With six .500-or-better hitters, six double-digit home run hitters, eight all-staters, and 13 all-conference players, the 2023 Daily Reporter All-Hancock County Softball Team is loaded with talented players.
Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine all played .500 or better softball, too. The teams combined for a 76-32 (70.4 winning percentage) mark. Eastern Hancock won the outright title with an undefeated season in the Mid-Eastern Conference, while New Palestine shared the top spot with Shelbyville for first place in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
Eastern Hancock (21-7) and New Palestine (23-5) each won over 20 games and reached their respective sectional championships. Unfortunately for both, they were defeated in the battle for the title.
With four of the county’s eight all-state players, Eastern Hancock head coach Terry Stephens is the Daily Reporter Hancock County Coach of the Year
A Class 2A program, the Royals often punched above their weight. Three of their seven losses were to Class 4A teams. They beat some of those 4A clubs, too. Their four Class 2A losses included a pair of extra-inning ballgames, and a one-run setback. They played a lot of those games without injured batting average leader Brooklyn Willis, one of the team’s all-state players.
The Hancock County Softball Athlete of the Year will be announced tomorrow.
Here’s a look at the 2023 team:
OF: Emma Bolding, Eastern Hancock
A four-year varsity veteran, Bolding, who has signed to play for NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State, was named second team all-state by the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana and was selected All-Mid-Eastern Conference. She hit 11 home runs, drove in 36 and hit .427 on the season.
IF: Sammie Bolding, Eastern Hancock
Still just a junior, the younger Bolding is a first-team all-stater for the second straight season. The Royals shortstop hit .531 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs. Bolding also stole 29 bases and had a 1.209 slugging percentage.
IF: Allie Blum, New Palestine
Another underclass star, Blum, the Dragons shortstop, has already verbally committed to the University of Kentucky. This past season the second-team all-stater was not just one of the state’s top defensive players, she hit well, too. Blum had a .447 batting average with team highs in home runs (9) and RBIs (40).
OF: Camille Burelison, Greenfield-Central
Committed to play at the University of Southern Indiana, Burelison hit both for average and power. In her senior season with the Cougars, the second-team all-stater hit .505 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs.
IF: Paige Ernstes, New Palestine
Another New Pal underclassman headed to the SEC, Ernstes, the Dragons third baseman, has verbally committed to Mississippi State. In her junior season, she hit .432 with six home runs and 28 RBIs.
C: Kaylee Kline, Eastern Hancock
The talented Royals backstop was selected third team all-state by the SCAI. She hit .472 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs. Four of the home runs came in the Union County Sectional. She is headed to play softball at Danville Area Community College.
OF: Syd Oliver, New Palestine
Oliver made a number of big plays defensively in right field, but she came through at the plate, too.
Headed to the University of Indianapolis, Oliver had the second best batting average for the Dragons at .486. She also scored 28 runs.
IF: Shelby Rakosky, Mt. Vernon
Another member of the .500-plus, double-digit homers and all-state club, Rakosky batted .506 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs. She hit 11 doubles and was named third team Class 4A all-state by the coaches association.
OF: Olivia Roberts, Greenfield-Central
Roberts was another senior slugger for the Cougars. An All-HHC selection, she walloped 11 home runs and hit .386. She added eight doubles and 32 RBIs. She has committed to play at Butler University.
C: Aglaia Rudd, New Palestine
Headed to Purdue Fort Wayne, Rudd hit an eye-popping .573 and fanned only one time in 113 plate appearances. She was selected first team all-state and played in the North-South All-Star Series. Rudd hit 14 doubles, two triples and five home runs and drove in 28 from the Dragons’ leadoff spot. Additionally, she had a 1.000 fielding percentage.
P: Madison Stephens, Eastern Hancock
Daughter of head coach Terry Stephens, Madison wrapped up her high school senior season with a 15-3 record and 2.48 earned run average. An All-MEC choice, Madison had 138 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings pitched. She will be joining her classmate and catcher, Kline, at Danville Area Community College.
P: Courtney Study, New Palestine
What a spring for the New Palestine junior. Along with being the Dragons’ ace in the circle, Study was one of the top distance runners for the school’s track and field team. In softball, Study went 16-2 with a 2.80 ERA. She threw 117 innings.
C: Easton Wampler, Mt. Vernon
A three-year varsity starter and still just a junior, Wampler was part of the 1-2 power punch in the Marauders lineup. An All-HHC selection, Wampler, like teammate Rakosky, had 12 home runs and 37 RBIs. She hit .421.
IF: Josie White, Greenfield-Central
The only sophomore on the all-county team, White showed she’s not too young to hit. She led the Cougars in batting average at .530. She hit four doubles, three triples, two home runs and scored 27 runs.
OF: Brooklyn Willis, Eastern Hancock
A junior already committed to the University of Indianapolis, Willis is coming off a sensational junior season, even though she missed a couple of weeks of action due to injury. Willis still hit a whopping .569 and was named Class 2A second team all-state by the SCAI. In addition to a strong batting average, Willis had seven home runs and 26 RBIs.
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2023 Daily Reporter All-Hancock County Softball Team
Pos.;Player, School;Class
P;Madison Stephens, Eastern Hancock;Sr.
P;Courtney Study, New Palestine;Jr.
C;Kaylee Kline, Eastern Hancock;Sr.
C;Aglaia Rudd, New Palestine;Sr.
C;Easton Wampler, Mt. Vernon;Jr.
IF;Sammie Bolding, Eastern Hancock;Jr.
IF;Allie Blum, New Palestine;Jr.
IF;Paige Ernstes, New Palestine;Jr.
IF;Shelby Rakosky, Mt. Vernon;Jr.
IF;Josie White, Greenfield-Central;So.
OF;Emma Bolding, Eastern Hancock;Sr.
OF;Camille Burelison;Greenfield-Central;Sr.
OF;Syd Oliver, New Palestine;Jr.
OF;Olivia Roberts, Greenfield-Central;Sr.
OF;Brooklyn Willis, Eastern Hancock;Jr.
Coach of the Year;Terry Stephens, Eastern Hancock
Honorable mention: Eastern Hancock – Lili Ringer, Grace Stapleton. Greenfield-Central – Faith Butler, Kristen Wineinger. Mt. Vernon – Drew Fithian. New Palestine – Alyssa Mumaw.
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2023 Daily Reporter Spring Sports Honors
Sport;Athlete of the Year;Coach of the Year
Girls tennis;Kylie Brandes, Mt. Vernon;Gabe Muterspaugh, Mt. Vernon
Girls track;Savannah Lake, Greenfield-Central;Brian Williams, Mt. Vernon
Girls field;Riley Nielsen, Mt. Vernon
Boys track;George Burhenn, Mt. Vernon;Nick Clarkson, Mt. Vernon
Boys field;Elliot Ryba, Greenfield-Central
Baseball;Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine;Shawn Lyons, New Palestine
Softball;Coming Thursday;Terry Stephens, Eastern Hancock
Boys golf;Coming soon;Coming soon
Boys volleyball;Coming soon
Note: The Daily Reporter selected one overall track and field coach of the year for girls and boys, but picked separate athletes of the year, one for track and one for field events.
