All-County softball honors dished out

[Martin DeBerry]

All-County softball honors dished out
Jim Levesque ~ The Facts
June 28, 2009

This year, Brazoria County proved it had some of the top scholastic softball talent in Texas.

Eight schools made the playoffs, four earned district titles, three teams advanced to the regional finals and two — Angleton and Pearland — went on to play in the state championship game.

Needless to say, when The Facts sports staff and area coaches gathered to honor the best players with the All-Brazoria County Team, there wasn’t any easy decisions.



MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Kim Damian, senior, Angleton

The senior outfielder was the big bat in the Ladycat offense and a huge reason Angleton (32-9-1) won the District 24-4A title and went on a playoff run to the state championship game.

“Kim does so many things for our offense,” Angleton coach Lise DeBruin said during the team’s playoff run. “You know what to expect from her. She’s steady and is there to spark things at any time.”

Damian, who will play at Sam Houston State next year, was named District 24-4A most valuable player and anchored the Ladycat batting order. She had a hefty .478 batting average in district play and hit .427 for the season.

“The award means a lot to me because I’ve worked so hard and I know all that work is paying off,” Damian said. “I concentrated on doing everything I could for my team this year. I just wanted to give it all I had and work hard and not let the team down.

“We really came together at the end of the season and pulled together all the way to state. It was a great year.”



defensive player

of the year

Gabby Banda, senior, Angleton

As Damian was the constant threat with her bat for Angleton, Banda was the team’s defensive stopper. The shortstop, heading to play at Nebraska next season, solidified the Ladycat infield with her calming poise in the field.

“It means a lot to me. It’s a great honor,” Banda said of the accolade. “I don’t worry about awards or anything, but it’s great to get.

“For me, playing defense is my main strength,” Banda said. “I know if my defense is on, my hitting is on, too. The way we played defense is why we were able to stay in every game this season.”

Banda was a 24-4A all-district first-team selection, hit .393 on the year and scored the winning run in the state semifinals in a 1-0 victory over Azle.



OFFENSIVE PLAYER

OF THE YEAR

Jensen Tydelski, senior, Pearland

Tydelski was leading the way for the Lady Oilers (37-7-1) this year as they won the district 22-5A title and played all the way to the state championship game.

She was one of the top hitters in the Houston area. Tydelski, who will play at Louisiana-Lafayette, batted for an eye-boggling .522 average on the year with 27 runs scored and stolen 40 bases. She had 72 hits and 75 total bases.

“It was a great season,” Tydelski said. “I just needed to get on base, and all I did was slap and drag each time up there. I tried to make contact with the ball, steal bases and score runs.”



newcomer of the year

Morgan Finley, sophomore, Sweeny

Finley bounced back from an injury that ended her freshman season behind the plate for the Lady Bulldogs (32-4) and the team won District 26-3A and reached the regional finals.

“The hardest thing for me was just coming back from the injury and proving myself again,” Finley said. “I don’t think I completely came back with my bat, but we had a great season.”

As a freshman, Finley was focused on making an immediate impact at the varsity level. But a broken finger early in the year ended her season and threatened her softball career.

“It was a weird break and I needed to wear a cast to my elbow and have pins put in,” Finley said. “The doctors said I’d be out for the season, and I even asked if they could cut it off at the knuckle so I could play. I didn’t want to let down my teammates.”

Finley, who shared newcomer of the year honors in District 26-3A, hit .360 for the year and drove in 12 runs.

“I was devastated the way last year ended,” Finley said. “My No. 1 goal was to win the newcomer award. And to get it now, it really is great. It’s something I worked hard for.”



utility player of year

Trish Hock, sophomore, Sweeny

Hock held another big bat in the Lady Bulldog lineup. The right fielder/first baseman filled many roles for Sweeny in its playoff run. Hock was 26-3A’s offensive player of the year and hit .452 on the season with 23 RBI and 15 steals.

“I think it’s a real honor to be an utility player,” Hock said. “Most girls are real good at one position, but there are not many girls that can play shortstop and first or be put just about anywhere. I’ll go whatever or go wherever it takes to help my team win.”

Hock plays second base and short stop on her select club, and likely will play shortstop for Sweeny next season.



FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Kelsey Allender, freshman, Manvel

Allender was more worried about earning a spot on the varsity squad for the Lady Mavs than making such a big impact in her first year. She earned a shot as the starting center fielder and was a key part of Manvel’s run to the postseason.

“I was just hoping to make varsity when I first came in. I wasn’t expecting any of this,” Allender said. “Coach (Christa Williams) helped me a lot with my self confidence, and the team believed in me and that built me up.”

Allender was the only freshman selected to the 24-4A all-district first team. She hit .351 on the season and had eight steals.

“To get an award like this as freshman of the year is a great honor, Allender said.



designated hitter

of the year

Kimberlee Rychlik, senior, Pearland

Rychlik moved up from the junior varsity team for her senior season after playing catcher for three seasons and had to adjust to the role of designated hitter.

“It is pretty difficult being a DH,” Rychlik said. “It was a very big adjustment. You have to stay focused. When the players are in the field, sometimes I’d go in the batting cages and hit. I always watch the pitcher and see how she throws to right-handed batters.”

Rychlik batted .333 for the season and drove in 14 runs.

“It was an amazing season to go out on,” Rychlik said. “Pearland hasn’t been to state since ’96 and to get there in my senior year is pretty awesome. There are plenty of memories made.”



coaches of the year

Lise DeBruin, Angleton

Laneigh Clark, Pearland

When two coaches each win district titles and take their teams to state title games, it’s hard to chose one over the other. It was a consensus pick by The Facts staff and other coaches in the area that DeBruin and Clark share the honor.

“I like to think of it as coaching staff of the year, and that can’t be done without my staff, the team and all the people that support me and them,” Clark said.

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM: Pitcher — Allie Chenault (22-3, 0.194 ERA, 273 Ks), Sweeny. Catcher — Brittany Marcet (.405 ave., 45 hits, 51 RBI), Pearland. Infield — Jalyn Erwin (.346 ave.), Sweeny; Shawntall Steamer (.317 ave., 26 hits), Brazosport; Nikki Mack (.330 ave., 15 RBI, two HR), Brazoswood; Meagan Coronado (.371 ave., 37 runs, 45 hits, seven triples, 27 RBI, 24 steals), Pearland; Jessica Savage, Alvin; and Natalie Rodriguez (.429 ave., 20 runs, 27 hits, five HR, 28 RBI), Columbia. Outfield — Candyce Carter (.501 ave., 11 doubles, 29 RBI), Sweeny, Jessica Bowden (.367 ave., 44 hits, 27 RBI, 17 steals), Pearland; Kelsey Nichols (.360 ave.), Alvin; Bailey Vrazel (.560 ave., 45 hits 36 runs, 27 steals), Danbury; Taylor Duplechain (.462 ave.), Pearland Dawson.

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM: Pitcher — Madisyn Ward, Angleton. Catcher — Krissie Fountain, Manvel. Infield: Ebony Wright, Angleton; Mercedes Salazar, Sweeny; Brenicia Woods and Kaysie Creech, Brazoswood; Jennifer Boetchel, Pearland; Kim Garcia, Columbia. Outfield: Jessie Reyes and Ceteria Foster, Angleton; Leandra Maly, Pearland; Hannah Creech, Brazoswood; Breanna Watson, Brazosport

ALL-COUNTY HONORABLE MENTION: Brazoswood — Shelbi Linscomb and Elizabeth Coe; Brazosport — Shana Burton, Beatrice Gonzales, Ashley Virgil and Laura Martinez; Angleton — Nicole Sardelich, Vivian Galindo, Lexi Rubio and Hayley Galloway; Sweeny — Shelby Nelson; Pearland — Lauren Langner and Brooke Dubois; Alvin — Kelsey Kettler; Columbia — Kayla Avirett and Shelby Parker; Danbury — Ashley Noak and Chelsea Clawson; Manvel — Beth Dietrich.



Jim Levesque is a sports writer for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0161.