Central’s Peters, Pleasant Hill’s Wombles lead brigade of all-state softball players

QUINCY — Camp Point Central senior second baseman Karly Peters made it nearly impossible for opposing pitchers to keep her off the basepaths.

Meanwhile, Pleasant Hill senior Ava Wombles didn’t allow her full-time move to the pitcher’s circle impact her offensive numbers in any way.

It’s how the two area softball standouts ended up earning Class 1A first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. There are 14 area players honored by the ICA with inclusion on one of three all-state teams in each class.

Peters, who has signed to play basketball at Quincy University, was one of the area’s preeminent leadoff hitters. She opened the season by reaching base safely in 10 consecutive at-bats and strung together a 14-game hitting streak. She recorded at least one hit in 21 of the Panthers’ 24 games and had 15 multi-hit games.

She finished the season hitting .607 with 38 runs scored, 33 RBIs, 12 doubles, five triples and four home runs as the Panthers went 16-8.

Wombles, who has signed to play softball at Saint Louis University, fashioned a 1.98 ERA in 23 appearances and struck out 197 over 141 ⅓ innings. Offensively, she hit .492 with eight doubles, five triples, one home run and 14 RBIs. She scored 43 runs, struck out just three times while drawing 24 walks, and stole 20 bases.

She helped the Wolves finish 15-10 and was part of 67 victories the last three seasons.

Quincy Notre Dame senior Caitlin Bunte was one of six players to earn second-team all-state honors, doing so in Class 2A. Bunte, who has signed with the University of Indianapolis, received all-state plaudits for the third consecutive year.

As the Raiders’ leadoff hitter, Bunte was a threat to get on base or clear the bases. The left-handed hitter batted .596 with 62 hits, including 13 doubles, seven triples and a QND single-season record 14 home runs. She scored 54 runs and drove in 52 runs.

In the pitcher’s circle, Bunte went 13-4 with four saves, a 1.30 ERA and 204 strikeouts.

Earning second-team all-state honors in Class 1A were Liberty senior catcher Ally Lefringhouse, Liberty sophomore pitcher Chandler John, Camp Point Central senior shortstop Lauren Miller, Pleasant Hill senior catcher Makenna Winchell and Western senior catcher Rachel McMullen.

Lefringhouse hit .340 with seven doubles, six home runs and 30 RBIs. Defensively, she did not commit an error and threw out 11 would-be base stealers. John went 19-5 with one save and a 2.81 ERA in 28 appearances. She struck out 127 batters.

Miller hit .351 with 19 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples and two home runs. Winchell hit .328 with four doubles, four triples and three home runs to go with 21 RBIs. She also threw out six would-be base stealers. McMullen hit .434 with 29 runs scored, 14 doubles and one home run. She threw out 16 would-be base stealers.

Six area players earned third-team all-state honors.

In Class 2A, QND senior infielder Alyssa Ley hit .391 with 36 runs and 28 RBIs. In Class 1A, Camp Point Central senior outfielder Claire Huston hit .338 with 28 runs scored, 15 RBIs and eight doubles, while Central junior outfielder Anna Peters hit .384 with 25 runs scored and 29 RBIs.

Liberty junior infielder Anna Dietrich hit .407 with 28 runs scored, 26 RBIs and eight doubles, while Liberty sophomore outfielder Andi Mixer hit .392 with 39 runs scored, 28 RBIs, 11 doubles and five home runs. Western freshman utility player Sophie Rennecker hit .347 with 21 runs scored, 15 RBIs and nine doubles, while winning six games in the circle with a 2.68 ERA and 96 strikeouts.