Lady Lions shine in all-league picks
Ashley Ricker and Danielle Harcourt make first team
John Brewington / The South County Spotlight
St. Helens players selected for the Northwest Oregon Conference All-League teams included: (front row, from left) Ashley Ricker, Allison Jensen, Danielle Harcourt, Tasha Sharp, (back) Heather Heimuller, Emily Monroe.
The St. Helens Lady Lions had six players receive honors in Northwest Oregon Conference balloting last week.
Heading the list were first-team selections Ashley Ricker and Danielle Harcourt.
Ricker, a senior centerfielder, led the league in batting with a .444 average. She had 17 stolen bases, scored 21 runs, and had a .702 on-base average. Harcourt, a first baseman and pitcher, batted .415, had 10 stolen bases, and a .630 average. She scored 17 times.
“Ashley hit extremely well the last 2 ½ weeks of the season,” St. Helens coach Jeff Edwards said. “During that time we were able to make up three game son Sherwood to see who advanced to the state playoffs. Ashley’s speed allowed her to beat out infield hits, and run down balls in centerfield. She also had the power to drive the ball to gaps as our lead-off hitter.”
He added, “Danielle, I feel, was the top defensive first baseman in the league. She has the ability to make the difficult play look easy. Danielle’s strong hitting technigque allos her to generate line-drive power with her swing. It’s nice to see her dedication to softball pay off.”
Second-team selections for St. Helens included catcher Tasha Sharp, pitcher Heather Heimuller, and right fielder Allison Jensen. All are seniors.
Sophomore Emily Monroe, shortstop for the team, received honorable mention.
All-league picks:
Northwest Oregon
Conference
Player of the Year–Sadie Lopez (H), jr. Pitcher of the Year–Jordyn Brown (G); Coach of the Year–Jacy Schmidt (G).
First Team: Pitchers–Jordan Brown (G), sr.; Abbey Tollefsen (H), jr.; Montana McNealy (C), fr. Catchers–Meghan Dendinger (G), jr.; Ashley Worthey (C), soph. Infielders–Sadie Lopez (H), jr.; Danielle Harcourt (SH), soph.; Jackie Walck (Sh), sr.; Ashlie Allison (G), sr.; Jenna Scribner (G), sr.; Natalie Mosley (H), jr. Outfielders–Eeliyna Paraiso (C), sr.; Ashley Ricker (SH), sr.; Alyssa Gillespie (G), fr.; Brooke Davis (Sh), sr.; Dacia Hale (G), jr. Designated Player–Becca Lillegard (H), jr.
Second Team: Pitchers --Sloan Anderson (G), soph.; Heather Heimuller (SH), sr.; Sara Batee (W), soph. Catchers–Maddie Edwards (H), jr.; Tasha Sharp (SH), sr. Infielders–Jordan Krieger (G), fr.; Michelle Robinson (H), jr.; Cora Schaeffer (Sh), soph.; Taylor Lund-Fery (G), sr.; McKenna Welch (W), soph.; Courtney McCue (C), sr. Outfielders–Heather Meeuwsen (L), fr.; Kelsey Combs (H), jr.; Lacey Parham (W), soph.; Allison Jensen (SH), sr.; Ashley Lutter (C), jr. Designated Player–Crystal Hart (H), sr.
Honorable Mention: Pitchers–Twyla Vaggarley (L), sr.; Erin Daugherty (P), sr.; Courtney Bell (W), sr. Catchers–Trisha Filan (L), Paige Cane (W), sr.; Infielders–Kaytlin Peters (W), sr.; Ali Smith (C), sr.; Katie Brokon (P), jr.; Melissa Peele (Sh), Emily Monroe (SH), soph.; Jamee Cannon (C), jr.; Outfielders–Brie Brace (C), sr.; Heather Busch (H), jr.; Amanda Nofziger (H), sr. Designated Players–Brittne Stephens (C), sr.; Jamie Hall (L), jr.