4 local softball players earn all-state honors

Four local softball players from three area schools earned all-state honors Saturday night, as decided by the Pennsylvania Softball Coaching Association.

The 2017 PSBCA All-State squads were broken into three teams: Class A/2A, Class 3A/4A and Class 5A/6A. Bellefonte led the way locally with two selections (pitcher Tara Baney, extra player Alexis Wetzler), while two other schools had one selection apiece — Philipsburg-Osceola (outfielder Madison Lucas) and State College (outfielder Kayla Hawbaker).

Each team consisted of 10 players — one pitcher, one catcher, four infielders, four outfielders — in addition to 1-2 “extra players” that operated as utility spots. Players had to be formally nominated by coaches or media to be considered.

The Lady Red Raiders were one of just seven teams statewide to have more than one player selected.

Baney struck out 143 batters in 139  2/3 innings. She boasted a 1.2 ERA and scattered just 76 hits. Wetzler finished with a .395 batting average, drove in 23 runs and struck out just three times in 86 at-bats.

P-O’s Lucas was even more impressive at the plate. She struck out just twice during the regular season and, heading into the state semifinal, was batting .565. The Lady Little Lions’ Hawbaker helped guide her team past an 8-12 record in the regular season and to a District 6 championship.

This story was originally published July 2, 2017 at 5:21 PM with the headline "4 local softball players earn all-state honors."