The Daily Star All-Star teams for the 2009 softball season.
DAILY STAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jessie Winans, Afton junior shortstop
Dynamic athlete earned Daily Star Player of the Year honors for the fourth straight year and was named the state's Class D Player of the Year for the second straight season. ... Batted .533 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in leading Crimson Knights to 26-3 record that included 7-4 victory over Batavia Notre Dame in Class D state final June 13 at Waterloo High. ... "The time she's put into it is a huge factor," Afton coach Cindy Bostelman said. ... Also a standout field hockey player and a sixth-team all-state selection as a guard in basketball this past season. ... Already has numerous offers from Division I colleges for softball.
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
Cindy Bostelman, Afton, 26-3, 21st season
Earned Daily Star Coach of the Year honors for 11th time. ... Steered Crimson Knights to 15th consecutive Section Four Class D title with a come-from-behind, 9-4 victory over Deposit in final and helped Afton earn first state title since 2002 with a 7-4 victory over Batavia Notre Dame on June 13 at Waterloo High. ... Has 336-64 record since sectional streak began in 1995, including five state championships. ... "You don't realize how much she's done until you realize the history behind it," Daily Star Player of the Year Jessie Winans said. "It's incredible." ... Will take over as Crimson Knights' field hockey coach this fall.
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
Randy Brockway, Oneonta, 13-9, third season
Took Yellowjackets to heights unprecedented in program history, winning eight games in the ever-tough Southern Tier Athletic Conference. ... Season included 2-1 victory over defending Class B state champion Windsor and 3-1 victory over six-time Class B state champion Susquehanna Valley, the latter coming in a Section Four Class B quarterfinal that marked Oneonta's first playoff victory since 1997. ... Starting lineup included two eighth-graders, one freshman, two sophomores and three juniors. ... Has overseen the development of third-year starting pitcher Lesley Harlem, who became the first OHS player to earn all-state honors (fifth team in Class B) in 2009.
DAILY STAR FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Lesley Harlem, Oneonta junior pitcher
Daily Star first-teamer for third straight year helped Yellowjackets to arguably their best season. ... "I think she went from average last year to one of the strongest pitchers in STAC," OHS coach Randy Brockway of Harlem, who threw a perfect game against Sidney and a no-hitter against Norwich in back-to-back games in mid-May. ... "We rode her arm a long way." ... Went 13-9 with a 1.39 ERA, striking out 187 and walking 24. ... Earned fifth-team all-state honors in Class B. ... Started at guard for Oneonta's 25-1 basketball team, which advanced to Class B state title game.
Erin Wolstenholme, Oneonta sophomore catcher
Powerful clean-up hitter finished with .422 batting average, five triples, three doubles and one home run. ... "She's absolutely one of the best athletes on the team," OHS coach Randy Brockway said of Wolstenholme, who drove in 17 runs and scored 11. "People underestimate her speed. She has a strong arm and a super strong swing at the plate." ... Doubled and scored in Yellowjackets' 3-1 Section Four Class B quarterfinal victory at Susquehanna Valley on June 2 _ Oneonta's first sectional win in 12 years. ... Key reserve on Oneonta's 25-1 basketball team.
Katie Bredin. Oneonta junior shortstop
Speedy, left-handed leadoff hitter led Yellowjackets in batting average (.451) and stolen bases (11). ... "She's just a kid with pure speed," OHS coach Randy Brockway said. "We switched her around three years ago as a slap-and-drag hitter and she's really taken off with it. Once she makes contact, she can beat most throws." ... Had a torrid stretch early in the season, going 11-for-13. ... Improved arm strength helped her at shortstop. "She has a stronger arm and she stops a lot of balls that should make it to the outfield." ... Reserve guard helped Jackets basketball team to appearance in Class B state final.
Krista Baxter, Downsville sophomore pitcher
Third-team Class D all-state pick combined with Kendra Deno on no-hitter against Morris on May 6 and threw three one-hitters in leading Eagles to 18-3 season. ... Struck out 145 and walked 21 over 120 innings en route to a 0.64 ERA. ... "She gained a little bit of speed, but she also gained more pitches," Downsville coach Jeff Baier said of Baxter's second year in the circle. "She added a drop and a curve to her change-up and fastball." ... Standout in soccer and basketball also batted .265 with 29 runs and 15 RBIs. ... "Krista is just a great athlete," Baier said. "She had more confidence this year."
Danielle Gravel, Sidney junior pitcher
Threw perfect game against Unatego in a 9-0 victory April 30 _ her first varsity no-hitter. ... "She's grown as a player," Sidney coach Mike Brazee said of Gravel, who earned her second straight Daily Star First-Team honor. "She used to get frustrated if she didn't get a call or walked somebody and thought it was the end of the world. Now, she understands she has the tools to get out of the situation." ... Fourth-year pitcher went 12-8 with 1.26 ERA. ... Also led team in hitting with .588 average that included 13 runs and 11 RBIs against Midstate Athletic Conference Division I teams. ... Standout in soccer and basketball as well.
Anna Sams, Cooperstown sophomore pitcher
Second-year starter earned Daily Star First-Team honors for second straight season, going 12-7 with a 2.26 ERA. ... Right-hander struck out 182 and walked 27 in 127 innings. ... Held opposing batters to .199 average. ... "She pitched inside a lot better and challenged hitters," said Cooperstown coach Dave Bliss, adding that Sams probably added 5 mph to her fastball from her freshman season. "She backed them off the plate. Last year, she was a little afraid to come inside." ... Threw five-hitter with 11 strikeouts in Cooperstown's season-ending, 3-2 loss to Little Falls in Section Three Class C-1 semifinal May 31.
Ashley Winans, Afton senior pitcher
Two-time Daily Star First Team All-Star became first Afton pitcher to win a state title in her first season in the circle. ... A second-team all-state selection as a first baseman in 2008, Winans switched to pitcher this past season and went 23-2 with a 1.15 ERA. ... Struck out 248 and walked 45. ... Threw no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Sidney on May 5. ... Also batted .299 with 21 RBIs as clean-up hitter. ... "She knew at the end of Morgan's senior season and she didn't have a doubt in her mind," Afton coach Cindy Bostelman of Winans taking over in the circle for three-year starter Morgan Muller.
Jennifer Boudreau, Afton senior center fielder
Second-year starter hit .337 with four home runs, four doubles, four triples and 23 RBIs in helping Crimson Knights to 26-3 record that included Class D state championship. ... Of her increased power numbers, Afton coach Cindy Bostelman said: "She ran indoor track this winter. You have to contribute some of that to (Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton track coach) Robb Munro. She had speed and body control and a lot of that came together from indoor track." ... Threw a runner out at home during Afton's 7-4 victory over Batavia Notre Dame in Class D state final. ... Looking to play next season for Broome Community College.
Stephanie Parsons, Afton junior second baseman
A varsity player since the seventh-grade, Parsons batted .253 with four triples, three doubles and one home run. ... Fractured ring finger on her left hand during Afton's 1-0 victory over Stockbridge Valley in a Class D state quarterfinal. ... "She went to the doctor and he said there's not a darn thing you can do about it," Afton coach Cindy Bostelman said. "Do what you want. Do what's tolerable." ... Despite the injury, Parsons went 4-for-8 in state semifinal and final to help Afton to seventh state championship. ... Speedy infielder used range to take away numerous hits. ... Bostelman said she also could retreat to the outfield to get shallow flyballs.
Stephanie Sherman, Afton junior left fielder
Left-handed slap-hitter struggled for much of regular season but came through in postseason. ... In a 9-4 victory over Deposit in the Section Four Class D title game, Sherman went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. ... Also scored in Afton's 1-0 state quarterfinal victory over Stockbridge Valley and had a hit and scored in 7-4 victory over Batavia Notre Dame in the state final. ... "She was way better at the end of the year because of her approach to the ball," Afton coach Cindy Bostelman said. ... Finished with four triples, two doubles and 24 runs as Afton's leadoff batter.
DAILY STAR SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Jayme Bentley, jr., Schenevus
Heather Davie, jr., Roxbury
Sawyer Graham, jr., Cooperstown
Jordyn Hillis, sr., Jefferson
Susanna Johnson, jr., Edmeston
Kaz Nero, sr., Franklin
Kaitlyn O'Connor, jr., Oneonta
Gabby Skillen, sr., Milford
Kayla Thorn, sr., Milford
Sienna Wisse, soph., Oneonta
DAILY STAR HONORABLE MENTIONS
Katie Bedford, Jefferson
Jordan Beers, Franklin
Jayme Bentley, Schenevus
Jessica Caputo, Gilboa
Savannah Crowley, Cherry Valley-Springfield
Josie Elwell, Delhi
Erica Faulkner, Margaretville
Kailee Granger, Afton
Stephanie Hascup, Cooperstown
Stephanie Havens, Unatego
Christa Jennings, Walton
Cassie McMullen, South Kortright
Rachel Meckes, Roxbury
Stephanie Meno, Sidney
Rachel Mugford, Unatego
Marion Murphy, Schenevus
Holley Reynolds, Walton
Lauren Rider, Davenport
Chelsi Rosa, Bainbridge-Guilford
Mechia Scott, Laurens
Jessie Terrano, Franklin
Allison Townsend, Downsville
Amy Van Etten, Hunter-Tannersville
Breanne White, Unadilla Valley
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