All-Whatcom County Softball first team
Player of the Year Tanna Benson
School: Lynden
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
What she did: Threw the majority of innings for the Lions, tallying 133 2/3 on the year. ... Struck out 140 batters, more than a one per inning average, while also maintaining a league-best 1.26 ERA. ... Was just as productive at the plate, notching a .539 batting average while also picking up eight homers. ... Drove in 51 runs from the third spot in the batting order.
First team
ABIGAIL BAUTHUES
School: Ferndale
Year: Senior
Position: Outfield
What she did: A star center fielder for the Golden Eagles defensively. ... Batted .483 with seven homers and 35 RBI on the season in middle of order. ... Helped Ferndale to a 21-3 record and a game shy of the state tournament. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
GABBY GOROSAVE
School: Sehome
Year: Senior
Position: Shortstop
What she did: Batted in the heart of the Mariners’ powerful lineup and hit for an impressive .521 average with five homers and 29 RBI. ... Helped Sehome to a Class 2A State Tournament appearance and 16-11 record. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
MORGAN HENRY
School: Sehome
Year: Senior
Position: Catcher
What she did: Batted in the heart of the Mariners’ powerful lineup and hit for an impressive .521 average with five homers and 29 RBI. ... Helped Sehome to a Class 2A State Tournament appearance and 16-11 record. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
KADENCE KANE
School: Ferndale
Year: Senior
Position: Shortstop
What she did: Hit .436 for the Golden Eagles, including two homers and 23 RBI. ... Strong defensively at shortstop and helped Ferndale to a 21-3 record, coming within a game of the state tournament. ... Second team All-Northwest Conference.
JENAH KORTHUIS
School: Lynden Christian
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder
What she did: The Lyncs’ heart and soul in center field, earning high praise from coach Mitch Moorlag for her efforts. ... Hit .531 throughout the season, including some clutch hits late in the season. ... Helped Lynden Christian to within a game of state.
LAUREN MALEY
School: Ferndale
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
What she did: Last year’s All-Whatcom County Player of the Year had very similar success this season, striking out 163 batters in 116 innings. ... Also hit .333 with 24 RBI. ... Helped Ferndale to 21-3 record. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
JORDAN MILES
School: Mount Baker
Year: Sophomore
Position: Outfielder
What she did: A breakout season for the sophomore center fielder included a .511 batting average and an impressive 42 RBI from the 2-spot. ... Lauded for her defense in the outfield by coach Ron Lepper. ... Second team All-Northwest Conference selection.
ALEXIS PIKE
School: Nooksack Valley
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher/First base
What she did: With a smile on her face through it all, hit .525 on the year. ... One of the league’s top pitchers, highlighted by a pair of gutsy performances during districts she was on the wrong end of. ... Second team All-Northwest Conference.
ELIZA ROSSMAN
School: Bellingham
Year: Sophomore
Position: Pitcher
What she did: Up-and-coming pitcher in the Northwest Conference was big reason why Red Raiders made playoffs. ... Struck out a league-high 174 batters in just 119 innings, compiling a 3.64 ERA. ... Hit .420 with 21 RBI. ... First team All-NWC.
HANNAH ROTHWELL
School: Lynden
Year: Senior
Position: Outfielder
What she did: Great defensive center fielder but even better at plate. ... Hit .443 with a league-high nine homers while picking up 38 RBI in cleanup spot. ... One of senior centerpieces on Lynden state team that went 23-3. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
ALEKS TOIVOLA
School: Mount Baker
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
What she did: Star senior pitcher for Mountaineers that pitched to contact. ... Went 18-6 with a 2.25 ERA, striking out 95 batters in 118 1/3 innings. ... Also led Baker with a .517 batting average, adding five homers and 44 RBI. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
KAYLEE VIS
School: Lynden
Year: Senior
Position: Third base
What she did: Continued to improve both defensively and at plate. ... Efforts came to fruition in form of .507 batting average, two homers and 18 RBI from the fifth spot in batting order. ... Helped Lions to state tourney appearance. ... Second team All-Northwest Conference.
MANDY WARNER
School: Lynden
Year: Senior
Position: Catcher
What she did: Leadoff batter, senior leader and star catcher for Lynden state team. ... Batted .378 with 20 RBI, including game-winning base hit in Northwest Conference win over Anacortes to secure NWC championship. ... First team All-NWC selection.
DREW WESTFORD
School: Ferndale
Year: Sophomore
Position: Catcher
What she did: One of few, if not only, catcher to call her own game. ... Hit a team-high .524 at the plate with five home runs and 36 RBI in cleanup spot. ... Led Golden Eagles to 21-3 overall record. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
EMILY YOST
School: Mount Baker
Year: Senior
Position: Third base
What she did: Showed she does more than basketball with impressive season at third base for Mounties. ... Hit a nice round .500 at plate, including five homers and 53 RBI. ... Helped Baker to Class 1A State Tournament. ... First team All-Northwest Conference.
COACH OF THE YEAR
RICK ELLIS
School: Bellingham
What he did: Brought Bellingham softball to relevancy, making the playoffs for the first time in at least a decade. ... Went 0-2 at the district tournament but turned in a 12-10 overall record.
HONORABLE MENTION
Player | School |
Olivia Berkan | Nooksack |
Dana Ebe | Ferndale |
Carissa McDowell | Sehome |
Tori McDowell | Sehome |
Scarlett Nyenhuis | Ferndale |
Arlissa Oettel | Nooksack |
Lacey Postlewait | Mount Baker |
Allison Smit | LC |
Brianna Turner | Nooksack |
This story was originally published June 12, 2015 at 10:00 PM with the headline "All-Whatcom County Softball first team."