Three Mexico sluggers, pitcher earn postseason softball awards

Mexico had a powerful core leading the team this season.

The Lady Bulldogs’ top three home-run hitters — senior third baseman Abby Bellamy, freshman catcher Hannah Loyd and junior utility player Jo Thurman — combined for 23 long balls this year and led the team to a 19-13 record. Each of them earned first team all-North Central Missouri Conference and all-district honors for Class 3 District 3 this season while senior pitcher Eboni Mayfield was named second team all-district.

Bellamy came off an all-state, record-breaking junior season and capped her high school career with an impressive senior campaign. She led the team with eight home runs, 39 hits, 18 extra-base hits, 38 RBI, a .419 batting average, a .491 on-base percentage and a .819 slugging percentage.

Loyd was in her first season but convinced everyone it was just the beginning of a great career by being the only freshman on the all-conference and all-district teams. She tied for the team-high with eight home runs and had 29 RBI, 16 extra-base hits, .385 average, .482 on-base and .758 slugging. Behind the plate, she threw out seven runners for a percentage of 30.4 percent and allowed only one passed ball.

Thurman verbally committed to the University of Missouri near the end of the season and showed this year that she would bring a combination of speed and power to the Lady Tigers. She hit five home runs, a .389 average, .468 on-base, .663 slugging, 14 extra-base hits while leading the team with 16 stolen bases, 39 runs scored and tied Bellamy with 39 hits. In the field, Thurman committed five errors in 30 games played.

Mayfield served as Mexico’s No. 1 pitcher and one of two arms the Lady Bulldogs had available this season. She finished with a 2.74 ERA and a 14-4 record in 891/3 innings while striking out 55 and walking 22.

North Callaway talented youth, four rewarded with postseason awards

North Callaway softball appears to have a bright future.

The 2022 Ladybirds finished with a 9-17 record after losing to Fayette in the district semifinals but had four players recognized with postseason awards — all of them outfielders. Senior center fielder Jalyn Leible capped her high school career with second team all-Eastern Missouri Conference and all-district selections, and junior outfielder Corynne Miller appeared as a first team all-conference and second team all-district. Freshmen outfielders Kymorie Myers and Ella Slater also earned spots on the Class 2 District 3 team, first team and second team, respectively, while Myers was named second team all-conference — one of four freshmen on the team.

Myers started her high school career by leading North Callaway in various offensive categories like three home runs, 24 RBI, 13 extra-base hits and a .648 smuggling percentage. In the field, she committed one error and had a team-high four outfield assists in 25 games.

Slater owned a .311 average, 23 hits, 15 RBI, six doubles and two home runs in her first season. In the field, she committed two errors in 24 games played.

Miller found her way on base all season long as the Ladybirds’ leadoff hitter, owning the team-highs with a .410 average, .484 on-base, 34 hits, 28 runs scored and seven stolen bases (without being thrown out once). She ranked second with a .966 OPS and had three errors and a team-high four outfield assists in 26 games.

Leible ranked second with two home runs, 18 RBI and 26 runs scored while being third on the team with 25 hits and first with 14 walks. She also had a .321 average, .448 on-base percentage and .474 slugging percentage and had three errors in 26 games.

Four Lady Trojans garner postseason honors

It wasn’t the season Community R-6 softball wanted, but four Lady Trojans earned some recognition for their efforts.

After Community’s season ended at 12-13 following a loss to district champion Silex, senior shortstop Sarah Angel, junior catcher Brooklynn Glasgow and junior pitcher Paige Painter were named all-district for Class 1 District 7. Angel had already been named first team all-Central Activities Conference along with senior third baseman Olivia Kuda and Glasgow was an all-conference honorable mention.

After being the conference’s MVP a year ago, Angel was the team’s MVP after leading with a .425 batting average, .485 on-base percentage, 13 stolen bases, 37 runs scored and 36 hits. In the field, she committed seven errors in 25 games played.

Glasgow showed the pop in her bat by leading the team with a .626 slugging percentage and 10 doubles while also hitting a home run. Behind the plate, she showed the strength of her arm as she threw out 22 runners for a percentage of 42 percent, committing six errors and having 10 passed balls in 25 games played.

Kuda was behind Glasgow with the .595 slugging but tied her with five triples and ahead of her by one in home runs at two. Kuda’s other numbers include a .369 average, a. 464 on-base and eight stolen bases while only being thrown out once.

Painter finished her season in the circle with a 3.35 ERA, a 6-7 record, 38 strikeouts and 38 walks in 96 innings pitched. At the plate, about half of Painter’s hits — that contributed to her .264 average — went for doubles as she finished with seven two-baggers and a .376 on-base percentage.

Van-Far’s Jensen, two other Lady Indians earn postseason awards

Van-Far softball wasn’t able to get on a roll this season, but several Lady Indians had standout years.

Senior pitcher and third baseman Mara Jensen was the only Lady Indian named to the Eastern Missouri Conference team as a second team selection and added an all-district honor later for Class 1 District 7. Sophomore pitcher and outfielder Dalana Gay and junior catcher Carmen Wilburn were also named to the all-district team.

Jensen led Van-Far, who finished 5-16 after a 5-1 district loss to Clopton, in most offensive categories while being its best pitcher. She owned a .344 batting average, four home run, nine doubles, 22 hits and a 1.063 OPS at the plate and a 1.66 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 22 walks in 38 innings pitched.

Gay shouldered most of the innings in the circle for the Lady Indians, throwing in 81 of them, while posting a 4.75 ERA, 44 strikeouts and 46 walks. At the plate, Gay was second with a .295 average, an .820 OPS, 18 hits and two home runs while leading Van-Far with 21 RBI.

Wilburn did her job as the team’s leadoff hitter by consistently reaching base with her team-high .431 on-base percentage and 17 walks. As the catcher, she committed one error and allowed 11 passed balls in 1122/3 innings.