2012 Lawrence Journal-World All Area Softball Team, from left, Sam O'Brien, Free State, Marly Carmona, Lawrence High, Madeline Brungardt, Baldwin, player of the year Sophia Templin, De Soto, coach of the year Junelle Woolery, De Soto, Jillian Jobe, Mill Valley, Lakin Thompson, Oskaloosa, Kelli Spring, Mill Valley, Courtney Parker, Free State.

Player of the year:
Sophia Templin,
De Soto High

The Wildcats junior essentially served as a one-player pitching staff, throwing an incredible 24 complete games for DHS. With Templin setting up the defense — and the team overall — for success, the Wildcats lost just three games in 2012. De Soto made it all the way to the Class 4A state championship game, where it fell to Andale/Garden Plain.

Coach of the year: Junelle Woolery,
De Soto

Woolery’s Wildcats nearly were unstoppable, finishing the year with a 23-3 record. Templin, Hunter Klamm and MaKenzi Shackley helped Woolery lead DHS to a terrific season. De Soto came up a few runs shy of a 4A state title, falling 3-1 to Andale/Garden Plain in the championship game of the state tournament.

First team

Madeline Brungardt, Baldwin — The Bulldogs’ No. 3 hitter played shortstop and center field in her senior year. Brungardt led BHS with 33 hits, six triples, three home runs, 29 runs scored and a .524 batting average. Her .625 on-base percentage was a new program record, as were her 44 career walks.

Marly Carmona, Lawrence — In just her sophomore season, the Lions shortstop proved her value at the plate and in the field. Carmona hit .429 on the year, scored 18 runs, drove in 10 more, hit a home run and had a .964 fielding percentage for LHS.

Jillian Jobe, Mill Valley — As a pitcher, the Jaguars senior went 13-2 with a 1.07 ERA, 15 complete games and 124 strikeouts in 85 innings. No slouch offensively, either, Jobe batted .462 with 36 hits, seven doubles four triples and 26 RBIs.

Kendra Leach, McLouth — The Bulldogs senior outfielder, who has signed to play at University of Missouri-Kansas City, rarely returned to the dugout without reaching base. Leach flourished at the plate with an amazing .672 batting average, .705 on-base percentage, 52 hits, 16 RBIs and two home runs.

Sam O’Brien, Free State — A senior shortstop who played for Kansas in the Mo-Kan Softball All-Star Series, O’Brien put up big numbers offensively when she wasn’t making plays up the middle for FSHS. O’Brien produced a .408 batting average, with 29 hits, 29 RBIs, 23 runs scored, six doubles and three home runs.

Courtney Parker, Free State — With Parker playing behind the plate defensively and pounding the ball offensively from the batter’s box, the Firebirds went 13-8 before losing in a 6A regional title game. Parker’s .468 batting average led FSHS, and she had 29 hits, 21 RBIs, 20 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and four home runs.

Konner Patterson, McLouth — A second-year starter as a Bulldogs sophomore, Patterson spent time on the corners of the diamond, playing both first base and third base. Her on-base percentage was a ridiculous .800, powered in large part by her .646 batting average. The slugging soph drove in 42 runs for MHS (18-4).

Kelli Spring, Mill Valley — The Jaguars went 20-3 and won a 5A regional championship with their junior shortstop making plays all over the diamond. Spring batted .646, with 51 hits, 46 runs, nine doubles, eight triples, 21 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .962 slugging percentage. Defensively, Spring had 21 putouts and 28 assists.

Sophia Templin, De Soto — The junior ace was the pitcher of record each game of the Wildcats’ 23-3 season. Templin pitched 165.1 innings with a 1.61 ERA and 134 strikeouts. At the plate, she hit .349 with 14 RBIs, four doubles and three triples.

Lakin Thompson, Oskaloosa — The senior hurler appeared in 24 games for OHS (18-6), earning 18 wins. Thompson, a unanimous selection for the All-Delaware Valley League first team, threw four no-hitters and fanned 172 batters in 137 innings. As a hitter, she batted .323, with 14 RBIs.

Honorable mention

Brianna Brooks, Oskaloosa; Lauren Byrn, Lawrence; Morgan Byrn, Lawrence; Jordan Erickson, Perry-Lecompton; Caly Ingle-Maxwell, Tonganoxie; Hunter Klamm, De Soto; Kailan Kuzmic, Tonganoxie; Makayla Leslie, Tonganoxie; Jordan Miller, Oskaloosa; Valerie Pringle, Eudora; A’Liyah Rogers, Free State; MaKenzi Shackley, De Soto; Emily Welsh, McLouth.