Seven Hendricks County softball teams went a combined 122-66, with three sectional crowns and a state championship providing quite a talent pool for the Hendricks County Flyer all-county team.
The selection process was one of the hardest in years with such a deep, talented county that featured six of the seven teams with winning records. Many of the second team selections easily qualified to be first-team selections.
Plainfield (23-9), Avon (19-4), and Cascade (24-5) each earned two girls to the all-county first-team.
The 2012 Class 4A state champion Quakers were led in part by pitching ace Courtney Collins and constant offensive threat Hallie Johanningsmeier. Collins went 15-4 on the mound with an impressive 0.86 ERA that included three shutouts and 169 strikeouts. Johanningsmeier led Plainfield in batting average (.367) and tied for team-bests in RBI (26) and home runs (3).
Both Quakers also earned all-Mid State Conference honors in 2012.
For the deep 2011 Class 4A runner-up Orioles, the senior duo of Haleigh Chasteen and Alli Bexell paved the way in 2012. Chasteen was one of the best two-way players in the state with her superb pitching and hitting. Her accolades included being named first-team All-State, a member of the Indiana All-Star Team, and all-Hoosier Crossroads Conference. She hit .487 with 21 RBI and eight doubles and on the mound went 9-1 with 53 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.33.
Bexell joined Chasteen on the Indiana All-Star and all-HCC teams, as well as being named second-team All-State. She had team-bests of 24 runs, 26 RBI, and a .519 batting average. Bexell also tied for the team lead in doubles (8), triples (2), and home runs (3).
The Cadets’ one-two punch of senior Haley Chambers and junior Brandyce Sallee helped Cascade to a school-best 24-5 record in 2012. The duo were also both named to the All-West Central Conference team for their play.
In her only season as a Cadet, Chambers put on an offensive display of fireworks. She led the state with 57 RBI and hit .590 with 16 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, and 43 runs scored.
Chambers also made noise on the mound with a 16-2 record and 0.49 ERA. Her 210 strikeouts were good enough for seventh-best in the state. She also threw seven shutouts with four no-hitters and two perfect games.
Sallee was no slouch for the Cadets either as she had the best fielding percentage in the state and led the team with 23 doubles and 46 runs scored. The junior also batted .516 with 23 RBI, two triples, and one homer.
Tri-West freshman Claire Johnson made an immediate impact for the Bruins after making the jump to varsity after six games on junior varsity. Johnson led the team with a .484 batting average and four home runs. She earned first-team all-Sagamore honors for her play as she also notched 21 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
Sophomore Delaney Stephens makes the all-county first-team from Danville after a stellar offensive season. She was named first-team all-Sagamore after an outstanding year with 26 RBI, a .557 batting average, seven doubles, and two home runs.
Brownsburg senior Krystal Shirrell paved the way for the Bulldogs this season with a .474 batting average, four home runs, and 12 doubles. She also earned all-HCC honors for her excellent year.
Bethesda Christian freshman Kylie Minton was an essential part in the Patriots’ first sectional championship in school history. She hit .500 with 24 RBI and also racked up an 8-2 record and 70 strikeouts on the mound.
Second team: Avon’s Taylar Kelso and Lizzy Snodgrass; Brownsburg’s Kirsten Bartlett and Chelsea Conover; Bethesda Christian’s Olivia Harrison; Cascade’s Courtney Stephenson and Kellie Mink; Danville’s Kaitlyn Williamson and Kaitlyn England; Plainfield’s Maggie Shahl and Mackenzie Reeder; Tri-West’s Alyssa Clark and Kaitlyn Settlemoir.
Honorable mention: Avon’s Sadie Foster; Bethesda Christian’s Emily Hayden; Plainfield’s Brooke Bryant, Katie Gilbert, and Mackenzie Jeffries; Tri-West’s Taylor Baggett.
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