Taylor, Starr highlight all-league softball

Lawrence High senior shortstop Sophie Taylor and Free State junior left fielder Dacia Starr were selected first-team All-Sunflower League on Friday.

Taylor, signed to play at Northern Colorado, ranked seventh in the league with a .515 batting average. Starr was among the league leaders with a .551 batting average, seven home runs and 28 RBIs.

Free State senior first baseman Kate Stanwix was a second-team selection by the league’s softball coaches. Lawrence freshman first baseman Kampbell Kilburn was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year.

Free State’s Mayah Daniels and Emily Byers, along with Lawrence’s Rhi Emerson and Audrina Hidalgo, received an honorable mention.

2016 All-Sunflower League softball team

First team infield: Sophie Taylor, sr., Lawrence; Mady Young, jr., Olathe Northwest; Kaylee Byers, sr., Olathe East; Abby Weber, sr., Olathe South; Alexis Hodapp, jr., Olathe North.

First team outfield: Sammie Bates, sr., Olathe South; Dacia Starr, jr., Free State; Kayla Peak, jr., Olathe North; Shayna Espy, soph., Olathe Northwest.

First team catchers: Kala Holder, sr., Olathe South; Halle England, jr., Olathe Northwest.

First team pitchers: Hayley McGhee, jr., Olathe East; Aubree Herrin, jr., Olathe Northwest; Lexie Storrer, sr., Olathe South.

First team designated players: Kylie Pittman, soph., Olathe East; Brittanie Hildebrandt, sr., Leavenworth.

First team utility player: Emily Facklam, sr., Shawnee Mission East.

Second team infield: Elissa Rohr, jr., Olathe East; Emma Beason, jr., Shawnee Mission West; MaKenzie Cooper, soph., Shawnee Mission Northwest; Kate Stanwix, sr., Free State; Katie Kukowski, sr., Olathe Northwest.

Second team outfield: Haley Crane, fr., Shawnee Mission West; Natalie Adams, sr., Shawnee Mission West; Casey Shell, soph., Olathe South; Elise Byers, jr., Olathe East.

Second team catchers: Courtney Nemecheck, sr., Olathe North; Devin Conley, soph., Olathe East.

Second team pitchers: Natalie Hamm, jr., Olathe Northwest; Maryssa Rollin, jr., Olathe South; Katie Born, sr., Shawnee Mission Northwest.

Second team designated player: Lauren Wolfe, fr., Shawnee Mission Northwest.

Second team utility players: Emily Wells, jr., Shawnee Mission Northwest; Jordan Richards, fr., Olathe Northwest.

Honorable mention: Free State: Mayah Daniels, Emily Byers. Lawrence: Rhi Emerson, Audrina Hidalgo. Leavenworth: Jayda Lowe, McKenzie Brown. Olathe East: Jaydn Smith, Leslie Twillman. Olathe North: Hannah Schmidt, Halle Brin. Olathe Northwest: Maddie Boland, Kami Zimmerman. Olathe South: Bailey Boxberger, Lindsey Delana. SM East: Brooklyn Walters, Amanda See. SM North: Hannah Redick, Nola Vincze. SM Northwest: Madalyn Fagan, Shelby Smith. SM South: Keeli Ward, Katie Schultz. SM West: Alexis Jones, Dela Boyd.

Newcomer of the Year: Kampbell Kilburn, fr., Lawrence.

Players of the Year: Kala Holder, sr., Olathe South and Mady Young, jr., Olathe Northwest.

Coach of the Year: Mark Mahoney, Olathe Northwest.