Courier-News All-Area softball team

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:36AM

Haley Albamonte, Burlington Central

Led the Rockets with a .500 batting average and also with 50 hits. The unanimous All-Big Northern Conference East player had two or more hits in 23 of the 29 games she played and was called by coach Cray Allen, “… our most consistent Rocket.” The junior outfielder-catcher had an .830 slugging percentage, .519 on-base percentage, six home runs and 31 RBI.

Kara Arceneaux, Jacobs

Senior outfielder who committed to Division I Morehead State last fall finished with a .402 average, 20 RBI and a .484 on-base percentage with a 21-12 team. Versatile performer who can also pitch. Earned All-Fox Valley Conference Valley Division honors.

Nicole Beck, Bartlett

Senior shortstop who will play at Central Missouri State next year had a .587 slugging percentage and .337 batting average while leading the Hawks with four home runs and 16 extra-base hits and tying for first in total hits. Drove in 24 runs and fanned only eight times in 118 trips to the plate while earning All-Upstate Eight Valley Division honors.

Emily Bell, Burlington Central

A junior shortstop who achieved unanimous All-Big Northern Conference East honors. Led Central with eight home runs and 17 stolen bases while batting .392 with a .765 slugging percentage. Shared the team lead with 21 extra-base hits and 40 RBI. Called by coach Cray Allen, “… the force in the middle of our lineup that made everybody around her better offensively.”

Bri Bodjaewicz, Streamwood

Area stolen base leader with 30, the Sabres’ fleet outfielder used her slap-hitting style to bat .356 and achieve a .445 on-base percentage with 25 runs scored. Excelled both in the outfield and at shortstop with two total errors. She’ll play Division II for Regis University. “She is just learning to use her speed,” coach Nick Baird said. “I think she will be great at the next level.”

Samantha Bolin, South Elgin

Junior who led the Storm in pitching victories with 16 while posting a 2.72 earned run average and throwing five shutouts. Walked just 37 batters in 177 2/3 innings. With the bat, she led a team that finished 21-15 in RBI with 29, and in doubles with nine.

Amanda Ciran, St. Charles North

Courier-News Player of the Year and Sun-Times Player of the Year. Loyola-bound senior pitcher was voted the Upstate Eight Conference River Division’s top hurler as she finished 24-2 with a 1.28 earned run average. Stuck out 155 while walking 37. Batted .326 with six home runs and 23 RBI. For her four-year varsity career, Ciran went 57-11 with 423 strikeouts.

Anna Eckholm, Elgin

A unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference River pick at third base as a freshman. She led the Maroons in batting with a .358 average. Had eight extra-base hits, including two home runs, and scored 25 runs for an Elgin team (20-14) that hit the 20-win plateau for the first time since 1999.

Sarah Field, St. Edward

Senior pitcher who led the Green Wave to the sectional finals with a 16-10 record and 2.44 earned run average. Struck out 170 in 155 innings to raise her career total to 520 strikeouts while finishing with 60 career victories. Her pitching helped turn around the Wave’s season after an 0-6 start to an 18-10 finish. Batted .407 with a .630 slugging percentage and 21 RBI.

Brittany Koss, Huntley

Freshman outfielder who earned All-Fox Valley Conference Valley Division honors. Produced a .396 batting average and .523 slugging percentage while stealing five bases. Also hit two home runs and drove in 14.

Alyssa Lach, Jacobs

Freshman third baseman who had a .706 slugging percentage with three home runs, 48 RBI and .468 batting average. Although she registered 109 at-bats, she struck out only one time for a regional championship team and earned All-Fox Valley Conference Valley Division honors.

Ashley Miller, Genoa-Kingston

All-Big Northern Conference West Division Pitcher of the Year for a Cogs team that won the West title and finished 25-2. Finished with a 16-2 record that included a no-hitter over Winnebago. The senior will play for Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, next year.

Tarah McShane, St. Edward

Green Wave’s senior catcher and dominant offensive threat led the team in batting (.518), home runs (8), hits (44), extra-base hits (26), and her 44 RBI were more than twice as many as the next highest teammate. A former Driscoll player, she achieved a phenomenal 1.106 slugging percentage for St. Edward’s regional championship team, and had a team-high .612 on-base percentage.

Rae Ann Payleitner, St. Charles East

The leading home run hitter in The Courier-News area with 12 on the year. A unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference River Division selection, the Saints’ first baseman/catcher batted .404 and led the team with 43 RBI, 22 extra-base hits and a .856 slugging percentage. A West Point recruit, she finished her Saints career with 26 home runs.

Hannah Perryman, Elgin

Unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference River selection who tied a state record with three grand slams. Junior pitcher finished with a 10-5 pitching record and 183 strikeouts, averaging 12 strikeouts per game. Hit .337 with nine home runs, 35 RBI, a .684 slugging percentage and scored 27 runs.

Sydney Russell, St. Charles North

Leadoff hitter who made the Stars’ offense go. Batted .411 with 22 runs scored. All-Upstate Eight Conference River Division player who committed only three errors in 28 games at second base for state runner-up. Will play next season at University of Indianapolis.

Taylor Russell, St. Charles North

Voted Upstate Eight Conference River Division’s top position player by coaches. Made just five errors in more than 100 chances at third base. At the plate, she led the state runner-up Stars with eight home runs, 49 RBI and 39 runs scored, while tying for a team high with 22 extra-base hits. Team captain for three years, the 2010 Courier-News Player of the Year was a four-year starter who will play at University of Indianapolis.

Ashley Seering, St. Charles North

All-Upstate Eight Conference River Division outfielder who led the state runner-up and UEC River Division champs in batting average (.475) and in hits (56). Tied for team high with 22 extra-base hits and tied for second with six home runs. A four-year starter who will play college softball for Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Katelyn Stonecipher, South Elgin

A unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division pick was voted the conference’s most valuable position player as a center fielder. A senior, she batted .403 with four home runs, a team-high 54 hits and a team-high 39 runs scored. Stole a team-high 17 bases in 17 attempts. Committed just one error. Plans to try and walk on at Iowa.

Corinne Wimmer, Larkin

All-Upstate Eight Conference River Division shortstop led the Royals in hits (51), batting average (.495), slugging percentage (.650), on-base percentage (.552), extra-base its (11), and scored 26 percent of her team’s runs with 34 total. A senior leadoff batter who had just eight strikeouts in 106 times up, she’ll play at Division III Dominican next year.

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