Spinal Column Newsweekly honors the season's best softball players

The Spinal Column Newsweekly is proud to present its 2012 All-area Softball Team, honoring the best of west Oakland’s student-athletes on the softball diamond this year.

Team selections were not only based upon players’ individual statistics, but also on nominations from area coaches and other honors a player has received, such as conference awards.

Making the final player selections is always a difficult process, and this year was no exception with so many lakes area teams and players in the county spotlight.

Huron Valley Lakeland established itself once again as the dominant force in lakes area softball, as the Eagles advanced to the Division 1 state semi-finals and won their seventh regional title in eight seasons this year. In addition, they racked up their fourth straight Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division title, their second KLAA championship and fourth straight Fred Pieper Tournament championship.

Lakeland is represented by six selections on the Spinal Column Newsweekly All-area First Team.

While the Eagles were tough to keep up with this season, Waterford Kettering did its best and ended up finishing second in the KLAA North Division and advancing to a Division 1 District Final.

The Captains are represented with two All-area First Team selections that helped Kettering finish with 25 wins this season.

Also making an appearance on the All-area First Team is Walled Lake Central’s standout outfielder, West Bloomfield’s flame throwing pitcher, and Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes’ All-Catholic selection.

The Spinal Column Newsweekly All-area Second Team is also loaded with talent, including members of the Walled Lake Northern Knights, who won their second straight district championship this season.

ALL-AREA FIRST TEAM

Sierra Burke

Senior Catcher

Huron Valley Lakeland

Heading off to Oakland Community College (OCC) in the fall, Burke hit for power in 2012 as she batted .347 with a .500 slugging percentage and a .434 on-base percentage along with 32 RBIs, 13 doubles and 14 runs scored.

“She had numerous hits in the state tournament to help us get to the state’s final four and she was almost impossible to steal on,” said Lakeland Head Coach Joe Alsup.

Morgan Craft

Senior Infielder

Huron Valley Lakeland

A three-year starter and captain for the Eagles, Craft batted .280 as she hit 26 RBIs and scored 20 runs this season. In addition, her fielding average for 2012 was .987.

Kelly Merkle

Junior Infielder

Huron Valley Lakeland

As Lakeland’s offensive juggernaut in 2012, Merkle batted an astounding .520 while driving in a team-high 38 RBIs, leading her team with 15 doubles and 4 triples and scoring 39 runs. In addition, she garnered an on-base percentage of .551 and a slugging percentage of .724.

Kim Jayson

Senior Infielder

Waterford Kettering

Jayson went out with a bang in 2012, as she hit eight home runs, three doubles and three triples while driving in 33 runs, scoring 36 runs, and batting .374 in helping the Captains to a second-place finish in the KLAA North Division.

She will next take her talents to Concordia University in the fall.

Jules Mastromatteo

Senior Infielder

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes

An All-Catholic selection by the Detroit Catholic League, Mastromatteo batted .394 with three home runs and 22 RBIs for the Lakers this season.

Madison Burgess

Sophomore Outfielder

Huron Valley Lakeland

The Eagles’ leadoff hitter, Burgess made her presence known this season as she batted .474 while scoring a team-high 51 runs, leading Lakeland with 40 stolen bases and hitting 17 RBIs.

If 2012 is any indication, Burgess will be a player to watch in her junior and senior seasons.

Sydney Glanz

Senior Outfielder

Walled Lake Central

Called a great leader and a tremendous athlete by her head coach, Jacklyn Pilkiewicz, Glanz was the unquestionable leader of the Vikings’ offense this year as she batted .391 with 33 RBIs, nine triples, seven doubles and two home runs, with a slugging percentage of .673.

Glanz also had a fielding percentage of .985 as she earned her fourth straight All-District award, as well as her third straight All-KLAA Lakes Conference and All-Region honors.

Taylor Steinhelper

Junior Outfielder

Waterford Kettering

Steinhelper batted .469 in 2012, in addition to scoring 38 runs, stealing 25 bases and hitting 12 RBIs, as well as garnering an on-base percentage of .523 and a slugging percentage of .531.

Steinehelper is spending her summer with the 16U Michigan Lookouts travel fastpitch team.

Karrisa Gawronski

Senior Utility

Huron Valley Lakeland

A Division 1 All-State Honorable Mention selection by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association (MHSSCA), Gawronski batted .505 in 2012 with 18 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and 38 runs scored, with an on-base percentage of .536 and a slugging percentage of .582.

Anika Wiesinger

Junior Pitcher

Huron Valley Lakeland

Garnering a record of 20-3 and an earned run average of 1.95, Wiesinger pitched 147 innings while striking out 111 batters and walking only 44 during the 2012 season.

Allyson Kus

Senior Pitcher

West Bloomfield

Heading off to Western Michigan University to play for the Broncos, Kus proved she had some kick left in her step in 2012 as she struck out 154 batters and garnered an earned run average of 1.95.

Kus was also dominant at the plate as she batted .343 with five home runs and 26 RBIs, as she earned All-District and All-Oakland Activities Association (OAA) honors.

ALL-AREA SECOND TEAM

• Kelsey Wolschlager, catcher, Walled Lake Central;

• Samantha Dunnigan, infielder, Huron Valley Lakeland;

• Megan Jerore, infielder, Walled Lake Northern;

• Sam Kern, infielder, Walled Lake Northern;

• Rachael Waynick, infielder, Waterford Mott;

• Megan Jacobs Huron Valley Lakeland;

• Taylor Krumm, outfielder, Walled Lake Central;

• Claire Forhan, outfielder, West Bloomfield;

• MacKenzie Norton, utility, Waterford Kettering;

• Corrina Rotondo, pitcher, Walled Lake Northern; and

• Selena Hicks, pitcher, Huron Valley Lakeland.

Honorable Mention

Nicole Wojcik, Huron Valley Milford; Aubrey Long, Huron Valley Milford; Maddie Carr, Huron Valley Milford; Lindsay Smith, Huron Valley Milford; Becky Morrin, Huron Valley Milford; Rachel Morrin, Huron Valley Milford; Lauren Batlemente, Huron Valley Milford; Alanna Murdle, Walled Lake Western; Jill Hussin, Walled Lake Western; Mary Stepek, Walled Lake Western; Devin Schomberg, Waterford Mott; Megan Knowles, Waterford Mott; Angie Matromatteo, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Amy Wolanin, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; Taylor Rose, West Bloomfield.