Four Pleasant Hill players named to Class 1A all-state team; Central’s Miller, QND’s Bunte, two from Liberty also honored

QUINCY — Four players who helped the Pleasant Hill softball team reach a sectional championship game for the first time in school history recently received all-state honors.

Senior pitcher McKinley Lowe and junior outfielder and pitcher Ava Wombles each made the Illinois Coaches Association Class 1A all-state first team.

Lowe tossed three no-hitters and carried a perfect game into the seventh inning in the Wolves’ 1-0 loss to Illini Bluffs in the Glasford Sectional title game. She started 24 games in the circle and posted a 1.29 ERA and 271 strikeouts in 141 ⅓ innings. She also batted .407 at the plate with a .615 slugging percentage, three home runs, and 30 RBI.

Wombles hit .570 with 53 hits, nine doubles, five triples, six home runs, 36 RBI, and 47 runs scored. She also pitched to the tune of a 1.58 ERA and struck out 95 batters in 53 ⅓ innings. 

Senior first baseman Jade Peebles made the second team, and senior catcher Makenna Winchell earned a spot on the third team. Peebles hit .423 with 44 hits, 15 doubles, 4 triples. 23 RBI, and 36 runs. Winchell batted .312 with 6 home runs, 28 RBI, and 23 runs.

Camp Point Central junior pitcher and infielder Lauren Miller was named to the Class 1A second team. Miller posted a .364 batting average with a .576 slugging percentage, 24 hits, six doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI, and 20 runs. She made eight pitching appearances and had a 2.10 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Two Liberty battery mates made the Class 1A third team. Freshman pitcher Chandler John tossed 137 innings with a 3.68 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and 11 wins. Junior catcher Ally Lefringhouse hit .337 with six doubles, 22 RBI, and 20 runs.

In Class 2A, Quincy Notre Dame junior pitcher Caitlin Bunte was named to the second team. Bunte started 18 games, pitched 128 ⅔ innings, and posted a 16-3 record, a 1.20 ERA and 219 strikeouts.