Skip to main content

2016 Lebanon Daily News All-County Softball Team


There wasn't an abundance of team success for Lebanon County softball in 2016, but there were plenty of individual standouts, as evidenced by the All-County selections.

Admittedly, it wasn't a banner season for Lebanon County scholastic softball.

Only one of the county's seven teams - Annville-Cleona - qualified for any postseason play and A-C ended up going 0-2 in those playoff appearances.

However, don't get the idea that there wasn't any talent to be found on the diamond this spring. Far from it.

Though substantial team success proved elusive, there were still plenty of moments of individual brilliance to be seen. Particularly from the 13 players who make up the 2016 Lebanon Daily News All-County Softball Team.

Let's take a quick look at this year's team and all that they accomplished.

We begin with Annville-Cleona, which leads with three first team picks - senior pitcher Emma Lerchen, junior catcher Amber Rexrode and junior shortstop Morgan Zimmerman.

A-C gained a share of the Lancaster-Lebanon Section Four title and qualified for the L-L and District Three Class AA playoffs due in large part to the efforts of Lerchen, the workhorse ace pitcher for a second straight season.

Rexrode, meanwhile, was Lerchen's steady batterymate behind the plate and the cleanup hitter of A-C's balanced lineup. Zimmerman, who doubled as a sprinter for the school's track team, was the table-setter for that lineup, igniting the offense with her speed from the leadoff spot.

The honor of the county's unofficial best all-around player went to Cedar Crest senior pitcher Maddie Gable, who is joined on the first team by Falcon first baseman Ashley Maulfair.

Gable was a force on the mound and at the plate for the 9-11 Falcons, striking out 135 in 129 innings on the mound while posting a 2,89 earned-run average. At the plate, Gable pounded the ball at a .433 clip, with nine doubles and 12 RBIs.

Maulfair was also formidable with a bat in her hands, hitting .344 with five doubles and 15 RBIs for head coach Eric Edwards' club.

Elco endured its share of struggles in 2016, but also had some bright moments courtesy of all-county first teamers Amaya Phillips and Beth Wiczalkowski.

Phillips, a sophomore pitcher/third baseman, showed promise on the mound but did her best work at the plate, hitting .402 and driving in 26 runs in 19 games. Wiczalkowski, a senior outfielder, was also a highly productive offensive player, hitting .477 and stealing 18 bases in 19 games.

Lebanon went just 1-19 but snagged two first team selections thanks to the efforts of Emily Fake and Auri Lassalle. 

Fake's strength was her versatility, as the junior played catcher, third base and the outfield while hitting .307. Lassalle, meanwhile, flashed great potential in her freshman season, hitting .316 while scoring 11 runs. She also excelled defensively, posting a .916 fielding percentage while touching the ball 83 times in the field.

Northern Lebanon also occupies two first team slots, courtesy of senior Jess Kreiser and freshman Emma Kelliher.

Kreiser, a pitcher/third baseman/outfielder, swung a .387 bat this spring while collecting 16 stolen bases and 15 runs scored in 20 games. Kelliher, an outfielder/second baseman burst on the scene with a big freshman season, smacking three home runs and driving in 16 runs to go with a .429 batting average and a .788 slugging percentage.

This year's all-county squad is rounded out by Palmyra's Kayla Bonawitz and Sara Boyer. 

Bonawitz, a senior shortstop, closed out a strong career with the Cougars by batting .441 with eight doubles, two triples, a home run and 24 runs scored, while striking out just once in 63 plate appearances.

Boyer, meanwhile, began what should be an impressive tenure at Palmyra while starring at catcher and center field and hitting a robust .355. She was also a defensive standout, notching five outfield assists, throwing out eight runners stealing and posting a .944 fielding percentage with just three errors all season.

Honorable Mention

Hannah Fischer, Annville-Cleona

Ally Binkley, Annville-Cleona

Emma Spang, Cedar Crest

Bailey Perry-McClintic, Cedar Crest

Sarah Yermalovich, Elco

Ashley Kropf, Lebanon

Allison Warren, Lebanon Catholic

Melanie Showers, Northern Lebanon

Rebecca Randall, Palmyra

Kailey Werkheiser, Palmyra