The Daily Item

Eleven Valley softball players were named to the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association all-state team Tuesday, including four first-team selections.

Shikellamy’s Ella Oakes, Shamokin’s Autumn Kehler and Ava Hughes, and Lourdes Regional’s Gabby Dusendschine were first-team picks. Second-team honorees were Mifflinburg’s Brooke Gessner and Amelia Fluman, Warrior Run’s Maura Woland, Midd-West’s Miley Beachel and Cali Sauers, and Shikellamy’s Sydney Sinko.

The PAHSSBCA committee had nearly 700 nominations by high school coaches and media members statewide, and it selected first and second teams across six classifications.

In Class 5A, Oakes was a first-team pick in the outfield, while Sinko was a second-team catcher.

Oakes hit .441 with a team-high 26 RBIs for the Braves. She scored 20 runs and hiy four homers this season, finishing her career with 103 hits.

Sinko hit .593 this season for the Braves, highlighted by a stretch of 26 hits in her first 36 at-bats. A four-year starter for the Braves, she graduated with 111 career hits.

In Class 4A, Kehler was a first-team honoree as a utility player. She hit .526 with 30 hits, and drove in 28 runs while hitting three homers. Hughes was a first-team catcher after hitting .518 with 24 RBIs for the Indians.

Midd-West had two second-team honorees in 4A. Beachel was honored at pitcher after she struck out 165 in 65 innings to finish her career with more than 400 strikeouts. Beachel also hit .467 out of the leadoff spot for the Mustangs, with 23 runs scored. Sauer, a second-team utility player, drove in 17 runs and hit .439 for Midd-West.

In Class 3A, Dusendschine was one of three first-team first basemen. The recent graduate hit .543 with three homers and drove in 25 runs for the Red Raiders.

Adams was a second-team honoree as a utility player for Lourdes, having batted .511 on 24 hits.

Gessner was a second-team pick at catcher. She hit .516 this season for Mifflinburg, knocking in 23 runs and scoring 32 runs more while also stealing 14 bases. Fluman was a second-team selection at shortstop. She hit .510 with 25 hits and 28 runs scored for the Wildcats.

Woland was also a second-team shortstop, batting .500 with three homers and 20 RBIs for Warrior Run.