School: Chanhassen | Year: Senior
The Metro Player of the Year took on a bigger role as a pitcher this year, posting a 12-0 record with a 0.58 ERA. Defeated Prior Lake twice for the Class 4A, Section 2 title. Hit .547 with six home runs (two in the finals), 23 RBI, team-leading 41 base hits. Signed with Connecticut.
Click to read Jim Paulsen's feature on the Storm senior.
School: Prior Lake | Year: Junior
Workhorse for the South Suburban Conference champs, the left-hander compiled a 17-4 record with 196 strikeouts and a 1.09 ERA. Three of her losses were to Class 4A state tournament teams. Threw seven shutouts. Verballed to Middle Tennessee State.
School: Anoka | Year: Senior
A remarkable hitter (.466 career batting average), but stands out most as a pitcher. Holds the Anoka single-game strikeout record (17), has more than 500 for her career. Went 3-0 in the Class 4A, Section 7 playoffs, giving her 46 career victories, 0.93 career ERA. Headed to Augustana.
School: Woodbury | Year: Senior
Two-time All-Metro selection. Split time as a pitcher, posting an 11-1 record with a 0.81 ERA. Remarkable control, walked just six batters all season. Has a devastating change-up as an out pitch. Hit .471 with five HRs, 28 RBI. Also headed to Augustana.
School: Chanhassen | Year: Senior
Always a threat at the plate with exceptional power, knack for picking up the big hit. Hitting .448 with six home runs, 22 RBI. Owns her school’s record for career home runs with 31. Three-time All-Metro selection. Will play at Minnesota-Duluth.
School: Eastview | Year: Junior
Versatile enough to step out from behind the plate and fill in where needed. Hits with power (six home runs), smart and always puts the ball in play. Struck out just once, hit .431. Verballed to Iowa.
School: Bloomington Jefferson | Year: Senior
Another repeat All-Metro selection. Teams rarely run on her due to her quick release and rocket arm. Hit .409 with three home runs and 21 RBI. Will play at Minnesota.
School: Blaine | Year: Senior | Position: Shortstop
All-around athlete who is a natural on the diamond. Anchors the middle of the infield and has a powerful arm. Hit .391 with eight home runs. Her 25 RBI are a school record. Augustana-bound.
School: Champlin Park | Year: Senior | Position: Third base
Exceptional with the bat and in the field. Can shut down opponents offenses with her defense. Hits for average and power: .538 with four home runs, 30 RBI in the pitching-rich Northwest Suburban Conference.
School: Hopkins | Year: Junior | Position: Shortstop
Five-tool player who can steal base hits with her laser arm. Always puts a strong swing on the ball, resulting in a .500 average (33-for-66) with five home runs, 30 RBI. Verballed to Augustana.
School: Buffalo | Year: Junior | Position: Shortstop
Phenomenal hitter with exceptional hand-eye coordination. Future Gopher put together a remarkable 18-for-18 streak. Hit .694 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, 1.323 slugging percentage.
School: Park of Cottage Grove | Year: Junior | Position: Third base
Game-changer at the plate. Tremendous production despite getting pitched around often, resulting in nearly 20 bases on balls. Hit .515 (35-for-68) with five home runs and 32 RBI.
Maddie Muelken, Farmington, sr.: Posted a 14-3 record, led the Tigers to the Class 4A state tournament.
Erin Poepping, Totino-Grace, sr.: East Carolina-bound, went 18-2 for the Class 3A, Section 4 champs.
Gabby Sprang, Rosemount, sr.: Remarkably talented, missed 10 games with a knee injury. Signed with Tennessee.
Megan Baniecke, Forest Lake, sr.: Terrific season was set back briefly by a concussion.
Megan Osterhaus, Burnsville, sr.: One opposing coach called her the “toughest pitcher we saw all year.”
Torri Chute, Stillwater, soph.: Hit .500 with five HR, school-record 34 RBI.
Molly McGarry, Edina, sr.: Hit .582 with seven HR, 32 RBI, helped Hornets to the Lake Conference title.
Abby Sagert, Prior Lake, jr.: Big and strong, shuts down opposing teams’ running games.
Emma Frost, Farmington, 3B, so.: Powerful bat that scares. Tied for metro lead with nine HRs.
Taylor Luecke, Eagan, 2B, sr: Hit .474 batting leadoff, perfect in the field.
Mary Pardo, Blaine, OF, jr: Remarkably fast. Stole 21 bases, hit nine HR.
Alyssa Wicks, Anoka, 1B, sr.: Hit .443 with seven HR, 26 RBI.
PITCHERS
Sarah Johnson, Annandale, jr.
Kathryn Proper, St. Paul Como Park, sr.
Marissa Hawkins, Tartan, jr.
Mia Kraimer, New Prague, soph.
CATCHERS
Isabel Gese, DeLaSalle, sr.
Taylor Koehnen, New Prague, sr.
FIELDERS
Rachel Reinke, Hastings, OF, sr.
Kayla Madison, Forest Lake, SS, sr.
Holly Blaska, Champlin Park, SS, soph.
Jade Tomashek, Maple Grove, 2B, soph.
Alexandra Thompson, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, OF, sr.
Alex Velazquez, Chanhassen, OF, sr.
The MN Softball Hub poll is based on opinion and for entertainment purposes only.
The all-metro teams and player of the year were chosen based on nominations from metro area coaches, conversations with coaches and staff observations.
Tag(s): Featured Star Tribune MSHSL Conferences Central Minnesota Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Lake Edina Hopkins Metro East Hastings Tartan Metro West Bloomington Jefferson Chanhassen Mississippi 8 Blue Buffalo Northwest Suburban Anoka Blaine Champlin Park Maple Grove Totino-Grace South Suburban Burnsville Eagan Eastview Farmington Prior Lake Rosemount St. Paul City St. Paul Como Park Suburban East Forest Lake Park of Cottage Grove Stillwater Woodbury Tri-Metro DeLaSalle Wright County - West Annandale New Prague Class AAAA Class AAA Section 1AAAA Section 2AAAA Section 3AAAA Section 4AAAA Section 5AAAA Section 6AAAA Section 7AAAA Section 8AAAA Section 4AAA Section 6AAA Section 5AA Class AAAA Class AAA