to enhance her speed, agility and strength,” Peters said. “Also, she put in countless hours to improve her hitting and fielding skills. Mikayla was a triple threat with great power, speed and the ability to drop down the perfect bunt.”
First baseman
Abby Krzywiecki (Jr.), Farmington Hills Mercy – Once again, Krzywiecki was an offensive force for one of the top-hitting teams in the state. Named first team all-state in Division 1, Krzywiecki ended up leading the Marlins with a .574 batting average to go along with 12 home runs and 57 RBI. A varsity standout ever since she was a freshman, Krzywiecki be a definite Miss Softball candidate next season.
““Abby is a tremendous competitor,” Lesko said. “She is as loose of a kid as I have ever coached. Her work ethic is right up there with the best players I have ever had. She’s a power hitter that loves to play.”
Outfielders
Alex Carpenter (Sr.), Lake Orion –One of the best players to ever come through Lake Orion, Carpenter finished off an outstanding high school career by being named first team all-state in Division 1. The table setter at the top of the lineup for the Dragons, Carpenter batted .504 with 42 runs and 39 stolen bases. She will play in college at Oakland Community College.
“Alex is a five-tool player who can bunt, slap or hit with power,” Woityra said. “She can play any position on the field.”
Hannah Bunker (Soph.), Walled Lake Northern – Bunker played most of her season at second base after being an outfielder last season, but she did spend a little time in the outfield this season. Regardless of where she played, Bunker excelled. At the plate, bunker batted .548 with two home runs, 29 RBI, 59 runs and 33 stolen bases, numbers which led her to being named first team all-state.
“Hannah had an awesome sophomore year defensively and offensively,” Northern head coach Kristen Woodard said. “She works very hard at her game all year and it is nice to see her be rewarded. Hannah has a great eye at the plate and is a threat with her speed.”
Sophia Van Acker (Soph.), Farmington Hills Mercy – Van Acker hit at a prime spot in the lineup in between Sobczak and Krzywiecki in the No. 2 hole, and she took advantage of all the opportunities she had as a result. Van Acker finished second on Mercy’s team with a .547 batting average in addition to 33 runs and 30 RBI. She was named second team all-state in Division 1.
“She’s a big-time player,” Lesko said. “I would not be surprised at all to see her play at a pretty high level when she’s done with high school.”
Pitchers
Candace Kitchen (Sr.), Clarkston – One of two Clarkston pitchers that threw regularly in addition to senior Madeline Maday, Kitchen finished with a 25-2 record with a 1.57 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings pitched in being named first team all-state. The team’s No. 3 hitter, Kitchen also produced at the plate with a .478 average.
“A great leader who leads through how she conducts herself on and off the field,” Peters said. “Candace is a tremendous athlete and she has started at every position on the field in her four-year career.”
Andrea Elmore (Jr.), Farmington Hills Mercy – After teammate Krzywiecki pitched all the big games as the team’s ace the last two years, Elmore took over that role this year and set the stage for an outstanding senior season by pitching great this year.
Named second team all-state in Division 1, Elmore finished 16-3 with a 1.57 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 124 2/3 innings pitched to help lead the Marlins to a semifinal appearance.
““Andrea is another player that really matured this year,” Lesko said. “She really embraced being our ace and she is the one we rode (to the semifinals). I’m happy we get her back.”
Madison French (Soph.), Waterford Kettering – It was a coming out party of sorts this year for French, who was named first team all-state for a Captains team that peaked at the right time and nearly beat Farmington Hills Mercy in a regional final. Named first team all-state in Division 1, French went 22-7 with a 1.81 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 186 innings pitched this season for Kettering. She also swung a potent bat, hitting .434 with 25 RBI and 39 runs.
“Madison is a very accomplished pitcher with a variety of pitches,” Kettering head coach Al Land said. “She has outstanding composure on the rubber and is also an excellent fielder at that position.”
Catcher
Ashley Messina (Sr.), Troy – One of the top hitters to ever come through a program that has produced them regularly, Messina was named second team all-state after she batted .505 with a school record 51 RBI. Messina also scored 26 runs, struck out only 17 times in her career and essentially negated the running game of opponents with how she regularly threw out would-be base stealers. Messina has signed to play in college for Wayne State.
“Her defensive prowess was so well-known that most teams never even tried to steal a base,” Troy head coach Tom Calnen said. “Offensively, Ashley is one of the best to ever put on a Troy uniform. Ashley will have a tremendous career at Wayne State and will be sorely missed.”
Utility
Katey Hendershott (Sr.), Ortonville Brandon – One of the state’s best two-way players, Hendershott finished off a great high school career by being named first team all-state in Division 1 as a utility player.
On the rubber, Hendershott went 7-0 in league play to help lead the Blackhawks to the Flint Metro title and at the plate, she batted .510 with five home runs and 33 RBI. Also a basketball standout who played this year after tearing her ACL last year, Hendershott will play both sports at Lake Superior State.
“Katey worked so hard to come back from her ACL injury and had a very good year,” Brandon head coach Liz Hendershott said.
Rachel Dolland (Sr.), Lake Orion – A player who could play multiple positions in the field, Dolland was one of the top offensive players in the OAA, batting .484 with five home runs and 41 RBI. Signed with Michigan-Dearborn, Dolland was named first team all-state in Division 1 as a utility player.
“Rachel’s a versatile player that can play any positions and hits the ball with power,” Woityra said.
Abby Skvarce (Jr.), Clarkston – A power-hitting threat who hit cleanup for the Wolves, Skvarce hit .423 with two home runs and was second on the team with 41 RBI. She also was a good defensive catcher who held running games in check. Committed to Michigan, Skvarce was named second team all-state in Division 1 and she will be another Miss Softball candidate next year.
“Abby’s a pitcher’s ream as a catcher,” Peters said. “Great at framing the ball, blocking the ball, throwing runners out and picking runners off. A great hitter with lots of pop and a great swing.”
Second team
OF – Nicole Ireland (Jr.), Novi; Mary Zimmerman (Soph.), Lakeland; Katie Swartz (Sr.), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
INF – Makenzie Nieto (Sr.), South Lyon East; Cherilyn Banas (Sr.), Oxford; Skye Donaldson (Sr.), Oxford
P – Kaitlyn Wolschlager (Jr.), Walled Lake Central; Teresa Menzel (Soph.), Lakeland; Carlie Sebastian (Jr.), Troy
1B – Alex Favazza (Sr.), Clarkston
C – Rianna Koteles (Soph.), Lakeland
U – Shelby Misiak (Soph.), Lake Orion; Audrey Petoskey (Soph.), Milford; Jacqueline Spizizen (Soph.), Birmingham Detroit Country Day
Honorable mention (in alphabetical order)
Hannah Antosz, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Sr. SS; Brooke Beale, Lakeland Jr. 1B; Sara Beyer, Stoney Creek Sr. 3B/P; Brooke Blanchette, Auburn Hills Avondale Soph. CF; Nicole Belans, Farmington Hills Mercy Soph. OF; Maggie Bohr, Troy Sr. OF; Hanna Bullard, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Sr. C; Courtney Callahan, Walled Lake Northern Fr. OF; Alexa Cherney, North Farmington Jr. P; Maddy Cormier, Birmingham Seaholm Sr. SS; Ariana Chretien, Walled Lake Northern Sr. INF; Casey Cribbs, Stoney Creek Sr. 2B; Hannah Davies, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Fr. P; Avra DeYoung, West Bloomfield Jr. SS; Lauren Donaldson, Oxford Fr. C; Caley Gleason, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Soph. P; Sierra Gonzales, Lake Orion Jr. P; Samantha Harris, Walled Lake Northern Fr. C; Sydney Jasco, Birmingham Marian Jr. 3B/P; Jordan Johnson, Farmington Hills Mercy Sr. 3B; Haley Lenderman, Rochester Sr. P; Madeline Maday, Clarkston Sr. P; Casey Maybrier, Walled Lake Northern Jr. OF; Madelyn Morris, Oxford Soph. OF; Caroline Morton, Troy Sr. SS; Kerry Prowse, Wixom St. Catherine Sr. P; Caroline Riley, Auburn Hills Avondale Sr. P; Hannah Vachon, Oxford Fr. P; Melyssa Wei, Rochester Adams Jr. OF; Haley Willis, Rochester Adams Jr. OF. (MI Prep Zone, June 21, 2015)