Polk County Sports
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 21, 2017 11A
2017 ITEMIZER-OBSERVER ALL-REGION SOFTBALL TEAM
Jori Kerr
Central
Kerr, a senior, played both infield and outfield
for the Panthers during the 2017 season. Her
versatility was part of the reason she was one
of Central’s leaders. Kerr had a .932 fielding per-
centage with 32 put outs. She was also an of-
fensive force. Kerr hit .529 at the plate with a
.548 on-base percentage. Kerr recorded 36
hits, including two home runs and three triples,
and 38 RBIs with five stolen bases. Kerr re-
ceived first team all-MWC honors for her per-
formance.
Sydney Nash
Central
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer file
Central junior Erin Cole earned seven
wins as a pitcher for the Panthers.
PITCHER
Nash may only have been a freshman, but she
proved to be a key part to Central’s run to the
state play-in round as the team’s starting short
stop. On defense, Nash was a steady hand. At
the plate, Nash recorded 30 hits with 30 runs
scored and 13 RBIs and a .571 on-base per-
centage. She also had six stolen bases. Nash
earned first team all-league honors and figures
to become a central role for the Panthers’ long-
term success.
Jayden Wynia
Dallas
Kaelynn Simmons
Dallas
In her first season as the Dragons’ go-to pitcher,
Simmons exploded onto the scene with a stellar
performance. Simmons went 18-1 in 20 appear-
ances. Simmons threw 128 strikeouts over 117
2/3 innings with a 1.4 ERA. Simmons earned
Mid-Willamette Conference Pitcher of the Year,
first team all-league and first team all-state and
5A all-state pitcher of the year honors. At the
plate, Simmons hit .453 with 39 hits, three home
runs and 27 RBIs. Only a sophomore, Simmons
figures to be a force in the league and state and
will be part of the core the Dragons will build
around for years to come.
INFIELD
Olivia Nelson
Dallas
Nelson was one of only a few seniors on the
Dragons’ roster during the 2017 season but
she was a critical part of Dallas’ success. The
short stop had a .956 fielding percentage and
was a force at the plate. Nelson had 41 hits, 39
runs scored and 25 RBIs while hitting .432.
Once on base, she was always a threat, record-
ing 11 stolen bases — but Nelson’s leadership
and true impact went far beyond her success
on the field. Nelson earned first team all-MWC
honors and third team all-state recognition.
She was also named to the 2017 Senior All-Star
game and was voted best teammate by her
teammates.
The junior second baseman was one of several
Dragons who came up big in clutch moments
throughout the 2017 season. Wynia formed
part of a potent infield and defensive unit that
held opponents to 107 total runs — the lowest
mark in the MWC. On offense, Wynia hit .411.
Once she reached base, her speed made her
dangerous. Wynia had 11 stolen bases and
scored 26 times. Wynia earned second team
all-league recognition for her efforts.
team-high 41 runs scored. She also had nine
stolen bases and hit a pair of home runs and
had two triples. Dippel earned all-league hon-
orable mention and should only grow as a big-
ger offensive threat during her senior season
in 2018.
Kassidy Noon
Central
The sophomore outfielder is part of a young
core that Central can build around for years to
come. Noon, who played both right and center
field, had a perfect fielding percentage with 15
put outs and no errors. At the plate, Noon,
who earned first team all-MWC recognition, hit
.508 with a .597 on-base percentage and
recorded 30 hits and scored 29 runs. Noon al-
ready provides the Panthers with one of the
league’s top outfielders and should only im-
prove with time.
UTILITY
Erin Cole
Central
Cole, a junior, played a variety of positions for
the Panthers during the 2017 season. As a
pitcher, Cole had seven wins, including one
shutout, and threw 55 strikeouts. She also had
a .939 fielding percentage. At the plate, Cole
hit .433 with 26 hits, including three home
runs, and 31 RBIs. Cole was named first team
all-MWC for her efforts.
CATCHER
Lauren Wallace
Dallas
Dallas’ softball team had no shortage of talent
during the 2017 season and Wallace, a junior,
established herself as a leader. The first team
all-league selection and MWC Co-Player of the
Year hit .579 with a .619 on-base percentage.
Wallace had 55 hits, including 16 doubles and
eight home runs, 50 RBIs. She was also a rock
behind the plate, forming a dominating duo
with pitcher Kaelynn Simmons. Wallace had a
.995 fielding percentage and caught 10 of 43
runners stealing.
COACH
Brandi Jackson
Dallas
In her second season leading the Dragons,
Jackson helped Dallas go on a magical run
during the 2017 campaign. Under her guid-
ance, the Dragons finished 18-0 in league play
and earned the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs.
Dallas advanced the state title game after de-
feating Parkrose, Lebanon and Silverton in the
first three rounds of the state playoffs.
—
The 2017 all-region high school softball team
was selected by Itemizer-Observer Sports Editor
Lukas Eggen, along with heavy input from area
coaches.
OUTFIELD
Emma Classen
Dallas
The sophomore outfielder hade her presence
felt in a big way. Dippel was Dallas’ Player of
the Game at the state championship game
after recording one hit and three RBIs. For the
season, Classen hit .333 with a .416 on-base
percentage with 20 RBIs and seven stolen
bases. Classen received an all-MWC honorable
mention for her efforts.
Jordan Dippel
Dallas
Dippel, a junior, formed part of a formidable
outfield group that was one of the Dragons’
strengths throughout the 2017 season, but
Dippel was much more than just a strong arm.
She hit .402 at the plate with 25 RBIs and had a
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Dallas junior Lauren Wallace hit eight home runs during the 2017 season.
Wallace: Plans to play at Central Washington
Continued from Page 10A
Softball began as more of
an inevitability than a
choice for Wallace.
“My mom was a really
avid softball player,” she
said. “I was sort of put there
to begin with way back in
kindergarten.”
By the time she reached
middle school, softball had
transformed from a fun di-
version to full blown obses-
sion — so much so that she
began planning her softball
future.
“I took it upon myself in
like middle school,” Wallace
said. “I thought about things
like I have to take these
classes in order to be able to
go to a Division I university
or I was choosing what I
wanted to major in and
thinking maybe I’ll take this
class and it will look better. I
tend to overthink a little bit,
but I was planning my
whole entire life since mid-
dle school.”
Wallace joined traveling
softball teams and worked
with various coaches to im-
prove her overall game.
The last few years her
focus became more refined.
“I was going back and
forth between pitcher and
catcher,” Wallace said. “I re-
alized there are so many
pitchers out there who are
good. I wanted to excel at
being a catcher. There aren’t
too many catchers who are
really solid and amazing. I
spent 20 hours a week work-
ing mainly on catching.”
Wallace said as of now,
she is committed to playing
softball at Central Washing-
ton University.
“I was at a tournament
last summer and two coach-
es said they would sign me
right now if they could,”
Wallace said. “It’s a gorgeous
campus and it’s everything I
would want.”
Seeing her softball plans
come together was a mo-
mentous occasion and the
result of years of dedication.
“It’s a weight off your
shoulders,” Wallace said. “I
don’t have to worry about
applying to colleges and
wondering if they even want
me.”
But college is for after
high school. Wallace plans
on making her senior season
even more impressive than
the last.
—
Wallace was used to being
on top of the softball world.
She won a state title as a
sophomore in Washington.
After moving to Dallas last
year, she had no idea what
she was getting into.
“I didn’t know anything
about the school,” Wallace
said.
In a stroke of good for-
tune, Dallas was looking for
a new starting catcher. Wal-
lace wasn’t about to let this
chance pass her by.
“I met (coach) Brandi
Jackson over the summer to
get to know her,” Wallace
said. “I talked to (pitcher)
Kaelynn (Simmons) a lot be-
fore the season started.
Building that bond is huge.
You have to have that trust.
The pitcher has to know you
have their back no matter
what.”
There also has to be
enough trust so that in cer-
tain situations Wallace can
call timeout to calm a pitch-
er down or give a tip.
The chemistry and trust
between Simmons and Wal-
lace was apparent through-
out.
Simmons went 18-1 and
both received numerous ac-
colades and Dallas ad-
vanced to the state champi-
onship game.
“Lauren was a perfect ad-
dition to our team this year,”
Jackson said. “She always
comes with a smile on her
face and her bubbly person-
ality is refreshing. Lauren’s
heart, dedication and pas-
sion for the game of softball
is seen by all those around
her.”
But the thing that’s affect-
ed her most wasn’t any ac-
complishment on the field.
It’s the support the team re-
ceived off it.
“The community is more
gelled together than it ever
was where I used to live,”
Wallace said. “I’ve never
been around this kind of
community. Knowing they
are behind you no matter
what is so reassuring.”
Wallace believes the Drag-
ons are just getting started.
With a vast majority of the
roster set to return in 2018,
Dallas appears to be set up
for another successful sea-
son — and Wallace will like-
ly be at the core of that suc-
cess once again.
“I think people don’t ex-
pect this town to have this
amount of talent,” Wallace
said.
Camp: No cost to attendees Miller: Chosen in
Continued from Page 10A
Select Western Oregon
players are also scheduled
to help lead the camp,
which is aimed at quarter-
backs, wide receivers,
tight ends and running
backs. All campers will re-
ceive a T-shirt.
“We’ve got some coach-
es who will be able to
help,” Williams said. “We’ll
teach some of the basic
stuff and some of the little
things and tricks that
we’ve learned. I want to
share some knowledge on
how to get to the next
level. It will be a cool ex-
perience and a lot of fun
and there will be a lot of
competition.”
Williams will also share
his knowledge of what he’s
seen from his journey
from Division II college to
starting NFL receiver.
Williams led the Los An-
geles Chargers in recep-
tions and yards during the
2016-17 season and will
be looking to build on that
success this fall.
But the camp will pro-
vide an opportunity to
give back to the commu-
nity he treasures and take
a little break before the
grind of the NFL season
begins again.
“It will be nice to be
home for a little bit,” he
said. “I’ll see family and
friends and see some of
my old coaches. I’ll be
working out still, but it
will be nice to get away.”
When Williams takes
the field at Western, it will
be just like the old days —
except that this time, he’s
the NFL player that kids
will be looking up to.
“It hasn’t really hit me
that that’s the position I’m
in, but I’m happy that I
can bring that to a small
town and give kids that
oppor tunity,” Williams
said.
the 23rd round
Continued from Page 10A
Miller was named to the
first team all-Great North-
west Athletic Conference
team after earning five wins
in 10 starts during the 2017
season Miller had a 3.50 ERA
and threw one complete
game.
He led the Wolves in in-
nings pitched (54) and
strikeouts (57), including
throwing nine strikeouts
during the GNAC Champi-
onship title game.
“We are excited for Brady,”
WOU coach Kellen Walker
said. “He has great stuff and
has always had aspirations
of playing at the next level.
It’s great for the program as
well to have another guy that
will have the opportunity to
play professionally.”
Registration for tennis tourney continues
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH/INDE-
PENDENCE — Sign-ups for
the Monmouth-Indepen-
dence Fourth of July Tennis
Tournament have started.
This year’s tournament
will take place July 1 and 2
at Central High School and
Western Oregon University.
Cost is $15 for singles and
$25 for doubles.
The tournament features
different brackets for differ-
ent skill levels.
Central boys tennis coach
Patti Youngren helps organ-
ize the tournament each
year and said the mix of
skill levels makes the tour-
nament an enjoyable expe-
rience for everyone.
“It’s fun to see them
competing and mixing to-
gether offseason,” Youn-
gren said. “Seeing the
faces of those who come
back every year and listen-
ing to the stories of friends
who connect on the courts
is amazing.”
The deadline to enter is
June 27.
Playing times and loca-
tions will be available once
registration closes.
Make checks payable to
M.I.T., 1040 Monmouth St.,
Independence, 97351.
For more information:
Patti Youngren, 503-507-
5760.
“Tennis is a wholesome
way to get to know your
neighbors,” Youngren said.
“Tennis is something the
whole family can do. It’s a
fun experience because of
the community of tennis
players. Many players have
played in this tournament
for a number of years. It’s
Tennis Time
What: Monmouth-Independence Fourth of July Tennis Tour-
nament.
When: July 1 and 2.
Where: Matches will take place at Western Oregon University
and Central High School.
Cost: $15 singles, $25 doubles.
How to register: Contact Patti Youngren, 503-507-5760.
great to get together. It’s
also a great time for new-
comers because it is low-
keyed.”