By Cort Reynolds
Allen East’s Brooks named NWC’s top player
Ada sophomore standout Jenna Bassitt was named first team All-Northwest Conference in softball for the second straight year in voting conducted by the league coaches Tuesday evening in Delphos.
Bassitt won 14 games pitching and struck out 184 batters this season.
She topped Ada in almost every offensive category. She led in batting average (.514), on-base pct. (.618), slugging pct. (.757) and stolen bases (28 in 32 tries).
Bassitt walked 16 times and also hit two home runs, while legging out four triples and six doubles. She scored 37 runs and had 24 runs batted in on 38 hits.
Bassitt led Ada to the best league finish ever in program history at 7-1, good for sole possession of second place behind only league champion Crestview.
The Bulldog girls started out 14-1 and ended up 16-7 overall.
Allen East junior catcher Savana Brooks was voted NWC Player of the Year after slamming a league-leading 11 home runs. She batted .552 with 37 hits, six doubles and four triples. She drove in 50 runs and scored 25 runs, and compiled a .584 on base pct.
She also made first team All-NWC for the second time after missing most of her sophomore season with a foot injury.
AE ended up 10-10 overall and 5-3 in the NWC, good for fourth place in the nine-team league.
Ada sophomore shortstop Karley Wagner was voted second team all-conference. She batted .414 with 29 hits and 18 RBI. Wagner scored 21 runs with seven doubles, two triples and one home run. She had a slugging pct. of .614 and an on base pct. of .491.
Mustang senior pitcher Nikki Thaxton also repeated as a first team All-NWC choice for the second straight year. She was second team all-league as a sophomore.
AE third sacker Maggie Wanamaker was voted second team all-league. She slugged six home runs this spring.
Bulldog sophomore catcher Natilyn McClain earned honorable mention notice. She also won two games as a pitcher. McClain batted .343 with 19 RBI with five doubles, two triples and a dozen walks. She also stole 12 bases.
Ada senior second baseman/outfielder Kayla Wince earned honorable mention all-league. She compiled a .443 batting average with 14 RBI, two triples and one home run. She also stole 12 bases and scored 28 runs.
Sophomore center fielder Tess Griffith was also voted honorable mention all-league. She batted .343 with 24 RBI and 18 runs scored. She smacked five doubles with one triple and 11 steals.
Junior first baseman Katie Sizemore repeated as an honorable mention all-league choice. She batted .322 with one home run, five doubles, 13 walks and 15 RBI.
AE senior Audrey Rex and junior Aubrey Young each made honorable mention all-league.
Outgoing Crestview mentor Carl Etzler was voted NWC Coach of the Year after leading the Knight girls to a 21st league title outright at 8-0. They beat Ada 7-0 in a late-season league showdown of unbeatens to clinch a share of the crown.
The Knights then defeated rival Lincolnview 7-4 in the league finale to win sole possession of the crown and relegate the Lancers to third place in the NWC at 6-2.
Bluffton came in fifth at 4-4 in the NWC (10-12 overall). Delphos Jefferson and Leipsic tied for sixth at 2-6, while Columbus Grove and Spencerville tied for eighth and last at 1-7.
All-NWC 1st Team
Savana Brooks – Allen East – Jr
Olivia Heckler – Crestview – Sr
Makayla Jackman – Lincolnview – Sr
Taylor Post – Lincolnview – Jr
Katelyn Castle – Crestview – Sr
Nikki Thaxton – Allen East – Sr
Megan Mosier – Crestview – Sr
Gwen Langhals – Columbus Grove – Sr
Jenna Bassitt – Ada – So
Braxton Sherrick – Lincolnview – Sr
Jessa Rostorfer – Delphos Jefferson – Sr
2nd Team
Marisa Hermiller – Leipsic – Sr
Karley Wagner – Ada – So
Addysen Stevens – Lincolnview – Jr
Hannah Davis – Bluffton – Sr
Megan Bogart – Columbus Grove – Sr
Krystin Moore – Delphos Jefferson – Jr
Maggie Wanamaker – Allen East – Sr
Lauren Bassett – Bluffton – Jr
Katherine Lee – Spencerville – Sr
Dakota Thornell – Crestview – Fr
Honorable Mention
Lainey Spear – Lincolnview – Fr
Natilyn McClain – Ada – So
Ali Hermiller – Leipsic – So
Jaelyn Boop – Spencerville – Sr
Laci McCoy – Crestview – Sr
Ava Henry – Leipsic – Jr
Kayla Wince – Ada – Sr
Carolyn Mueller – Delphos Jefferson – Fr
Kayle Mollenkopf – Crestview – So
Tessa Griffith – Ada – So
Ashley Fleece – Bluffton – Jr
Olivia Hobensack – Bluffton – Jr
Avery Rahrig – Delphos Jefferson – Jr
Aubrey Young – Allen East – Jr
Abby Haselman – Leipsic – Sr
Quincey Baumgartner – Spencerville – Jr
Audrey Rex – Allen East – Sr
Katie Sizemore – Ada – Jr
