Zionsville’s Girls Majors Softball All-Star team concluded a very successful season, completing a 9-1 record in Little League All-star games and finishing as runner up in the State Championship game to Yorktown LL. The team outscored their opponents 91-34 in Little League games and 148-53 counting all games. The formula for success was team speed, great defense, great batting solid pitching.
Defensively Sophie Theobald, Sydney Webber, Kate Cantrell, Lauren Baker, Nicole Gruesser and Sterling McKenzie made it difficult for batters to get a hit. Sophie, Lauren and Kate controlled the infield, while Sydney, Nicole and Sterling did not let many fly balls drop for hits. One of the defensive highlights of the state tournament was Sydney throwing a batter out at first base from center field. Jenny Pitts and Anna Gobeyn combined at catcher to keep base from stealing and did not allow them to advance on past balls. Anna picked off two base runners at first base from catcher.
On offense the team was led at the state tournament by Annika Stewart (8 of 14 .571BA), Lauren Baker (7 of 15 .471BA), Sydney Webber (6 of 17 .353 BA), Kate Cantrell (5 of 15 .333BA), and Sterling McKenzie (2 of 6 .333BA). Counting all All-star games Annika and Lauren batted over .500 and Lylah Sands, Sydney Webber and Kate Cantrell batted over .400. Sophie Theobald and Sydney Webber each scored 6 runs while Annika Stewart, Lauren Baker and Sterling McKenzie all contributed 4 each at the state tournament.
Annika, Sophie and Ainsley Serbin all combined to pitch for Zionsville. Annika went 7-1 as a starter and Sophie Theobald was 2-0. Annika allowed only 1 run in 9 innings pitched during districts. She was one out from a perfect game in the finals against Eagle Creek. She threw a no-hit shut out against West Lafayette to win sectionals. Sophie Theobald had a dominant performance against the defending state champions Chet Waggoner LL only allowing 2 hits and 3 runs in a complete game. Until the State Championship game, no Little League team scored more than 3 runs off of Zionsville.
Team members are: Lauren Baker, Kate Cantrell, Elise Gall, Anna Gobeyn, Nicole Gruesser, Sterling McKenzie, Jenny Pitts, Lylah Sands, Ainsley Serbin, Sofia Southard, Annika Stewart, Sophie Theobald, Sydney Webber
Assistant Coaches: Mike Pitts and Gary Southard
Manager: Brian Stewart
