Having fun 'all that matters ' as all-stars end prep softball career

DRIPPING SPRINGS — It was a range of emotions for players during the annual Austin Area All-Star Softball Game on Wednesday at Dripping Springs High School.

There was the excitement of playing with some new teammates, happiness of being on a high school for softball field one more time but also some sadness as the next time any of them step on a field to represent a school will be for a college.

Taylor graduate Kennan Nunamaker perhaps summed up the event best, noting that soaking in the experience was more important than whatever the end result turned out to be, which was an 11-3 win by the South team over the North squad.

“This was a bit an emotional rollercoaster,” said Nunamaker, who was team MVP for the North after hitting an RBI single and making several great defensive plays at third base. “You’re sad it’s the last game, but I got to play with a lot of people on this team tonight that I grew up playing travel ball with. That was cool in that it was kind of a throwback in that way and, even though we lost, we had fun while playing — and that’s all that matters.”

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Featuring some of Central Texas’ best graduated seniors, the game is an annual tradition for the area, and it’s a display and celebration of the growing talent Austin and its surrounding cities from Leander to San Marcos and Johnson City to Giddings have in the sport.

“Coming from a 4A school, the talent level here was definitely noticeable,” said Nunamaker, who will play for Temple College next year. “There’s talent in 4A, but nearly every girl here is headed to play in college somewhere. It’s different to play against an entire team of girls headed to play at the next level — and it’s an eye-opener.”

Wimberley’s Ashlyn Castro earned game MVP honors as she blasted a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the sixth that pushed the South’s lead to 9-3 and essentially clinched its win. And while she also earned one of the scholarships given out to the MVPs, she said suiting up with players she hadn’t played with before was the highlight of her night.

“I hadn’t played with about half of these girls, and so it was fun meeting new people and having a good time in the dugout,” said Castro, who will play at Northeast Texas Community College. “Overall, this was just a really a great experience and it was nice to hit a double in my last high school at-bat.”

The South never trailed as Bowie’s Lauren Youngblood smacked an RBI triple and scored the next at-bat on a groundout in the bottom of the second.

Glenn’s Keyannah Chavez walked, stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball for the North in the third, but the South pushed its lead to 5-1 in the fourth as Lake Travis’ Mia Garcia and Hays’ Katie Noble both walked and eventually scored, while Westlake’s Ava Ladd doubled home Anderson’s Julyssa “Juju” Hernandez.

The North got within 5-3 in its half of the sixth on RBI singles from Leader’s Meagan Lee and Nunamaker, but Lake Travis’ Paige Connors and Hernandez drew walks around Noble’s single to set the scene for Castro’s big hit.

A two-run double by Dripping Springs’ Haley Kanetzky that brought home Annaleah Lombardo and McKeanne Saenz — both of San Marcos — in the seventh finished the game’s scoring.

Connors for the South and Taylor’s Lindsay O’Dell for the North were named the Golden Glove award-winners as both struck out five in two innings in the circle, but as Connors noted, the real reward was just taking part in the game.

“Being around all these great athletes — it just ups your game,” she said. “Playing with a lot of the high-impact players from our district, being on the same team as them and having fun with them was really enjoyable. It’s rewarding playing with all these talented girls and a bit sad it’s the last high school game, but I’m ready for the next chapter.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin area all-stars compete in annual softball game