Cheboygan's VanFleet named SAC softball Player of the Year
It was a conference championship-winning season for the Cheboygan softball team, which didn’t lose a single game in Straits Area play this spring.
One of the reasons the Chiefs were so dominant was due to the stellar play of sophomore Libby VanFleet, who dominated both as a pitcher and a hitter.
Most recently, VanFleet was named the SAC’s Player of the Year following a terrific sophomore campaign.
VanFleet led the way on the All-SAC first team, which also consisted of Cheboygan senior first baseman Kaitlyn Penfield and sophomore infielder Amelia Johnson.
Together, the three helped fuel the Chiefs to a 12-0 clip in Straits Area play, overpowering their opponents with strong pitching, hitting and defense.
The Chiefs featured four players on the SAC second team, including senior outfielder Jackie Seaman, senior infielder Zoey Chamberlain, sophomore catcher Marley Couture, and sophomore outfielder Emerson Eustice.
Rounding out the Chiefs with an SAC honorable mention nod was senior Shayla LaVigne.
Making up the rest of the SAC first team were Pickford’s Finley Hudecek (pitcher), Lucy Benning (outfield) and Chloe May (infield), Sault Ste. Marie’s Hannah Maurer (outfield) and Audrey Smith (outfield), and Rudyard’s Megan Postma (catcher).
SAC second team honors also went to Sault Ste. Marie’s Danica Bergeron (pitcher), Augusta Smith (outfield) and Lucy Huskey (infield), Rudyard’s Ebe Cheney (pitcher) and Megan Bradley (infield), and Pickford’s Laura Bush (infield).
Others earning SAC honorable mention recognition were Rudyard’s Delaney McDowell and Karlee Mayer, Brimley’s Lindsey Hill and Sadie MaGuire, and Pickford’s Lizzie Storey.
Four Chiefs earn all-district honors
The Chiefs also saw four players make the all-district team. Those Chiefs included VanFleet (designated player), Penfield (at-large player), Couture (catcher) and Seaman (outfield).
Cheboygan rolled to a victory over Marquette in its pre-district matchup, but its season came to a close after a loss to Escanaba in the semifinals. The Chiefs finished with a 26-9 record.
All-Straits Area Conference Softball Team
All-SAC First Team
Libby VanFleet, Cheboygan, Pitcher
Finley Hudecek, Pickford, Pitcher
Lucy Bennin, Pickford, Outfield
Hannah Maurer, Sault Ste. Marie, Outfield
Audrey Smith, Sault Ste. Marie, Outfield
Chloe May, Pickford, Infield
Kaitlyn Penfield, Cheboygan, Infield
Amelia Johnson, Cheboygan, Infield
Megan Postma, Rudyard, Catcher
All-SAC Second Team
Ebe Cheney, Rudyard, Pitcher
Danica Bergeron, Sault Ste. Marie, Pitcher
Emerson Eustice, Cheboygan, Outfield
Jackie Seaman, Cheboygan, Outfield
Augusta Smith, Sault Ste. Marie, Outfield
Lucy Huskey, Sault Ste. Marie, Infield
Laura Bush, Pickford, Infield
Megan Bradley, Rudyard, Infield
Zoey Chamberlain, Cheboygan, Infield
Marley Couture, Cheboygan, Catcher
All-SAC Honorable Mention
Delaney McDowell (Rudyard)
Karlee Mayer (Rudyard)
Lindsey Hill (Brimley)
Sadie McGuire (Brimley)
Shayla LaVigne (Cheboygan)
Lizzie Storey (Pickford)
SAC Player of the Year: Libby VanFleet (Cheboygan)
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan's Libby VanFleet named SAC softball player of the Year
