Hornettes Hand Out Awards
Sophie Heck was named Most Improved Player, Mackenzie McFeron was named Team MVP, Top Offensive Player, and finished with the Top Batting Average, Alli Liske was given the Hornette Award. Not Pictured: Paige Kasten was given the Top Defensive Player Award.
After a season in which the Nashville Hornettes softball team finished with a 22-14 record and won a Regional Championship, the Hornettes handed out end of season awards on Monday June 26.
Mackenzie McFeron, Paige Kasten, Sophie Heck, and Alli Liske all received individual awards voted on by the players and the coaches. All-State, All-South, and All-Conference members were also recognized at the banquet.
This year’s Team MVP was given to McFeron. McFeron was the Hornettes primary shortstop this season, and led off for Nashville in each of the Hornettes 36 games this season. McFeron led the Hornettes with 139 plate appearances, 127 at-bats, a .591 batting average, an on-base-percentage of .623, an OPS of 1.379, 75 hits, 65 singles, five triples, 62 runs, and 62 stolen bases. McFeron also was given awards for the top batting average this season, and the Top Offensive Player Award. McFeron was also named First Team All-State, All-South, and First Team All-Conference.
Kasten was given the Top Defensive Player Award at the banquet. Kasten began the season at second base, before switching across the diamond to third for the stretch run. Kasten scored 23 runs for Nashville this season, drove in 25, and was tied for second on the team with ten stolen bases.
Heck was named the Most Improved Player at the banquet. Heck led Nashville with eight home runs this season, a .759 slugging percentage, and was second on the team with 10 doubles, four triples, and 34 RBIs. Heck finished with a .337 batting average this season. Heck was also named First Team All-Conference, and Third Team All-State.
Liske was given the Hornette Award at the Banquet. Liske the only senior on the Hornettes this season, began the year in the circle with a no-hitter, but played the majority of the season at first base. Liske, a McKendree University recruit, led the Hornettes at the plate with 23 walks this season. Liske was tied for second on the team with six home runs on the season. Liske batted at a .316 clip this season, and finished with 27 RBIs on the season. Liske was also named Second Team All-Conference this season.
Nashville finished with more All-Conference players than any other team this season. Besides McFeron and Heck, Karly Stanowski was also named First Team All-Conference. Stanowski was also named Third Team All-State, and named All-South. Players who joined Liske on the Second Team All-Conference were Kyleigh Guinzy, Brooke Burcham, and Jenna Harris.
Olivia Cook, Addi Gale, Guinzy, Taylor Rapp each received their Varsity Letters at the banquet. Kasten, Libby Ahlers, Burcham, Brooke Bartling, Heck, Harris, McFeron, Liske, Jordan Stiegman, Bailey Melton, Jenna McClintock, Stanowski, Joey Lane, and Hayley Kujawa each received pins.
