Four Orion softball players chosen for All-Conference

Olympic coaches chose four Orion girls for the All-Conference team in softball.

They were seniors Alyssa Ellison, Tori Matzen and Jenna Nelson and junior Hillary Taets. All were unanimous selections.

Senior Sami Mitton and junior Jena Malmen received honorable mention.

With 162 putouts this year, first baseman Ellison set a school record with 572 career putouts.

In 75 at bats, she belted 20 hits for a .267 batting average. Her total included three doubles and a triple, and she also executed four sacrifice bunts. She drew nine walks.

Ellison scored 17 runs and drove in 13. She had six stolen bases.

Pitcher Matzen notched 74 strikeouts in 68 innings, setting a school record of 1.58 strikeouts per inning for her career.

She had an earned-run average of 2.47 with a win-loss record of 8-4. She pitched five complete games.

When not on the mound, Matzen played second base. She had 18 putouts and 43 assists with only one error.

She had 79 at bats with 26 hits for a .329 average. Eight were doubles, one was a triple and three were home runs. She walked five times.

Matzen drove in 25 runs and scored 25 herself. She stole six bases and laid down nine sacrifice bunts.

Left fielder Nelson, who also played second base, was named Most Valuable Player of the Charger team.

Moved to the leadoff spot during the season, Nelson led the Chargers with 82 at bats. She notched 32 hits, including two doubles, for a batting average of .390. She struck out only twice but walked 15 times. Both were team bests.

Nelson tallied six sacrifice bunts and a team-best two sac flies.

She scored a team-high 33 runs. She had 12 RBIs. She swiped 10 bases.

On defense, Nelson had 33 putouts and 23 assists. She threw out five opponents trying to steal a base.

Taets excelled on the mound and at the plate, where she led the team with a .500 batting average on 38 hits in 76 at bats. Opposing pitchers walked her 10 times.

She showed plenty of power, launching 10 doubles, a triple and two home runs. 

Taets led the team in RBIs with 31, and she scored 14 runs.

She had six sacrifice bunts and a sac fly.

Taets pitched 52 innings, giving up 17 earned runs for an ERA?of 2.29. She had a 6-2 record with one save and four complete games. She struck out 55 while walking 15.

She had 14 putouts and 15 assists.

Center fielder Mitton hit .289 with 22 singles in 76 at bats. She drew 12 walks. 

She topped the Chargers with 27 runs and 11 stolen bases. She also made five sacrifice bunts.

In the field, Mitton recorded 16 outs and three assists.

Catcher Malmen batted .377 with 29 hits in 77 at bats. She banged out four home runs, tying

Maddie DePorter for the team lead. She also had eight doubles and a triple. She had 12 bases on balls.

She drove in 19 runs and scored 20. She had two sacrifice bunts and one sac fly.

On the All-Conference list from Farmington were seniors Kylee Staggs and Jorden Archdale, junior Ashley Beck and sophomore Lyndsay Stevens. All were unanimous selections.

Junior Andrea Wilhite was the only All-Conference selection from Knoxville.

Macomb senior Sandy Moore was a unanimous selection. Also on the All-Conference list was Sydni Horrell.

Senior Rachael Elliott of Monmouth-Roseville received unanimous support for All-Conference honors.

From Rockridge, the unanimous selections were seniors Makenzy Mueller and Kendell Brown, junior Jennifer Krueger and sophomore Gillian Goodwin.

Sherrard had two unanimous picks, juniors Ashley Parker and Kelly Hornick. Sophomore Tarran Shaffer also made the All-Conference team.

The honorable mention list included sophomore Chandler Horrell of Macomb, senior Mandy Alexander of Monmouth-Roseville, sophomores Emily Medinger and Taylor Seaba of Rockridge and Rebecca Patterson of Sherrard.