March 29, 2024

Murray loads up all-Bluegrass softball squad

Bulldogs spot two, Maroonettes another

Murray Lady Mustangs, two Orient-Macksburg Bulldogs and a Diagonal Maroonette were honored with spots on the recently-released Bluegrass all-conference softball teams.

For the fourth consecutive season, Murray juniors Bre Klein and Kayla Wookey, both named as unanimous picks, were named to the first team.

Klein, named to the team as a pitcher, struck out 203 batters in 138 and 1/3 innings, posted a 2.07 ERA, an 18-6 record and opponents hit .154 against her in the circle.

Her .510 batting average, .575 on base percentage and .827 slugging percentage each led the Lady Mustangs. She blasted four homers and 19 doubles and had 32 RBIs.

Wookey hit .470 to lead the Lady Mustangs and also led Murray with 35 RBIs with more than 30 fewer at-bats than most of the Murray starters. Wookey also roped 10 doubles and four homers. Klein and Wookey tied for the conference home run lead and owned the second and third most RBIs in the conference, respectively.

Wookey’s record in 65 2/3 innings pitched was 7-2, she owned a 1.49 ERA and struck out 97.

Joining them on the first team were teammates Zadie Hatfield, and Kelli Romero, the latter who made first team for the second straight season.

Hatfield caught the conference’s best pitching duo and posted 28 RBIs and 10 doubles to go with a .372 batting average.

Romero’s 15 stolen bases were fourth most in the Bluegrass. She hit .396, 10 doubles, four triples and drove in 21 RBIs while manning the outfield grass in center field. Her four triples were second in the conference, trailing only Orient-Macksburg’s Kaela Eslinger.

Lady Mustangs Megan Johnston, Hailey Chew and Kendra Boles each made the second team, while Bailey Frederick earned honorable mention honors.

Boles played left field, hit 305, drove in 24 runs, hit three homers and nine doubles.

Chew’s 35 runs were tied for second most in the Bluegrass. She posted a .316 batting average and earned a spot on the team from her outfield spot.

Bulldogs

Kaela Eslinger was a second-teamer for the Bulldogs, while Brooklyn Sammons rounded out her career with a spot on the honorable mention list. The selection was the third of Eslinger’s career.

Eslinger hit .407 with seven doubles, six triples, three home runs and 26 RBIs. She slugged a conference-best .881 and walked 16 times while stealing eight bases.

She pitched 136 2/3 of O-M’s 141 innings this season. She struck out 117 batters and opponents hit .239 against her.

Sammons hit .293, scored 16 runs and drove in 13 runs.

Diagonal

Maroonette senior Katie Sobotka earned honorable mention.

First team (*Unanimous Selection)

Position Name School Team

*Pitcher, Bre Klein, Jr., Murray

Pitcher, Emillie Krpan, Jr., Melcher-Dallas

Catcher, Mikayla Fritz, Fr., Moravia

Catcher, Zadie Hatfield, Sr., Murray

1B, Jessica Self, Jr., Moravia

2B, Dylan Murphy, 8th, Seymour

3B, Ali Enright, Sr., Seymour

SS, Emma McDanel, Sr., Moravia

*INF, Kayla Wookey, Jr., Murray

OF, Hannah Hinner, Jr., Seymour

OF, Riley Enfield, Fr., Melcher-Dallas

OF, Payton Maddy, Sr., Moravia

OF, Kelli Romero, Jr. Murray

Utility, Thayda Houser, So., Seymour

Second team

Pitcher, Kaela Eslinger, So., O-M

Pitcher, Grace Bailey, 8th, Twin Cedars

Catcher, Chelsey Boettcher, So., Moulton-Udell

Catcher, Angel Beaty, So., Melcher-Dallas

1B, Megan Johnston, Jr., Murray

2B, Anaya Keith, Fr., Moravia

3B, Haley Godfrey, Fr., Melcher-Dallas

SS, Brooke Roby, 8th, Twin Cedars

INF, Payton Gwinn, Sr., Mormon Trail

OF, Kendra Leer, Jr., Moulton-Udell

OF, Emilee Howard, So., Moravia

OF, Hailey Chew, Jr., Murray

OF, Kendra Boles, Murray, Jr.

Utility, Ali Mockenhaupt, 8th, Twin Cedars

Honorable mention

Katie Sobotka, Sr., Diagonal

Cameron Martin, 8th, Lamoni

Emma Carlson, 8th, Mormon Trail

Kynser Reed, Fr., Melcher-Dallas

Isabel Hanes, Fr., Moravia

Jessica King, Fr., Moulton-Udell

Bailey Frederick, So., Murray

Nadia Howell, Jr., Seymour

Chloe Swank, Fr., Twin Cedars

Brooklyn Sammons, Sr., O-M