Coleman named SEC Player of the Year

The Southeast Conference came out with its All-Conference teams for the 2019 season last week, and the Panthers had another good year, with seven selections.

Junior Sydni Coleman was named conference Player of the Year and three more players were named to the first team.

Coleman did her best work in the circle this season, going 16-7 overall with a 2.51 ERA and 52 strikeouts. At the plate, she hit .358 with nine doubles, four triples, a home run and 30 RBIs. This is her first softball season at Mt. Pleasant, meaning she took home Player of the Year honors in her only season in the SEC.

Anni Liechty finished her career out with a first-team selection. She hit .361 with five doubles, a triple and four home runs. She ended her senior season with 42 RBIs, which put her at the top of the conference.

Junor Samantha Broeker had a similar offensive year for Mt. Pleasant, and she too earned a first-team selection. Broeker hit a cool .400 this year with 11 doubles, one triple and two home runs. She had 40 RBIs this season to finish second in the conference behind Liechty.

Trinity Krabill was the fourth Panther to earn a spot on the first team. Krabill hit .287 with seven doubles, three triples and four home runs. She and Liechty tied atop the SEC with their four homers each.

Makayla Cam was named to the second team in her senior year. She hit .331 with eight doubles, four triples, a home run and 14 RBIs. She also stole 25 bases in 28 attempts.

Senior Lyndi Vantiger and freshman Ava Lowery were both named to the honorable mention list. Vantiger hit .250 with four doubles and 13 RBIs, and Lowery finished the year hitting .310 with two doubles and 11 RBIs.

Mt. Pleasant was also honored for its work in the classroom. The Panthers had eight players named to the Academic All-SEC team. The Academic All-Conference team is made of juniors and seniors who had a 3.25 ERA or higher.

Listed below is the full list of nominees with the player's grade in school listed in parenthesis.

ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM: Hannah Simpson (9), Fairfield; Shaylin Drish (11), Fairfield; Cody Engle (8), Fairfield; Allison Rebling (11), Fairfield; Sydni Coleman (11), Mt. Pleasant (POY); Anni Liechty (12), Mt. Pleasant; Samantha Broeker (11), Mt. Pleasant; Trinity Krabill (12), Mt. Pleasant; Kellie Dallmeyer (10), Washington; Alexa Mitchell (11), Washington; Molly Sparks (12), Washington; Olivia Williams (12), Ft. Madison; Cassie Powers (12), Ft. Madison.

ALL-SEC SECOND-TEAM: Peyton McCabe (8), Fairfield; Destiny Gridley (11), Fairfield; Makayla Cam (12), Mt. Pleasant; Haylee Wilson (12), Washington; Kinsey Duwa (11), Washington; Kaitlyn Mitchell (11), Washington; Vanessa Golowach (12), Ft. Madison; Abby Arrowood (12), Keokuk; Abby Thompson (10), Keokuk.

ALL-SEC HONORABLE MENTION: Jenna Norris (9), Fairfield; Delaney Breen (9), Fairfield; Allison Helmick (10), Ft. Madison; Maycee Featheringill (11), Ft. Madison; Gracie Koeber (10), Keokuk; Erika Kruse (8), Keokuk; Ava Lowery (9), Mt. Pleasant; Lyndi Vantiger (12), Mt. Pleasant; Cara Linnenkamp (10), Washington.

SEC ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE: Ivey Geerdes (11), Ft. Madison; Vanessa Golowach (12), Ft. Madison; Cassie Powers (11), Ft. Madison; Olivia Williams (12), Ft. Madison; Kenna Smith (11), Mt. Pleasant; Sydni Coleman (11), Mt. Pleasant; Anni Liechty (12), Mt. Pleasant; Lyndi Vantiger (12), Mt. Pleasant; Alyssa Streigel (11), Mt. Pleasant; Lexie Magnani (11), Mt. Pleasant; Mia Herrick (11), Mt. Pleasant; Samantha Broeker (11), Mt. Pleasant; Kinsey Duwa (11), Washington; Halle Leyden (11), Washington; Alexa Mitchell (11), Washington; Kaitlyn Mitchell (11), Washington; Carly Burlingame (12), Washington; Molly Sparks (12), Washington; Haylee Wilson (12), Washington.