Richland, Walla Walla softball players dominate all-MCC first team
Seniors Stephanie Merwin of Richland and Brandi Schoessler of Walla Walla were named the Mid-Columbia Conference softball co-players of the year.
Merwin, a third baseman who entered Monday’s Class 4A regional title game batting .532 (41-for-77) and led the Bombers with seven triples, eight home runs, 42 RBIs and 40 runs scored, is bound for Oregon State.
Schoessler, a two-time all-MCC first-team pitcher, has signed a letter of intent to play next year at Walla Walla Community College.
First-year Wa-Hi coach Arch McHie was voted as the coach of the year. The Blue Devils tied with Richland for the MCC regular-season title, then beat Richland in a tiebreaker for district seeding and in the district title game.
Six Bombers and five Blue Devils made the first team. The only non-Richland or Walla Walla player to appear on the first team was Hanford junior designated hitter Danyelle Moore.
Co-Players of the Year: Stephanie Merwin, sr., 3B, Richland, and Brandi Schoessler, sr., P, Walla Walla. Coach of the Year: Arch McHie, Walla Walla. Co-league champions: Walla Walla and Richland.
First team
1B: Emily Garza, fr., Richland; 2B: Miranda Camacho, so., Richland; 3B: Stephanie Merwin, sr., Richland; SS: Faith Hoe, so., Walla Walla; C: Paige Liikala, sr., Richland; OF: Lauren Hoe, so., Walla Walla; Kelsea Hinkley, sr., Richland; Josie Sweet, jr., Walla Walla; DH: Danyelle Moore, jr., Hanford; UTL: Mattie Johnson, jr., Walla Walla; P: Brandi Andrews, so., Richland; Brandi Schoessler, sr., Walla Walla.
Second team
1B: Tara Krivoshein, jr., Walla Walla; 2B: Lynsie Miracle, fr., Kamiakin; 3B: MoniQue Maldonado, sr., Chiawana; SS: Brittney Yocom, sr., Southridge; C: Mikaela Forcum, so., Walla Walla; OF: Madison Matthews, so., Kamiakin; Julia Cantu, so., Chiawana; Emma Sweet, jr., Walla Walla; DH: Baylei Ozuna, so., Richland; UTL: Andria Skeels, so., Kamiakin; P: Kamryn Coleman, so., Walla Walla; Annalisa McKinney, fr., Chiawana.
Honorable mention
1B: Kami Bengen, jr., Chiawana; SS: Natalie Giroux, sr., Richland; C: Marivel Macias, jr., Kennewick; OF: AyJay Mulholland, jr., Kamiakin; Adie Luchi, so., Richland; Julianne Hammond, jr., Southridge; UTL: Selina Atkinson, jr., Walla Walla; P: Andria Skeels, so., Kamiakin; Mya Moore, fr., Hanford.
This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Richland, Walla Walla softball players dominate all-MCC first team."