Northwest Conference softball coaches selected Lima Central Catholic junior pitcher / third baseman, Meredith Shepherd, as the 2013 NWC Player of the Year, and named LCC’s Kevin Wilkerson as NWC Coach of the Year at the all-conference selection meeting Monday evening at Delphos Jefferson.
Shepherd, a two time first team all-conference selectee, hit .542 this year for the Thunderbirds with a team high 39 hits, 5 home runs, and 25 RBI’s. She was also 10-4 as a pitcher with an ERA of 2.10 She received 175 of a possible 180 points to edge Kirstin Hicks of Crestview for POY honors.
Coach Wilkerson led LCC to a 7-2 conference record and a three way share of the NWC championship with Crestview and Lincolnview.
Shepherd is joined on the NWC First Team by LCC teammate, Sydney Santaguida. Hicks is joined by Crestview teammate, Terra Crowle. Other first team players are Bobbi Heckel of Columbus Grove, Kaitlin Brant and Ashley McClure of Lincolnview, Tori Johnston of Spencerville, Kelsey Beck of Paulding, and Madison Schantz of Allen East.
1st Team
Meredith Shepherd – Junior – P / 3B – Lima Central Catholic
Kirstin Hicks – Junior – 1B / P – Crestview
Bobbi Heckel – Senior – P – Columbus Grove
Kaitlin Brant – Senior – 2B – Lincolnview
Terra Crowle – Sophomore – P / 1B – Crestview
Ashley McClure – Junior – P – Lincolnview
Tori Johnston – Junior – 3B / P – Spencerville
Kelsey Beck – Freshman – C – Paulding
Madison Schantz – Senior – 2B / 3B – Allen East
Sydney Santaguida – Sophomore – SS – Lima Central Catholic
2nd Team
Jodie Doner – Senior – CF – Lincolnview
Erin Conkle – Junior – C – Allen East
Ashley Windle – Junior – C – Ada
Lauren Calvert – Senior – C – Lincolnview
Adrian Rumer – Senior – 1B / 3B – Bluffton
Haleigh Mull – Junior – C – Spencerville
Katie Palte – Senior – SS – Bluffton
Hope Schroeder – Sophomore – 3B – Columbus Grove
Meredith Neise – Junior – CF – Lima Central Catholic
Brooke Bowen – Junior – 3B – Crestview
Honorable Mention
Hannah Sensibaugh – Junior – 3B – Delphos Jefferson
Alex Shumate – Freshman – P / OF – Spencerville
Kaycee Rowe – Junior – P / SS – Allen East
Katie Roose – Junior – C – Columbus Grove
Mackenzie Riggenbach – Sophomore – SS – Crestview
Alyssa Mulholland – Senior – SS – Spencerville
Morgan Riley – Sophomore – 3B – Paulding
Julia Thatcher – Sophomore – RF – Lincolnview
Jerika Bland – Junior – SS – Paulding
Kendra Paul – Senior – 3B – Ada
Audrey Rodriguez – Sophomore – 3B/SS/1B – Allen East
Breana Schmidt – Senior – DP / 1B – Paulding
Taylor Branham – Senior – P – Delphos Jefferson
Kayla Verhoff – Sophomore – 1B – Lima Central Catholic
Samantha Wildman – Senior – 1B – Ada
Mackenzie Ringwald – Sophomore – CF / 3B – Spencerville
Aubren Davis – Junior – P – Allen East
Devann Springer – Sophomore – LF – Lincolnview
Alexis Amburgey – Sophomore – P / SS – Ada
Casey Clark – Sophomore – C – Lima Central Catholic