2103-14 Sports Scene Softball Dream Team

Sara Hansen, Sacred Heart Academy, senior, Player of the Year, shortstop 

After years of breaking records on the volleyball court, basketball court, and softball diamond, Sacred Heart’s Sara Hansen took center stage as she was awarded the 2014 Miss Softball Position Player by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association in June.

Hansen can add a couple more honors to her already impressive resume: Sports Scene’s Co-Female Athlete of Year and Sports Scene’s softball Player of the Year.

She capped off her prep career this spring by batting .547, driving in 14 runs on 75 hits, and scoring 57 runs. She was a perfect 50 for 50 in stolen bases. For her career, Hansen established a new state record with 305 hits. She tallied 91 RBI, scored 252 runs, and compiled a .567 batting average and a .592 on base percentage. As a sophomore, Hansen led the Irish to the state semifinal round, marking the first semifinal appearance for the school since 1994.

She also tied the national record in runs scored in a single season (82), and finished her career ranked second nationally in consecutive games with a base hit (91) and career runs scored (252). She also ranks first in state history in consecutive games with a hit, hits in a season (100), and runs scored in a single season.

Meredith Rousse, Bay City Western, senior, shortstop

A defensive dynamo, Rousse can field her position with the best of them. She batted .549 with 46 RBI, 61 runs, 12 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs. She holds school records for hits in a season and in a career. The first-team all-stater is heading to Saginaw Valley State University to play softball.

Hannah Leppek, Bay City Western, senior, pitcher

Leppek led the Warriors to a Division 1 state championship. During the season, she posted a 35-1 record with a 0.70 ERA and more than 300 strikeouts. She also hit .507 with 17 doubles, 59 RBI, and a school-record 13 home runs. She will play college softball at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Lacy Tolfree, Heritage, senior, outfield

An all-conference and all-state outfielder, Tolfree hit an outstanding .619. She had 40 hits, including six triples and five home runs. She scored 49 runs and drove in 24 more while stealing 22 bases. She was honorable mention all-state as a senior. She will play softball at Central Michigan University.

Bailey Baker, Eaton Rapids, senior, first base

Baker, who is headed to the University of Michigan on a track & field scholarship, impresses on the basketball court and on the softball diamond as well. She hit .533 and had seven home runs and 45 RBI during her senior season.

Mason Kalina, Bullock Creek, senior, catcher

Kalina, who will be attending Central Michigan University, tied an MHSAA record with a home run in three straight at-bats. She capped off her first team all-state senior season by leading the Lancers to a conference championship while batting .579 with 81 hits from the lead-off spot. She also knocked in 50 runs, scored 58 runs, hit 20 doubles, and hit nine home runs.

Sarah Addy, Swan Valley, senior, second base

A four-year starter, Addy ended her career with a .519 average, 40 stolen bases, and first team all-state honors. She scored 51 runs and will be playing softball at Saginaw Valley State University.

Courtney Reinhold, Swan Valley, senior, pitcher

Reinhold capped her four-year varsity career with a 22-6 record, 227 strikeouts, and a 0.57 earned-run average. A three-year all-state performer, she tallied 80 career wins in the circle and is heading to Grand Valley State University to play softball next year.

Allie Grys, Portland, senior, pitcher

As solid as they come on the mound, Grys dominated games, going 21-4 with 14 shutouts, 275 strikeouts, and an earned-run average of 0.69. She also batted .414 and drove in 30 runs for the Raiders’ district championship team.

Kaylie Rhynard, Shepherd, senior, catcher

Rhynard, who will play softball and run cross country at Grand Valley State University next year, earned first-team all-state honors in Division 3 in 2014 and helped the Bluejays win a district title. She had nine doubles, nine triples, and five home runs, and she stuck out only twice. She also drove in 30 runs and scored 71 times while stealing 27 bases.

Janelle Rons, Vestaburg, senior, pitcher

Rons went 20-3 and finished with an ERA of 1.46 while leading the Wolverines to the Division 4 semifinal round. She stuck out 165 hitters in 132 innings of work and allowed 30 earned runs. At the plate, the three-time first-team all-state selection hit .557. She set a single-season school record 12 homers and 86 RBI, which ranks fourth best in the MHSAA single-season archives. She also had 14 triples and 16 doubles, scored 65 runs, and stole 27 bases while slugging 1.189.

Sports Scene’s First Team

Kaylynn Carpenter, Bay City Western, outfield

Ellie Cowger, Fenton, utility

Camri Grace, Williamston, catcher

Greta Wilker, Belding, third base

Caitlin Meade, Okemos, pitcher 

Madison Adams, Portland, second base

Maureen Conway, Mt. Pleasant, first base

Emily Reed, John Glenn, catcher

Erica Treiber, Unionville-Sebewaing Area, junior, pitcher

Sports Scene Honorable Mention

Katelynn Hendershott, Brandon; Lauren Bachert, Grand Ledge; Alyssa Westphal, Midland; Kaitlin Dormire, Kearsley; Myranda Williams, Kearsley; Bry Chapman, Holt; Alyssa DeMeyer, North Branch; Kayla Brooks, Frankenmuth; Paige Churchfield, Swan Valley; Kelli Halvin, Swan Valley; Jessica Taylor, Goodrich; Ashley Youngstrom, Freeland; April Mehl, Bullock Creek.; Cassidy Johnson, Chippewa Hills; Allison Hoppe, Unionville-Sebewaing Area; Stephanie Neuman, Unionville-Sebewaing Area; Breanna Dinsmore,Unionville-Sebewaing Area; Kaitlyn Szekely, Reese; Cassidy Reif, Reese; Mikaela Stricker, Reese; Monica Hagen. Reese; Kara Schluckbier, Reese;  Mekayla Carey, Morley Stanwood; Blake Garner, Meridian; Aubrey Alfano, Hemlock; Sydney Little, Valley Lutheran; Hannah Atwell, Montrose; Kylee Chaffin, Ithaca; Malinda Talaga, Pinconning; Madison Munro, Morrice; Tori Wirth, Fowler; Lauren Sabuda, Sacred Heart Academy; Averi Munro, Morrice; Riley Terwilliger, Sacred Heart Academy; Taylor Schmitt, Fowler; Sydney Sheldon, Breckenridge; Kelsie Feldpausch, Fowler; Nicole Bollnow, Michigan Lutheran Seminary; Karigan Gates, Vestaburg; Jordan Schneider, Beal City; Gabriella Seida, Fulton; Kyleigh Buckley, Merrill; Kara Schafer, Fowler; Sydney Feldpausch, Fowler