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Washington leads 2024 All-Union softball team
Demons take coach and captain spot
Another Southeast Conference softball season has come and gone, which means yet another All-Union softball team.
Washington was one of the top teams in the SEC this season, finishing second, which is mirrored in this years’ list. The Demons earn eight All-Union selections this time around, including the coach and captain awards.
The Demons ended the season 24-12 overall and 11-3 in SEC play.
Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant rounded out the bottom of the conference this season. The Trojans have five names featured this season, while Mt. Pleasant comes in with one.
The Trojans finished 10-26 overall and 4-11 in conference action, while the Panthers ended 3-28 and 1-14.
Coach: Ben Obermann, Washington
Washington’s Ben Obermann takes the coaching spot for the second straight season. Obermann’s squad finished with 24 in back-to-back seasons.
The Demons were in the SEC title race all season long, but just missed the crown as Burlington finished two wins ahead.
Washington was ranked as high as No. 7 this past season, but came two wins short of the state tournament after bowing out to Central Lee in the regional semifinal.
The Obermann led Demons will be looking to get over the hump in 2025 as the talented squad returns the majority of its players.
Captain: Leighton Salazar (10), Washington
Washington’s lead off hitter takes the captain spot for yet another season as she finished as one of the top hitters in the league.
Salazar followed up a stellar freshman season with a just as great sophomore season.
She had a phenomenal year at the plate, hitting above .500 once again, this time ending with a .524 batting average. Salazar notched 66 hits and 29 RBIs. She finished with 10 doubles and three triples.
On the base pads, Salazar was near perfect stealing a whopping 36-of-38 bases. She scored 54 runs this summer.
Pitcher: Bella Salazar (11), Washington
Washington junior Bella Salazar might not have edged her sister for the captain spot, but it was another stellar year for her.
Salazar, who makes the list once again as a pitcher really stepped up in the hitting department. She batted .348 this summer notching 40 hits with 34 singles, five doubles, one triple and 37 RBIs.
She was equally phenomenal in the circle, going 13-8 as the Demons ace. Salazar finished with a 2.67 ERA and 100 strikeouts.
Pitcher: Halle Cuddeback (11), Washington
Washington’s Halle Cuddeback was fantastic for the Demons this season.
Cuddeback, finished with a 5-0 record in the circle. She gave up just 52 hits, 33 runs (25 earned) with 24 strikeouts. Cuddeback ended with an ERA of 3.57 and opponents batted just .261 against her.
At the plate, Cuddeback hit .296, finishing with 16 hits and 14 RBIs.
Catcher: Alyvia Anderson (11), Washington
Alyvia Anderson solidified herself as one of the top catchers in the conference this season.
Anderson was one of the top hitters for the Demons, finishing with a batting average of .375. Her 43 RBIs were the most by any Demon. She also tallied 45 hits and 43 RBIs. She also led the Demons with three home runs.
Behind the plate, Anderson finished with a fielding percentage of .984. She also threw out three runners.
Infield: Leah Helmick (9), Fairfield
Fairfield’s Leah Helmick rose to be one of the Trojans top players this season. She’s just one of two freshman on the list.
In the batters box, Helmick ended with an average of .330. Her 35 hits were a team high and she also knocked in 18 runs.
Infield: Faith Jones (10), Fairfield
Fairfield’s Faith Jones blended in nicely to her larger role in the Trojans starting lineup this past season.
Jones led the team with a .340 batting average. She also finished the year with 21 runs, 33 hits and 18 RBIs.
Infield: Emma Starr (12), Mt. Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant’s Emma Starr is the Panthers’ lone representative.
Starr broke out in her senior year, hitting a solid .341 with seven doubles, two triples, a home run and nine RBIs. She also tallied a team high 16 runs.
Starr was the lone senior on a youthful Mt. Pleasant squad.
Infield: Savannah Hollander (12), Fairfield
Fairfield’s Savannah Hollander closes out her high school career with a nice senior season.
Hollander ended the year with a batting average of .330. She also led the Trojans in runs with 35. At the plate, she notched 31 hits and 18 RBIs. She was also walked 20 times.
Outfield: Ella Greiner (11), Washington
Another Demon on the list for the second straight season is Ella Greiner. Greiner was once again one of the top hitters for Washington.
This season, Greiner finished with a batting average of .453. She scored 32 runs and had 39 hits with 28 RBIs. She hit two home runs as well.
Greiner stole 11-of-11 bases on the season too.
Outfield: Kendall Hinrichsen (11), Washington
Washington’s Kendall Hinrichsen made a big leap in the 2024.
Hinrichsen finished with a batting average of .310. She ended with 31 runs, 31 hits and 12 RBIs.
She also stole 6-of-6 bases on the season.
Outfield: Olivia Hollander (11), Fairfield
Fairfield’s Olivia Hollander gets on the list for the second straight time.
Hollander finished the season with an average of .286. She had 18 hits with 16 RBIs as well.
Utility: Colbie Greiner (9), Washington
Colbie Greiner follows up an eight grade All-Union selection with a freshman year one as well.
Greiner was equally as important for the Demons at the plate and in the circle. She finished with a batting average of .281. She scored 19 runs, while carding 32 hits and 21 RBIs.
In the pitching department, Greiner finished with a record of 6-4 and a 2.66 ERA. She gave up 62 hits, 34 runs (19 earned) with 39 strikeouts.
Utility: Laney Norris (11), Fairfield
Fairfield’s Laney Norris makes the All-Union list in back-to-back seasons.
Norris emerged as a big piece for the Trojans last season and was that once again. Norris finished with a average of .301 at the plate. She tallied 31 hits and a team best 24 RBIs this summer.
She was also the Trojan’s ace in the circle. Norris ended with a 7-11 record and an ERA of 5.97. She gave up 142 hits, 127 runs (81 earned) with 44 strikeouts.
