Youth is served when top softball awards handed out in York-Adams League

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