Alan Hoskins, Supervisor of Public Information
Thursday, May 17, 2012
College Advancement
Hitting nearly .400 or better has earned four members of the Kansas City Community College softball team berths on the All-Jayhawk Conference team for 2012.
First baseman Jenny Schneider of Bishop Ward and outfielder Mercedes Overstreet of Topeka Seaman were named to the first All-Jayhawk team while catcher Allyssa Lee of SM North and designated hitter Alika Buttermore of Pleasant Hill were selected to the second team.
Schneider, who was also the Blue Devils’ No. 1 pitcher, hit .402 with 23 runs batted in while Overstreet provided the power, leading the team with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and a .439 batting average. Although both are sophomores, both will continue their education at KCKCC, Schneider in the nursing program and Overstreet in the Fire Science program.
The only freshman among the four all-conference picks, Lee batted .428 with three home runs and 30 RBI while Buttermore hit .391 with three homers and 22 RBI.
The other significant loss will be shortstop and pitcher Katie Cothran of Bishop Ward, who hit .306 with 20 runs batted in. Other sophomores who saw limited playing time included Angela Jacobs of Tonganoxie, who hit .500 in 10 times to the plate; Tiffany Jennings of Basehor-Linwood, who hit .243 with 9 RBI; and Cally Cowan, who hit .158 in 19 plate appearances.
“We’ve got some big shoes to fill,” says Coach Kacy Tillery after a 24-26 season and the most wins in the past six years. “This has been a very good sophomore group with good leadership.”
In addition to Alyssa Lee, other freshmen who will return are versatile MoNica Lee of SM North, who hit .318 and drove in 16 runs playing several positions and pitching; third baseman Cassie Morrison of Eudora, .223 with 24 RBI; second baseman Emily Lappert of Truman, .177 with 9 RBI; and outfielder Myrian Cisneros of William Chrisman, who batted .115.
Returning reserves include outfielders Stephanie Blazek of Las Vegas, who hit .385 in 13 plate appearances; Tayler Sherrell of SM North, .204 in 54 times at bat;, and Leah Gil of Basehor-Linwood, who hit .108 in 37 times at the plate.
Pitching will be hit hardest with the loss of Schneider and Cothran, who combined to pitch 193 of the 262 innings played by the Blue Devils.
A transfer from Ottawa University, Schneider led the way, compiling an 11-11 record with a 3.87 earned run average and 17 complete games while Cothran was 5-5 with a 6.57 ERA and six complete games.
Returnees are MoNica Lee, who had a 2-4 record with one save and a 4.98 ERA in 39 innings, and Myrian Cisneros, who was 1-4 with a 5.06 ERA in 28 innings.