Lady Cat softball garners five all-league selections

By Andy Brown
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Updated: June 15, 2017

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg senior Allyssa Griggs (left) and sophomore Madison Svoboda were both named to the all-Frontier League second team recently. The Lady Cats earned five selections overall.

In a league that featured the Class 4A-Division I state champion in Spring Hill, and state runner-up in Paola, the Frontier League provided a lot of competition all season long.

The Louisburg High School softball team found itself in the middle of it all as it racked up 10 wins on the season and earned several spots on the all-Frontier League team because of it.

The Lady Cats earned two second team selections and had three on the honorable mention team after they doubled their win total from a season ago.

Senior Allyssa Griggs was named as a second team pitcher, while sophomore Madison Svoboda earned second team infield honors. Senior Emalee Overbay was selected as an honorable mention catcher, sophomore Molly Rison earned honorable mention infield honors and sophomore Karson Griggs was an honorable mention utility player.

Allyssa Griggs had a big season at the plate for the Lady Cats as she led them in almost every offensive category. She batted .443 on the season with seven home runs, 29 RBIs and had 31 hits on the season.

On the mound, Griggs finished with a 5-6 record on the year and had a 3.60 earned run average to go along with 65 strikeouts.

Svoboda also had a big season for the Lady Cats at second base. She recorded a .414 average and had 29 hits, nine doubles, a triple, a home run and 11 RBIs.

“I thought our girls represented the program well for all-league honors,” Louisburg coach John Ozier said. “Allyssa was solid on the mound, and one of the best hitters in our league in my opinion. Her second team honor as pitcher was well-deserved. She battled injuries all season, but gutted it out until the last game of the season.

“Madison battled back from a major knee injury prior to her freshman season. She made solid defensive plays in the field and yielded a big bat in our lineup.”

(From left) Louisburg’s Karson Griggs, Emalee Overbay and Molly Rison were all selected to the all-league honorable mention team.

Karson Griggs had a good year at the plate as well for Louisburg. Karson finished with a team-high 32 hits and had a .438 average to go along with eight doubles, a triple and a home run. She was also tied for second on the team with 20 RBIs.

“In my extremely biased opinion, she had numbers to support higher honors,” Ozier said. “Throughout the season she played third, first and outfield positions.”

In her final season with the Lady Cats, Overbay performed well behind the plate at catcher and contributed offensively as well. Overbay batted .355 on the season, had 27 hits, five doubles, a triple, a home run and 20 RBIs.

Rison also provided some power in the middle of the Louisburg lineup with a .358 average, three doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs.

“Emalee was great behind the plate all season,” Ozier said. “She provided great leadership with her bat, producing many big hits for us. Molly earned honors again at first base this season with her fielding and great hitting.”

ALL FRONTIER LEAGUE SOFTBALL

FIRST TEAM

Pitcher: Jordan Johnson, Paola, junior; Sarah Brown, Spring Hill, senior

Catcher: Sierra Sanderson, Spring Hill, senior

Infield: Allison Daggett, Paola, senior; Jordan Flakus, Eudora, senior; Kamryn Shaffer, Ottawa, junior; Matti Morgan, Paola, senior

Outfield: Audrey Flowers, Baldwin, sophomore; Sieana Hall, Baldwin, sophomore; McKinley Markley, Baldwin, sophomore

DH/Utility: Regan Smith, Spring Hill, junior

SECOND TEAM

Pitcher: Kayla Etter, Eudora, sophomore; Allyssa Griggs, Louisburg, senior

Catcher: Amayah LaTessa, Baldwin, senior

Infield: Madison Svoboda, Louisburg, sophomore; Rian Geere, Baldwin, freshman; Mackenzie Smith, De Soto, senior; Betsy Parmeley, Baldwin, senior

Outfield: Elizabeth Hays, Spring Hill, junior; Devon Purcell, Eudora, junior; Jordan Diehl, De Soto, sophomore; Jasmine Thevarajoo, Eudora, senior

DH/Utility: Payton Faddis, De Soto, sophomore

HONORABLE MENTION

Pitcher: Kinley Burton, Baldwin, senior; Mary Kate Hale, Spring Hill, senior

Catcher: Sydney Igert, Paola, junior; Emalee Overbay, Louisburg, senior

Infield: Jenna DeVore, Ottawa, junior; Kelsey Kroutch, Spring Hill, senior; Molly Rison, Louisburg, sophomore; Kellee Wiggins, Baldwin, sophomore; Lydia Brown, Eudora, freshman