Northeast Kansas League High School Baseball & Softball All-League Honors Awarded

Another competitive year in school baseball and softball in the Northeast Kansas League saw three teams make the State tournament and a pair of softball teams claim a State title and State runner-up finish. The NEKL has handed out their All-League honors for the 2016 season. 

For softball the NEKL champion, Oskaloosa Bears lead the way with six gals earning All-League and one more named honorable mention. Seniors, Haidyn Bassett and Madison Miller earned All-League at pitcher and catcher, respectively, while junior, Tomi-Lyn Hickman and sophomore, Brylie Bassett both picked up All-League honors at infield. Sophomore, Jaden Courter and freshman, Paige Lowe each earned All-League at outfield and utility. Oskaloosa junior, Reagan Hamm was named honorable mention infield. The Bears finished the year 23-3 and Class 3A State runner-ups. 

The Valley Falls Dragons earned second place in the NEKL this year but finished the season as the Class 2-1A State Champions with a 22-4 record. Four Dragons earned All-League honors, while one other picked up honorable mention honors. Senior, Natalie Pickerell got the All-League nod in the outfield for Valley Falls, while sophomore, Allison Kearney and freshman, Reagan Kirkwood each earned All-League at infield, while junior, Josee Neiberger was named All-League pitcher. Freshman, Laiikyn Hawk was named honorable mention infield. 

A trio of McLouth lady Bulldogs earned All-League honors and one more honorable mention honors. Seniors, Shannon Greene and Dominique Tullis picked up All-League honors at pitcher and outfield, respectively, while freshman, Kimmi Patterson was named All-League infield. Senior, Shannon Brown picked up honorable mention honors at infield. 

Pleasant Ridge Ram senior, Morgan Heim picked up All-League honors at outfield, while her teammate freshman, Lindsey Heim earned honorable mention honors at catcher. 

Maur Hill-Mount Academy Raven, Ally Keimig was the lone Raven to picked honors as she was name honorable mention infield. 

For baseball it was a competitive season in the NEKL with the Maur Hill-Mount Academy Ravens coming out as League champions finishing 12-10 overall the season. Three Ravens picked up All-League honors with another getting honorable mention. Senior, Harry Tortter along with junior, Noah Baniewicz and sophomore, Nathan Peltzer earned All-League honors at pitcher, pitcher and outfield, respectively. Kevin Lykins was named honorable mention infield. 

Valley Falls Dragons who finished 14-10 on the year made the 2-1A State tournament after winning their Regionals and have three All-League players with one honorable mention honoree, also. Senior, Zac Allen along with juniors, Dawson Gatzemeyer and Billy Coleman all got the nod for All-League at infield, pitcher and utility/DH. Senior, Conner Gast was named honorable mention at infield. 

Oskaloosa Bears finished second in the NEKL and Regional runner-up to eventual 3A State Champs, Nemaha Central and have a trio of guys named to All-League with one honorable mention honoree, also. Senior, Dalton VanHoutan and freshman, Hunter Reed and Jaxson Webb earned All-League honors at pitcher, infield and outfield, respectively. Junior, Cooper Thurston was named honorable mention infield. 

A pair of Pleasant Ridge Rams earned All-League honors as juniors, Reid Herken and Tanner Morris picked up the honors at outfield and infield. 

While Immaculata Raider senior, Cory Holcomb and sophomore, Jared Thibault earned All-League honors at outfield and infield, respectively. 

McLouth Bulldog junior, Brody Troupe also earning All-League NEKL baseball honors picking up the honors at catcher, while his teammate junior, Ricky Morris was named honorable mention outfield.