District champion squads headline loaded 2023 All-Johnson County softball team

Jun. 24—After claiming undefeated district championships, the Grandview Lady Zebras, Rio Vista Lady Eagles, Burleson Centennial Lady Spartans and Godley Lady Cats lead the way on the Pinnacle Bank 2023 All-Johnson County softball team.

The depth and production across the All-Johnson County first and second teams are evidence of what was a highly successful softball season across the county that saw eight teams make the playoffs in addition to four undefeated district champs.

Grandview leads the way with 10 total selections, including superlative awards, while Rio Vista is next in line with nine selections, followed by Burleson Centennial's eight and Godley's seven. The Burleson Lady Elks, who finished district runners-up behind Centennial, also garnered seven all-county selections.

Of the 23 selections on the All-Johnson County first team, 22 are players from playoff teams. Of note, the 23 selections on the first team are a record for most in the Times-Review's history of selecting All-Johnson County teams.

The selection process this season was rigorous with multiple players worthy of inclusion. The lowest batting average among first-team selections was .348, which is certainly a solid number in its own right, but it's proof of how productive so many players throughout the county were. For example, the collective batting average for all 23 first-team selections is a shade under .415.

Leading the way on the all-county first team is Rio Vista with five selections in Addison Findley, Kailee Dyer, Keller Rodriguez, Randi Wilson and Madi Monk.

Findley slashed .426/.514/.904 with 46 RBIs, 42 runs, 24 extra-base hits and seven homers as one of the county's most productive offensive players. Dyer was stellar in the circle for the Lady Eagles as she recorded 189 strikeouts against 53 walks and 51 earned runs allowed in 118 1/3 innings pitched for a 3.01 ERA and 1.428 WHIP. Rodriguez played rock solid defense at catcher in addition to a .474/.614/.845 line with 27 RBIs, 67 runs, 32 walks and 21 stolen bases with 22 extra-base hits. Wilson slashed .515/.612/.742 with 44 RBIs and 54 runs while Monk posted a .457/.558/.657 line with 30 RBIs, 37 runs and 13 stolen bases.

Behind Rio Vista's five selections on the first team, Burleson, Burleson Centennial, Godley, Grandview and Venus are next in line with three apiece.

Representing the Lady Elks on the first team are Kacie Graves, Taylor Crumby and Olivia Marks. Graves slashed .442/.486/.621 with 28 RBIs and 36 runs, Crumby hit .385/.475/.519 with 17 RBIs offensively to go along with a 10-4 pitching record with 110 strikeouts against 23 walks and 34 earned runs allowed in 87 2/3 innings pitched for a 2.71 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, and Marks slashed .467/.505/.717 with 37 RBIs, 30 runs and four homers.

First-team honors for the Lady Spartans go to Haylie De La Rosa, Kendall Miller and Jalynn Vasquez. De La Rosa hit .440/.529/.750 with 19 RBIs, 43 runs, 18 stolen bases, 17 extra-base hits and three homers, Miller slashed .506/.526/.742 with 23 RBIs, 29 runs and three homers, and Vasquez posted a .414/.458./.690 line with 22 RBIs, 15 runs and five home runs.

Garnering first-team recognition for the Lady Cats are Dakota Watson, Madison Aguiar and Ahmari Govea. In addition to stellar defensive play at catcher, Watson slashed .384/.504/.556 with 21 RBIs, 45 runs, 16 extra-base hits and 19 walks, Aguiar hit .434 with a .533 on-base percentage with 17 RBIs, 49 runs, 19 walks and 25 steals, and Govea slashed .348/.487/.551 with 30 RBIs, 30 runs and 25 walks.

First-team accolades for the state semifinalist Lady Zebras include Sydney Mann, Bella Jeter and Olivia Bauerschlag. Mann hit .430 with 26 RBIs, 54 runs and 24 stolen bases, Jeter swung the hottest bat of anyone in the playoffs before finishing with a season line of .500/.555/.963 with 58 RBIs, 56 runs, 15 homers, 31 extra-base hits and 16 walks, and Bauerschlag slashed .460/.497/.855 with 43 RBIs, 47 runs, 17 extra-base hits and three home runs.

And Venus' three first-team selections are Mixtli Hernandez, Natalia Frias and Haleigh Hopper. Hernandez slashed .400/.514/.556 with 30 RBIs and 32 runs, Frias hit .414/.571/.690 with 38 RBIs, 38 runs and 26 walks, and Hopper posted a .411 batting average and .594 on-base percentage with 29 RBIs, 52 runs, and a staggering 39 walks and 39 stolen bases.

The rest of the All-Johnson County first team includes Alvarado's Baylee Marr, Cleburne's Cadence Collier and Joshua's Zaidyn Streeter. Marr hit .434 with a .504 on-base percentage with 26 RBIs, 50 runs, 16 walks and 15 steals; Collier slashed .435/.455/.576 with 17 RBIs and 25 runs; and Streeter hit .363/.414/.681 with 31 RBIs, 29 runs, 15 extra-base hits, six homers and 22 steals.

The All-Johnson County second team — comprised of 21 selections — is led by a trio of selections each from Burleson, Burleson Centennial, Cleburne and Rio Vista.

Second-team nods for the Lady Elks include Macy Browder (.390/.415/.675, 18 RBIs, 22 runs) Ryan Hovland (.400/.455/.633, 12 RBIs; 68 2/3 IP, 3.77 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 97 K, 37 ER, 38 BB) and Maddy Shaw (.316/.411/.711, 32 RBIs, 22 runs).

Representing the Lady Spartans with second-team honors are Lacie Mendez (.362/.390/.553, 3 HR, 28 RBIs, 27 runs), Kylie Barnes (.398/.442/.624, 3 HR, 31 RBIs, 27 runs; 33 IP, 4-0, 2.545 ERA, 1.242 WHIP), and Madison Haynes (.470/.545/.788, 16 RBIs, 25 runs, 10 steals).

Second-team recognition for the Lady Jackets go to Alexis Staton (.348/.455/.543, 12 RBIs, 16 runs), Kyleigh Stotts (.377/.430/.688, 21 RBIs, 23 runs, 16 extra-base hits — 3-1, 66 2/3 IP, 4.83 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 64 K, 46 ER, 47 BB), and Kamree Kirkpatrick (.387/.447/.587, 19 RBIs, 18 runs).

The depth of what was a stellar lineup in Rio Vista is displayed with its three second-team selections in Grace Groening (.420/.556/.478, 18 RBIs, 38 runs), Graci Benoit (.381/.505/.452, 22 RBIs, 31 runs), and Abby Pritchett (.356/.442/.644, 5 HR, 25 RBIs, 34 runs, 10 steals).

The rest of the All-Johnson County second team is comprised of: Alvarado's Madison Jones (.361/.405/.454, 24 RBIs, 23 runs) and Summer Sullivan (.382/.509/.528, 25 RBIs, 30 runs, 20 BB); Godley's Karlee Clark (.302/.376/.448, 21 RBIs, 29 runs — 6-2, 30.2 IP, 28 K, 22 ER, 7 BB, 5.02 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) and Jacy Barrett (.321/.429/.432, 26 RBIs, 19 runs); Grandview's KK Moore (.309/.364/.361, 17 RBIs, 30 runs) and Wren Smith (.333/.357/.426, 14 RBIs, 17 runs); Joshua's Kallie Connelly (.419/.528/.535, 11 RBIs, 28 runs, 15 steals) and Kyndal Lay (.426/.500/.872, 21 RBIs, 17 runs, 5 HR); and Keene's Sarah Loeak.

The All-Johnson County softball teams are selected by the Times-Review based on all-district results, player statistics, team success and coach's nominations.