Player of the Year
Clara Granchi
Riverside, Sophom*ore
Granchi did it all for the Beavers, leading the team in pretty much every category, including pitching (13-4 record, 2.91 ERA and 101 strikeouts) and at the plate (.449 average, 17 extra-base hits, 18 RBI, 32 runs and 15 stolen bases). She did so against the area’s best schedule and on a team that advanced to the Division I regional tournament in Youngstown. That Granchi was able to do it all with a heavy heart — her father passed away just before the season — makes her season that much more impressive as a tribute to her late father.
Coach of the Year
Matt McPeek, North
McPeek led the Rangers to a 19-8 record and their first league championship in the Western Reserve Conference since North was a member of the Premier Athletic Conference back in 2015. The Rangers were senior-heavy, but that’s not always easy in a spring sport with graduation on the horizon. McPeek is a player’s type of coach. His players genuinely loved playing for him and the Rangers’ colors. That’s a big reason why the team had such success this year.
First Team
P Addison Belviso, Mentor, Freshman
Now THAT is a coming-out party. She went 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA and 76 strikeouts in her first year of varsity action. The sky is the limit.
P Amanda Dobida, North, Senior
She piled up 12 pitching wins with 93 strikeouts. She also hit. 470 with 28 RBI. She’s headed to Mount Union to continue her career.
P Kara Mekulsia, Madison, Junior
She went 10-8 pitching with an area-best 191 strikeouts, and hit .403 with 21 runs and 13 RBI. She’s a true leader and MVP type of candidate.
C Lauren Riccobello, Gilmour, Senior
The Lancers’ veteran backstop, she hit .588 with 24 RBI and only three strikeouts. Her slugging percentage of 1.039 is stunning.
IF Mackenzie Gazdak, Widkliffe, Sr.
The slugging first baseman hit .484 with 10 doubles and a fielding percentage of .967. She was the CVC Valley MVP.
IF Madeline Infalvi, Perry, Junior
After missing last year with a knee injury, she hit. 579 with 55 hits, 50 runs, 25 RBI and 26 steals. Her speed separates her from most in the area.
IF Grace Legan, Chardon, Senior
Her .519 with 56 hits, 38 RBI and 39 runs made her a serious MVP candidate this year. Her leadership intangibles on her young team rival all her stats.
IF Brynne Smith, North, Jr.
She hit .506 with 19 runs and 16 RBI. That’s two years in a row that she has led the team in batting, and she’s only a junior with more to come.
OF Ava Gundling, Gilmour, Sophom*ore
The sophom*ore left-fielder hit .564 with nine home runs, 39 RBI and 29 runs scored. She made zero errors and was 12-for-12 stealing bases.
OF Mak Kobetit*ch, Mentor, Senior
She hit .571 with 44 hits, 29 runs and 21 RBI. She also saved multiple games for her team by running down gap shots in the outfield.
OF Milana McCaleb, Riverside, Senior
She averaged .418 with 41 hits, 16 RBI, 37 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Her speed drove opposing teams nuts, and her defense in center was impeccable.
Second Team
P Alexa Anderson, Chardon, Fr.: Most teams would love to have this girl as their staff ace. All she did as Chardon’s No. 2 was go 9-1 with a 1.85 ERA and 57 strikeouts. Also hit .435.
P Jenna Hendricks, Chardon, Sr.: She went 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA and 111 punchouts this year. She did so by pitching against Chardon’s ultra-competitive schedule.
P Leigha Blazetic, Wickliffe, So.: She went 10-4 with 139 strikeouts to lead the Blue Devils. She also hit .315 with 11 doubles at the plate.
C Alyssa McPeek, North, Sr.: She hit .420 with 33 runs. She made only one error behind the dish. She will play college ball at John Carroll.
IF Emma Anderson, Chardon, So.: A slick-fielding shortstop, she also dazzled at the plate where she hit .491 with 22 steals and 39 runs scored.
IF Maddie Menough, Mentor, Jr.: She hit .465 with 24 RBI for the GCC champion Cardinals. Few play a better first base than she does.
IF Elise Strahan, Perry, Jr: She hit .480 with 46 runs, 39 RBI and 24 extra-base hits. As one of many underclassmen on the team, she’ll lead a huge Perry charge next year.
IF Maddi Proud, Riverside, Fr.: Her .427 average, 41 hits, 28 RBI and 39 runs are impressive, but the plays she made at shortstop this season were dazzling.
OF Sydney Collins, Perry, Jr.: She hit .476 with 37 RBI and 32 runs. She hit six home runs, showing she can hit for both average and power.
OF Taylor Zupancic, South, Sr.: She led the team with a .493 average. Not only did she ignite the offense with her bat, but she was 19-for-19 in steals.
UT Whitney Davis, Berkshire, Fr.: She did it all, going 9-5 on the pitching bump while also hitting .679 with 49 runs and 46 stolen bases in the CVC Valley.
Third Team
P Alex Mould, NDCL, So.: She struck out 130 batters and had a 3.4 ERA this season. She also hit .353.
C Emi Jeras, Riverside, Jr.: The Rhode Island commit hit .34 with 34 RBI and 24 runs scored. A lockdown catcher.
C Helena Yanchar, Hawken, Sr.: She hit .698 with 20 extra-base hits, 21 RBI and 26 runs.
IF McKenna Banville, Chardon, Fr.: She hit .442 with 31 RBI in her rookie year of high school ball. Look out in the future.
IF Savannah Burton, Geneva, Jr.: She ht. 463 with 24 steals, 33 runs and a vacuum of a glove at third base.
IF Lely Percassi, West Geauga, So.: She hit. .417 with 36 RBI and 26 runs scored. She also went 8-5 pitching.
IF Aiyandi Ramsey, Brush, Sr.: She followed up her big freshman year by hitting .636 with 26 runs, 21 RBI and 36 steals this year.
IF Carla Sakacs, Wickliffe, Sr.: She hit. 431 with 21 runs and 36 RBI. A dynamic four-year starter.
OF Maddie Russo, North Sr.: She hit .434 with four home runs and 24 RBI. She led the team with four home runs and was an all-district selection in the outfield.
OF Becca Tornow, Riverside Fr: She played second base and in the outfield and hit. 373 with 25 runs and 16 RBI against the area’s top schedule: Stats, etc.
OF Bella Hostutler, South, Sr.: She hit. 461 with 15 extra-base hits and was 20-for-23 in stolen bases.
UT Annaliese Davis, Riverside, Jr.: Her combined pitching (6-4, 3.23 ERA) and batting (.369 with 29 RBI and 21 runs) make her invaluable to the Beavers.
Honor roll
Beaumont: Amelia Clary, Lilly Jarc, Penelope Zoldak; Berkshire: Jenna Hornak, Kate Miller, Bailey Jokinen; Brush: Zayshelle Fierson; Cardinal: Olivia Krebs, Emily Pleva, Maggie Grant; Chagrin Falls: Mia Beavers, Lexi Kaseler, Sophie Hill, Peyton Pierce; Chardon: Mackenzie Kilpeck, Riley Ford, Jadyn Tarantino; Euclid: Tyla McGhee; Fairport: Jillian Justinger, Natalie Phillips, Madisen McFadden; Geneva: Alyssa Palmisano, Caiden Siegel, Annabelle Bragg; Gilmour: Ava Paradise, Camden Dreiling, Aiden Pike, Hailey Gray; Harvey: Jayla Holloway, Dana Ramirez, Alyssia Franklin; Hawken: Ally Whiting; Kenston: Angela Kale, Devan McCabe, Quinn Robertson; Lake Catholic: Gia Nappi; Mentor: Ireland Rainey, Kathryn Bouffard, ; Mayfield: Ella Mikesell; Madison: Ally Negin, Tori Semple; NDCL: Lucy Joyce, Celia Anthony, Becca Wooke; North: Bre Preston, Aly Hall; Perry: Rosalyn Tharp, Madelyn Rupert, Morgan Winters, Ariana Rogers; Riverside: Emma Wilhelm; South: Halle Zupancic;West Geauga: Shaylynn Rogaski, Dayana Malone, Cara Day; Wickliffe: Mackayla Gazdak, Madison Kita
