By Matt Turer — @MattTurer
@MattTurer
We’re in a time for softball in the Ozarks that saw no teams from the region advance to state, but after sorting through the top performers from this season for the All O-Zone Softball team, the reasons why get more and more confusing. This was a truly deep year for talent that saw big statistics at the plate and on the mound. Picking the best of the best is an exercise that took some pretty deep looks at the extensive statistical numbers available. But even so, not every program had statistics to look at. (Because of that, if you feel a name was left off this list, please feel free to email me that athlete’s numbers). What you see below is what were decided as the best individual statistical seasons, regardless of Class, available for this project. There are 25 players chosen, purposefully equal to a 25-man roster.
The All O-Zone Softball selections are split up as follows (and listed in alphabetical order): one catcher (1 honorable mention), four infielders (4 honorable mentions), three outfielders (2 honorable mentions), one utility player (2 honorable mentions), five pitchers (2 honorable mentions).
Now, we present OzarksSportsZone.com’s 2016 All O-Zone Softball team: this year’s top players on the softball diamond.
Catcher
Kylie Helm, McDonald County, Sophomore
Seemingly the best offensive threat behind the plate, and perhaps in the entire region, the sophomore McDonald County-product smacked 59 hits behind a .656 average this season. Helm, who drove in 36 runs and scored 22 herself, helped lead the Mustangs to a district title before losing to Ozark in the Class 4 sectionals. She has an impressive combination of contact and power, hitting for 13 doubles, four triples and six home runs for 23 total extra-base hits. Her OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) is an area-best 1.759 and she hit .614 (27-44) with runners in scoring position. There is some speed there as well (seven steals). Maybe her best stat, Helm always gives herself a chance to get on base, striking out just once in 97 plate appearances.
Honorable mention: Morgan Loggins, Waynesville, Junior (.516 AVG, .549 OBP, .890 SLG, 1.439 OPS, 47 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 29 R, 44 RBI, 9 SB)
Infield
Kristyn Carpenter, Camdenton, Senior
The Ozark Conference MVP, Carpenter went out with a conference and district championship and a true all-around statistical season. Carpenter hit seven triples, to go with three doubles and a pair of home runs, and stole 19 bases. Her .444 average was one of seven batting averages on the Lakers that broke the .400 mark and was second on the team to Shelby Webster’s .495. Carpenter finished with 37 RBIs and 36 runs.
Kami Holt, Republic, Senior
The most prolific power bat in Republic’s program history, Holt hit eight dingers her senior season with the Tigers. The funny thing about Holt is she doesn’t have the frame of a typical power hitter, looking more like a speed-type player. But don’t be fooled because the speed is there too. Holt hustled down six triples and five doubles (and stole nine bases), helping back a very impressive 1.502 OPS in a Class 4 schedule.
Haley Frillman, Hillcrest, Sophomore
The face of what Hillcrest hopes to be its softball revival, Frillman was named Ozark Conference Offensive Player of the Year this season, and more than deserved it. The sophomore is a threat in all phases of the offensive game, batting .483 with 22 extra-base hits (12 doubles, four triples, six home runs) while swiping 24 bags. Part of a nine-win Hillcrest team still trying to find itself, she only drove in 18 runs, but her ability to get on base (43 hits, .540 OBP, 1.450 OPS) allowed her to score 29.
Camryn Pryor, Salem, Senior
Pryor ends her Salem career as the program’s all-time leader in 11 total statistical categories (combination of single-season and all-time leaders). She holds Salem career records for singles (101), home runs (17), hits (154) and RBIs (146). One of the most productive bats in Class 3, Pryor hit .571 with a .633 OBP and 1.454 OPS this year. She finished with 48 hits (9 doubles, 4 home runs), 37 RBIs and 34 runs, leading her Tigers to a 21-5 record.
Honorable Mention: Allie Dickerson, Reeds Spring, Senior (.518 AVG, .554 OBP, .788 SLG, 1.342 OPS, 44 H, 11 2B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 21 R, 10 SB)
Honorable Mention: Kali Godfrey, Carthage, Sophomore (.490 AVG, .528 OBP, 1.226 OPS, 47 H, 15 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 29 R)
Honorable Mention: Katie Kurima, Monett, Junior (.435 AVG, .500 OBP, .978 OPS, 40 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 16 RBI, 33 R, 35-35 SB)
Honorable Mention: Lauren Turner, Cassville, Sophomore (.479 AVG, .486 OBP, .803 SLG, 1.289 OPS, 34 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 17 R)
Outfield
Hailey Brown, Rogersville, Junior
Brown was again a Class 3 All-State selection, and deserved every last vote. One of the most impactful leadoff bats in the region, Brown flirted with a .600 average for much of the season before finishing at .519. Brown found some power this year as well, knocking two homers to go with a triple and three doubles. Batting leadoff, Brown can’t be blamed for her low RBI totals (7). She’s incredibly efficient and productive once on base, turning her 42 hits into 37 runs and 31 stolen bases.
Shelby Carr, Salem, Senior
Another member of a decorated senior class at Salem, Carr began her season with an 18-game hitting streak that anchored her season-end .506 average. She ended up as one of the best power bats on a Salem team that had five players hit at least three home runs, hitting four herself in addition to seven doubles and a triple. Carr finished with a 1.296 OPS, 33 runs, 29 RBIs and five steals.
Afatia Poinsette, Waynesville, Sophomore
While no program from the Ozarks made its way to state this season, the strong sophomore presence around the region should prove that absence to be one that’s short-lived. Poinsette is one of the most talented of those sophomores. Her .529 average and 1.426 OPS helped lead Waynesville to 14 wins, one short of the all-time program best. Poinsette is a true multi-tool threat at the plate, finishing with nine doubles, five triples, two home runs, 47 runs, 18 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. The Tigers should be feeling pretty good about Poinsette’s future.
Honorable Mention: Morgan Doyle, Ozark, Senior (.413 AVG, .465 OBP, 1.054 OPS, 43 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 34 R, 12 SB)
Honorable Mention: Karsyn Smith, West Plains, Junior (.426 AVG, .476 OBP, .638 SLG, 1.114 OPS, 40 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 30 R, 22 RBI, 16 SB)
Utility
Shelby Webster, Camdenton, Sophomore
Part of the deepest lineup in the Ozarks (Camdenton hit over .400 this year as a team), Webster had a pretty remarkable sophomore season. She put herself into the top-10 of the state’s all-time single-season RBIs list, finishing with 51. That high RBI total was backed by big all-around numbers at the plate. Webster nearly reached the .500 mark, finishing at .495 with a .529 OBP and 1.277 OPS. She also finished with 47 hits, 12 doubles, four homers and 34 runs.
Honorable Mention: Sheridan Corum, Hermitage, Junior (.526 AVG, .617 OBP, .789 SLG, 40 H, 7 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 26 R, 23 RBI, 12 SB)
Honorable Mention: Haley Williams, Senior, Monett (.484 AVG, .561 OBP, .791 SLG, 1.352 OPS, 44 H, 10 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 9 R)
Pitchers
Abbey Gann, West Plains, Junior
One of the best three power pitchers in the Ozarks, Gann led the Zizzers to a Class 3 district title and the state quarterfinals, where they fell to state runner-up Sullivan, 8-5. Her 22-5 record was the best in the region and her 240 strikeouts (in 171.0 innings) were second only to Republic’s Rachel Rook’s 272. Gann finished with a 1.80 ERA, 1.08 WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched), 24 complete games and three shutouts. She reached the double-digit strikeout mark 13 times.
Josie Lone, Cassville, Junior
Lone’s left arm and Lauren Turner’s bat were the faces of a Cassville season that ended up being one of the most exciting in the region. The Wildcats fell just short of a district title, losing to Monett, 6-5, but wouldn’t have even been there if not for Lone. The hard-throwing southpaw struck out 211 in 171.1 innings, reaching double-digit strikeouts 10 times and tossing a five-inning complete-game perfect-game at Parkview on Aug. 23, striking out 14 batters in that win. Lone ended the season 15-9 with a 1.53 ERA and the lowest WHIP (0.79) on the All O-Zone Team.
Sydney Miller, Willow Springs, Sophomore
Miller didn’t toss the innings as others on this list, but that was due to a deep two-headed pitching monster in Willow Springs that led the Bears to a state quarterfinals berth. Miller had one of the best strikeout rates in the Ozarks, sitting down 174 in just 112.1 innings. That low contact rate was a big reason for her 1.43 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. Willow Springs did struggle to score at times this year, and Miller’s 12-6 record shows that. Miller was also one of the bigger threats at the plate in the region, putting up this line: .549 AVG, .606 OBP, 1.204 OPS, 45 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 20 RBI, 34 R, 17 SB.
Bridget Rippe, Senior, Willard
One of the most feared pitchers in the region over the past four seasons, Rippe went out just liked you’d expect. She uses an excellent combination of power and control, and her 29 complete games make her maybe the truest workhorse arm in southern Missouri. Her 224 strikeouts in 182.2 innings put her No. 3 in strikeouts in the region, and she finished 18-10 with a 1.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Rippe may have been the best all-around softball player in the region this year, putting up these numbers at the plate: .538 AVG, .903 SLG, 1.468 OPS, 50 H, 17 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 7 R.
Rachel Rook, Senior, Republic
There is no better pitcher in the Ozarks than Rachel Rook, and the only people who might not be missing her are the bats returning to the Ozark Conference. Rook, who’s bound for Southeast Missouri State, finished her decorated career with 1,021 strikeouts, putting her in the top-7 all-time in the state. But what makes that feat even more impressive is that it was done with Class 4 Republic, meaning Rook has had very few easy days over her four years. She fell just short of a district title this year, losing 1-0 to McDonald County, but finished her senior season 19-7 with 272 strikeouts in 154.1 innings. Looking deeper into her numbers, Rook put up a 1.27 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, struck out 10+ on 16 occasions, tossed two no-hitters, nine shutouts and 22 complete games.
Honorable Mention: Emily Chadwell, Norwood, Senior (18-5, 125 K, 132.0 IP, 1.75 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 23 GS, 5 ShO)
Honorable Mention: Kylee Compton, Camdenton, Senior (6-1, 1.65 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 79 K, 55.1 IP; .447 AVG, .544 OBP, 1.108 OPS, 38 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 31 R)
