Despite a disappointing finish to the 2017 softball season in a 2-1 district championship loss to Penney, the powerful regular season of the Trenton Lady Bulldogs program has been recognized with three players from the team named Class 2 All-State first-teamers.
The Trenton players named first team include junior pitcher Ainsley Tolson and junior catcher Salem Croy, in addition to freshman outfielder Maci Moore. Moore is the only freshman named first-team all-state, in a group of four outfielders that includes senior Hannah Schroeder of Blair Oaks, Holden junior Maggie Klover, and Kelly senior Hailey Noon.
Croy, rebounding from a sophomore athletic season cut short by an ankle injury in basketball that required late winter surgery and a spring and summer of rehabilitation, joins Bowling Green junior Gabi Deters and Kelly senior Marissa Worth as the Class all-state catchers.
Tolson, the ace of the Trenton pitching staff, had yet another phenomenal season, placing the Lady Bulldog junior with Lathrop junior Brooke Huitt, Bowling Green junior Sarah Harness, Dixon senior Tressa Hughes, and Blair Oaks junior Makenna Kliethermes on the all-state pitching staff.
The infielders are Doniphan’s Paige Eddington, Bowling Green’s KateLynn Charlton, Plattsburg junior Kelsie Lewis, Blair Oaks junior Kayla Jones, Centralia senior Katelyn Rakers, Kelly junior Lilly Jones, and Knob Noster senior Jessica Sader.
Kelly High School junior Kenzi Koepp was named Class 2 all-state first-team utility.
The freshman left-hander from Hamilton who shut down Trenton’s offense in the Lady Hornets 2-1 upset win in the District 15 final, Julia Kanoy, was named all-state second-team, the only freshman on that squad. Other pitchers are Kelly’s Alyssa Tidwell, North Callaway’s Kenzie Ausfahl, and Willow Spring’s Sydney Miller.
Plattsburg’s Parker Straight was a second-team catcher, in addition to Sydney Wilde of Blair Oaks.
The second-team infield in highlighted by Penney High School sophomore Gillian Gibler, in addition to Jefferson sophomore Abi Chipps, Fatima junior Ally Bonnot, North Callaway senior Hanna Knipp, Kelly senior Alyssa Moore, and Eugen sophomore Jodi Polly.
The second-team all-state outfielders are Highland junior Becca Scott, Cuba junior Kristyn England, Tolton Catholic junior Emily Lawler, and Blair Oaks junior Brooke Boessen, while Wright City sophomore Brooklyn Moore was the second-team utility pick.
Photo credit – John Cowling / Trenton High School / Trenton, MO
