Youth is served when top softball awards handed out in York-Adams League
- The York-Adams League coaches recently selected the league's top softball players.
- Not a single senior took home any of the major honors.
- Four juniors, a sophomore and three freshmen were recognized.
The York-Adams League softball coaches recently released their all-star selections for the 2017 season, and if there's a theme to the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year selections, it's youth.
Of the eight players who earned those two honors over the four divisions, none were seniors, with four juniors, a sophomore and three freshmen taking the honors.
Central York junior ace Courtney Coppersmith claimed the Division I Player of the Year honor, while New Oxford junior pitcher Alanna Molz was named the Pitcher of the Year.
In Division II, Northeastern sophomore Haley Updegraff was named the Player of the Year and Dover junior Taylor Lamparter was the Pitcher of the Year.
In Division III, a pair of freshmen took home the top honors, with Kennard-Dale's Jaedyn McKeon earning Player of the Year recognition and Eastern York ace Maelynn Leber earning Pitcher of the Year.
Division IV's Player of the Year honor went to Delone Catholic freshman Katie Ernst and her teammate, junior Marlee Lackey, was named Pitcher of the Year.
Only Division II and Division IV recognized a Coach of the Year, with Northeastern boss Dave Marsh earning the honor in Division II and Don Smith of Delone Catholic claiming Division IV's award.
Starting in Division I, Coppersmith was virtually unbeatable this season for the Panthers. She helped lead Central York to a third-place finish in the District 3 Class 6-A tournament and a berth in the state playoffs. The Panthers lost in the opening round of states, losing to eventual-champion Hempfield Area, 1-0. Coppersmith did her part in that game to give Central a chance to win. The Panthers also won their third consecutive Y-A League title. Coppersmith is verbally committed to play for University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Molz was the leader for a very young Colonials team, helping them go from 6-14 a year ago to a District 3 5-A playoff qualifier this season. She posted a one-hit, 17-strikeout win over South Western in April and is verbally committed to play for Division II East Stroudsburg.
In Division II, Updegraff was both a threat defensively and offensively for the Bobcats. Behind the plate, she had 12 pick offs, including eight at second base, while committing just one error. At the plate, hitting from the leadoff position, she hit .606 and had 17 RBIs and 20 runs scored for Northeastern, all while helping the Bobcats win Division II.
Lampeter was the go-to pitcher for the Eagles this year, leading them to a second-place finish in Division II.
In Division III, McKeon was strong at shortstop for the division-champion Rams. She hit .568 with 27 RBIs, 38 runs scored and had two homers, leading K-D to a runner-up finish in the Y-A League tournament, a District 3 4-A title and quarterfinal berth in the state playoffs.
Leber proved she'll be a force to be reckoned with the next three years for the Golden Knights, becoming the team's ace in her first season. She went 13-7 with 81 strikeouts this year, guiding Eastern to a runner-up finish in District 3 4-A and a quarterfinal appearance in states. At the plate, she hit .528 with 26 RBIs, 25 runs and two home runs.
Despite only being a ninth grader, Ernst created all sorts of problems for opposing pitchers. She recorded a hit more often than she made an out, hitting .510 with 18 runs scored and 18 RBIs. She also belted six doubles and two triples.
Lackey was unbeatable in the circle for the Squirettes, posting a perfect 7-0 mark with a 1.20 ERA. She recorded 64 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. Together, Ernst and Lackey helped lead Delone to the Division IV title and a District 3 3-A playoff appearance.
Here are the rest of the players selected to the first and second teams by the coaches:
DIVISION I
First Team
Briannah Dobson, senior, Central York
Erin Cabry, junior, Central York
Lorna Colberg, senior, Central York
Megan Teal, senior, Red Lion
Hailey Inguanti, junior, Red Lion
Lyndee Anders, senior, Dallastown
Kelsie Merriman, sophomore, Dallastown
Kirsten Dell, freshman, New Oxford
Kaitlyn Chell, senior, South Western
Bryn Sporer, sophomore, Spring Grove
Julia Wivell, senior, Spring Grove
Briana DiCandeloro, junior, Spring Grove
Caraline Cornman, senior, Spring Grove
Second Team
Briana Smith, sophomore, Central York
Karly Fink, senior, Central York
Natalie Craig, sophomore, Central York
Delaney Boylan, sophomore, Central York
Taylor Radziewicz, sophomore, Red Lion
Kaitlyn Collins, sophomore, Red Lion
Haley Taylor, junior, Red Lion
Elena Rosas, junior, Dallastown
Delaney Kolb, senior, Dallastown
Krista Flemmens, Dallastown
Bailey Rapson, sophomore, Spring Grove
Hailey Kessinger, sophomore, Spring Grove
Morgan Adams, freshman, New Oxford
DIVISION II
First Team
Bell Bortner, sophomore, Northeastern
Krista Anderson, junior, Northeastern
Peyton Eckenrode, sophomore, Northeastern
Nikki Stone, junior, Northeastern
Briana Crushong, senior, Gettysburg
Tyler Williams, senior, Susquehannock
Kendra Gemmill, sophomore, Susquehannock
Paige Weekly, junior, West York
Gabriel Ilyes, senior, West York
Abby Lower, Dover
Second Team
Shanna Martin, Gettysburg
Cassandra Root, senior, Dover
Allyson Koller, sophomore, Susquehannock
Anna Bryan, sophomore, Susquehannock
Gabbi Almiroudis, freshman, Susquehannock
Skylar Sweitzer, senior, West York
Leah Jamison, junior, West York
Brianna Harvey, sophomore, West York
Torie Knight, sophomore, Northeastern
Madison Wrightstone, sophomore, Northeastern
Ciarra Coombes, senior, Northeastern
DIVISION III
First team
Morgan Winter, sophomore, Eastern York
Katie Lehman, sophomore, Eastern York
Amber Forry, freshman, Eastern York
Crystal Mullins, sophomore, Kennard-Dale
Lexie Kopko, freshman, Kennard-Dale
Alexis Hurley, freshman, Kennard-Dale
Amanda Dyson, junior, Littlestown
Chelsey Walls, sophomore, Littlestown
Sarah Hartinger, junior, York Suburban
Alexis Jury, junior, York Suburban
Zoe Prats, sophomore, York Suburban
Second Team
Kierstin Grove, senior, Eastern York
McKenzie Buchmyer, sophomore, Eastern York
Amber Belt, junior, Kennard-Dale
Marguerite DeFranco, sophomore, Kennard-Dale
Lindsey Snyder, senior, Littlestown
Jillienne Gautheir, senior, Littlestown
Katelyn Frock, senior, Littlestown
Emily Myers, sophomore, York Suburban
DIVISION IV
First Team
Rebecca Baum, freshman, York Catholic
Gena Eicher, junior, Fairfield
Ryleigh Bolyards, sophomore, Fairfield
Maggie Rickrode, sophomore, Delone Catholic
Lauren Little, freshman, Delone Catholic
Courtney Harbaugh, junior, Fairfield
Mya Miller, freshman, Biglerville
Lexi Daley, senior, Hanover
Alazaya Watts, freshman, York Tech
Second Team
Ashley Roberts, sophomore, Fairfield
Haylee Wastler, freshman, Fairfield
Ali Sowers, senior, Biglerville
Morgan Kime, junior, Biglerville
Lauryn King, senior, Delone Catholic
Callie Shearer, senior, Delone Catholic
Sydney Keith, junior, Delone Catholic
Avery Martz, senior, Hanover
Brooke Glass, junior, York Tech
Honorable Mention
Grace Gardini, freshman, York Catholic
Katie McCauslin, junior, Biglerville,
Sierra Stevens, Hanover
Alexis Fournier, senior, York Tech
Jordan Pryor, senior, Fairfield
— Reach Patrick Strohecker at pstrohecker@yorkdispatch.com