The Montesano High School softball team got a little icing on the cake of its state-championship winning season as senior Lindsay Pace led a bevy of Bulldogs named to the Washington State Softball Coaches Association All-State Team last week.
Pace received the association’s highest honor as she was named the 1A State Player of the Year as a pitcher.
The recent graduate pitched all but 12 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs in 2019, leading Monte to a 5-4 victory over Castle Rock in the state title game on May 25.
Pace’s stats — both in the circle and at the plate — validate her POY status. The right-hander ended the school year with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.450 WHIP and had 203 strikeouts to 73 earned runs in 149 2/3 innings pitched.
On offense, Pace led Monte with a .532 batting average and a 1.538 OPS.
But she wasn’t the only Pace to receive recognition on the All-State Team as father and legendary Monte coach, Pat Pace, was named Co-Coach of the Year with Castle Rock’s Ron Strode.
Bulldogs outfielder Matti Ekerson was also named to the state’s First Team. Ekerson batted .516 this season — second on the team behind Pace – had an OPS of 1.267, scored 34 runs and led the Bulldogs with 49 hits.
Monte catcher Kate Klinger, infielder Katie Granstrom and outfielder Jessica Stanfield were joined by Elma infielder Kali Rambo on the All-State Second Team.
The 2B All-State Team featured five players from Pe Ell-Willapa Valley’s state-runner-up squad, led by the battery of pitcher Kamryn Adkins and catcher Grace Hodel, both of whom were named First Team.
Also earning First Team nods were PWV third baseman and Pacific League MVP, Britney Patrick, middle infielder Katie Adkins and outfielder Katelyn McGough.
Ocosta’s Kaylee Barnum, the Pacific League’s 2018 MVP, was also named a First Team All-State infielder.
Aberdeen’s Sierra Hammond was named an All-State Honorable Mention at catcher for the 2A section as was Wishkah’s Abbi Van Blaricom, who received the same honor in the 1B section.
PWV catcher Grace Hodel, seen here in a game against Ocosta earlier this season, was one of five Titans named to the 2B All-State First Team on Tuesday. (Ryan Sparks | Grays Harbor News Group)
WSSCA 1A All-State Softball Team
Player of the Year — Lindsay Pace, P, Montesano
Co-Coaches of the Year — Ron Strode, Castle Rock; Pat Pace, Montesano
First Team
Pitcher — Lindsay Pace, Montesano; Payton Kessler, Castle Rock
Catcher — Zoe Naugle, Castle Rock
First Baseman — Olivia Charbonneau, Lakeside
Infielder — Sadee Huckleberry, Castle Rock; Ashlyn Yamane, Warden; Jocelyn Chagoya, Warden; Truh Merriman, Cascade
Outfielder — Brie Frazier, Lakeside; Hannah Brock, Freeman; Matti Ekerson, Montesano
Utility — Ariana Lombardi, Cle Elum
Second Team
Pitcher — Megan Isayev, Lakeside; Paris Orchard, College Place
Catcher — Kate Klinger, Montesano
First Baseman — Coral Clark, La Center
Infielder — Katelyn Nass, Cle Elum; Kali Rambo, Elma; Jayden Olson, Forks; Katie Granstrom, Montesano
Outfielders — Hannah Hodgson, Deer Park; Mattie Mauseth, Connell; Jessica Stanfield, Montesano
Utility — Morgan Erickson, Deer Park
Honorable Mention
Pitcher — Jaylee Lane, Deer Park; Sarah Paulson, Cascade; Destry Dineen, Elma; Quin
Mikel, Elma; Britney Dean, Forks
Catcher — Aggie Bennett, Lakeside; Emma Cochran, Colville; Natalie Orchard, College
Place; Olivia Cain, Elma; Rian Peters, Forks
Infielder — Reese Dykstra, Lynden Christian; Kerianne Cline, Castle Rock; Rhiannon Sibbett, Castle Rock; Bailey Whitney, Warden; Davi Vaughn, Cle Elum; Jazlynn Johnson, Okanogan; Paxton Wood, Okanogan; Sam Vanderwel, Granite Falls
Outfielder — Gracie Kimball, Castle Rock; Kaija Lovelady, Cascade; Ellie Christensen, College Place; Maddie Serles, Okanogan; Cienna Gunter, Naches Valley; Molly Johnston, Elma.
Utility — Renee Lambert, Cascade; Destiny Dunlap, Nooksack Valley
WSSCA 2B All-State Team
Player of the Year — Hailey Rainey, P, Adna
Coach of the Year — Bruce Pocklington, Adna
First Team
Pitcher — Hailey Rainey, Adna; Alison Shaler, Northwest Christian (Colbert); Kamryn Adkins, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley
Catcher — Grace Hodel, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley
First Baseman — Jordan Rabe, Northwest Christian (Colbert)
Utility — Skye Snow, Adna; Ada Williams, Napavine
Infielder — Payton Aselton, Adna; Kaylee Barnum, Ocosta; Faith Iverson, Northwest Christian (Colbert); Britney Patrick, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley; Katie Adkins, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley
Outfielder — Katelyn McGough, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley; Thea Seitz, Friday Harbor; Hailey Brooks, Morton-White Pass
Honorable Mention
Pitcher — Grace Pauls, Friday Harbor
Catcher — Emma Eko, Adna
Infielder — Keeley Studebaker-Smith, Toutle Lake; Jaidyn Stephens, Liberty; Bailey Sobosky, Chewelah
Other WSSCA All-State Softball Team Honorees
2A Honorable Mention — Sierra Hammond, C, Aberdeen
1B Honorable Mention — Abbi Van Blaricom, C, Wishkah Valley
To reach Hasani Grayson, sports reporter for The Daily World, send an email to hgrayson@thedailyworld.com or call 360-537-3954.
