Young Named Most Valuable Player, Chance Coach of Year & 11 Grizzlies named All-Conference
The Butler Grizzlies wrapped up the Region VI title with a win over Seward in the tournament championship in Dodge City on Friday, the sixth consecutive time they have won the region title, and they wrapped up their 11th straight conference championship with two wins over Garden City to close out the regular season last weekend. That dominance was reflected in the All Conference honors that were released on Monday afternoon, as head coaach Doug Chance was awarded Co-Coach of the Year Honors and eleven players were named to the All KJCCC team, with Madi Young being named Most Valuable Player.
Madi Young (Derby, KS), Emily Adler (Rose Hill, KS), Ari Cordova (Fort Collins, CO), Gianna De Luca-Paape (San Diego, CA), Alex Olson (Olathe, KS), Allyson Montgomery (Goddard, KS) and Emma Koeneke (Platte City, MO) were all named to the first team, with Reese Briggs (Waco, TC) and Paige Paxton (Derby, KS) receiving second team honors. Rounding out the award winners for the Grizzlies were Mariah Wheeler (Derby, KS) and Amber Howe (Wichita, KS) who received Honorable Mention.
Madi Young, arguably the most distinguished player in Butler softball history, ended her extended career in El Dorado with a stellar season being named Jayhawk Conference Most Valuable Player. Coming off a sophomore year that saw her win the NFCA Golden Shoe award and be named First Team All-American, Young finished things off by being undoubtedly the best player in the conference. Her .569 batting average leads the country, and she also leads the nation in doubles with 27, including 19 in conference play. She led the conference in stolen bases with 44, being caught just three times. She was also ranked first in the conference in runs, hits, and triples, as well as finishing third in the league in home runs, with 13, and second in RBIs, with 63. She even lead the conference in walks, with 35.
Close behind her was Emily Adler, who represents the Grizzlies as the best second baseman in the conference. Adler was second behind Young in On Base Percentage, and she was 4th in the league in RBIs with 58. She knocked in six home runs and her three triples was good enough for seventh in the league.
Third in the conference in RBIs behind Young and Adler was third baseman Ari Cordova, who batted in 61 runs including 11 home runs, good for seventh in the conference. She ranked 10th in doubles, with 14, and eighth in total bases, with 104.
Gianna De Luca-Paape came to the Grizzlies from Trinidad (CO) after hitting two home runs against Butler in the District tournament last season, and she was a welcome addition to the team, as the sophomore outfielder was ninth in the KJCCC in home runs with 10, and finished with an average of .374 with 34 RBIs.
Alex Olson was recognized as the league's best designated player, bringing power to Doug Chance's lineup whenever it was needed. Her 12 home runs was good enough for sixth in the league, and her batting average was a remarkable .490. She knocked in 43 RBIs and scored 42 runs of her own, playing in all 46 games.
If there was any uncertainty for Doug Chance this offseason, it was pitching. The Grizzlies were tasked with replacing their entire pitching staff from the team that went to the national tournament in Yuma last season, but Emma Koeneke and Allyson Montgomery's spectacular freshman seasons made it easier. Emma racked up a dominating 24-1 record this season in her first year at Butler, with an ERA of only 1.43 in an incredible 97.2 innings, totaling 151 strikeouts, which lead the league, and 10.82 strikeouts per game, good enough for third. Teammate Allyson Montgomery also had a stellar freshman campaign with a perfect record of 21 wins and zero losses. Montgomery has pitched 84 innings allowing just 21 runs on the season with 141 strikeouts which is fifth most in the KJCCC among pitchers. She carries an ERA of 1.75 and had it sub one for most of the season.
Reese Briggs, Paige Paxton, Mariah Wheeler and Amber Howe rounded out the honors. Briggs, in her freshman year, was ranked third in homers, with 13, and also earned a batting average of .411, knocking in 46 RBIs. Paxton also had a strong freshman season, amassing a .395 batting average and totaling 51 hits, striking out only four times in 147 plate appearances. Wheeler, a sophomore, earned a .400 batting average and knocked in seven home runs, good for 20th in the conference. Howe, who caught 24 games this season for the Grizzlies, was a solid presence behind the dish. She finished regular season with 153 putouts on 159 chances with six assists and no errors. At the plate, Howe hit .340 with a homerun and nine RBI's.
Doug Chance was awarded coach of the year, the 13th time he has received the honor, winning his 11th straight KJCCC title, 14th overall in his 18th year as head coach of the Grizzlies, carrying a 44-2 record into the District Tournament.
2022 KJCCC DIV. I SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS