New Palestine’s Aglaia Rudd reacts after hitting a double against Plainfield.
Daily Reporter File Photo
HANCOCK COUNTY — The group that makes up the 2022 Daily Reporter All-Hancock County Softball Team is very talented.
It is very young, too.
Of the 13 player selected only four are seniors. With just three juniors, nearly one-half of the team is made up of first- or second-year high school players.
The players’ successes on the field led to strong seasons for their teams. All four county schools had winning records, finishing with a combined mark of 72-26-2.
Eastern Hancock won sectional and regional championships. New Palestine won 23 games before being knocked out in the sectional by eventual Class 4A state champion Roncalli. Mt. Vernon also reached a sectional championship game.
Here’s a look at the 2022 mix of veterans and newcomers that make up the all-county team.
IF: Allie Blum, New Palestine, sophomore
A Softball Coaches Association of Indiana (SCAI) second-team Class 3A/4A all-state selection, Blum was also one of three Dragons to make the All-Hoosier Heritage Conference team. The slick-fielding infielder was strong at the plate, too. Blum hit 12 home runs, had 39 RBI, and hit a solid .394.
OF: Emma Bolding, Eastern Hancock, junior
Part of the dynamic duo of Bolding sisters, the elder of the two hit .494 with three home runs, eight doubles, and 33 RBI. She was the only Royals player to solve North Posey ace Erin Hoehn in the semistate, getting both EH hits, including a seventh-inning homer to cut the deficit to 2-1.
IF: Sammie Bolding, Eastern Hancock, sophomore
The younger Bolding was an SCAI first-team all-stater for Class 1A/2A. She set a school record for home runs in a single season with 17 and is already the program’s all-time leader with 31. Overall, she hit .579, drove in 40, and scored 47 times. She stole 33 bases and was named to the All-Mid-Eastern Conference team.
P: Graci Hines, Mt. Vernon, freshman
What a season for the first-year high schooler. Hines was one of two Marauders named to the All-HHC team. She went 10-6 with a 1.45 ERA. The rookie struck out 127 batters in 106 innings. She was strong offensively, hitting .368 with three home runs, four doubles, and 15 RBI.
IF: Alaina Miller, New Palestine, senior
Miller has signed to play softball at the University of Illinois. She was an All-HHC choice and a member of the SCAI academic all-state team. The New Pal leadoff hitter had 11 doubles and finished with a .360 batting average.
UT: Shelby Rakosky, Mt. Vernon, sophomore
Moved to the shortstop position for her sophomore season — she played in the outfield as a freshman — Rakosky didn’t let a change of scenery on defense affect her performance at the plate. She hit a team-best .459 with 34 hits, 13 doubles, and 27 runs scored.
IF: Ella Redman, Greenfield-Central, senior
The G-C grad heading to University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, hit .459 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 37 RBI. She had 34 hits. The Cougars third baseman was one of two from her team named All-HHC.
C: Aglaia Rudd, New Palestine, junior
Rudd, who has already committed to Purdue Fort Wayne, not only hit a dazzling .506 against some of the top competition in the state, she did not strike out in 98 plate appearances. Another Dragon second-team all-stater, she had 15 doubles, seven home runs and 48 RBI. Rudd was also a member of the All-HHC team.
OF: Caroline Stapleton, Eastern Hancock, senior
Stapleton, who is going to play at the University of Southern Indiana, was a second-team SCAI all-state selection. The school’s all-time leader in triples (24), Stapleton hit .543 in her final season with the Royals. The All-MEC choice scored 47 runs and stole 38 bases.
P: Madison Stephens, Eastern Hancock, junior
Head coach Terry Stephens’ daughter had another great year in the circle. The All-MEC pitcher threw a perfect game in a conference win over Wapahani and added another league no-hitter in a victory over Monroe Central. She didn’t give up an earned run in any conference game. For the year, she was 15-3 and 8-0 in league contests. Stephens had a 2.00 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.
C: Easton Wampler, Mt. Vernon, sophomore
The All-HHC catcher hit .397 with a .735 slugging percentage. She had a team-best five home runs and 21 RBI. Wampler also had eight doubles, 27 total hits, and 16 runs scored.
OF: Brooklyn Willis, Eastern Hancock, sophomore
Willis joined Stapleton as an SCAI second-team all-state choice. She hit .519 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. One of five All-MEC selections on the Royals roster, Willis added 42 runs, nine doubles, and 27 stolen bases.
IF: Megan Wineinger, Greenfield-Central, senior
Wineinger, who is headed to play at the University of Indianapolis, was a member of the South team in the SCAI North-South All-Star game. She performed well with and against the state’s best by going 1-for-3 with a triple and run scored. She had a strong final regular season, too. The Cougar infielder hit .506 with three doubles, 16 RBI and 36 runs scores. She led G-C with nine stolen bases.
Friday’s Daily Reporter wraps up another campaign of local high school softball coverage with the announcement of the 2022 player and coach of the year.
