The 2021 Daily Standard Softball Dream Team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Fort Recovery softball team has made strides over the years into becoming a formidable team.

After going 3-18 in 2017 and being run-ruled in 13 games, the Indians won nine games in 2018 and 13 games in 2019 for the first winning season in years. After missing last season due to the pandemic, the Indians finished with 17 wins and reached the sectional final.

And Brenna Homan was a major factor.

A starter since her freshman season, the Indians' lone senior had a tremendous season and earned The Daily Standard's Softball Player of the Year Award.

From the lead-off spot in the batting order, Homan was a formidable hitter who could get on base when needed. Homan led the area with a blistering .543 batting average and posted an on-base percentage of .623. Once on base, she was able to move around and score. Homan had 35 stolen bases this season and passed Parkway standout Holly Ransbottom for the Midwest Athletic Conference record for career swipes with 86. Homan scored 53 times this season in 114 plate appearances. Homan also tallied 14 doubles and two triples to record a .734 slugging percentage and, combined with on-base, had a 1.357 OPS (on-base plus slugging) average.

Behind the plate, Homan formed a solid battery with younger sister Jackie Homan. In 151 1/3 innings behind the plate, the older Homan had just 10 passed balls and threw out seven runners to go with a pick-off of another runner. Homan led the team with 129 putouts and had just six errors in 166 total chances (.964 fielding percentage).

Homan was an honorable mention All-MAC selection as a freshman and earned first team honors in 2019 and 2021.

Next up for Homan is college, where she will attend Miami University-Hamilton and play for the Harriers softball team.

COACH OF THE YEAR

As a young player, Kendra Solomon got to see St. Marys play for a state championship.

This season, Solomon helped her alma mater start making a rise to be a contender to play for another state title.

After winning just eight total games over the previous three seasons, the Roughriders went 14-11 and reached the district final for the first time since the 2007 state runner-up season.

For that, Solomon is The Daily Standard's Softball Coach of the Year.

The Roughriders were a bit up and down through the first 2/3 of the season, but got hot when needed. Seeded fifth in the Division II University of Northwestern Ohio district, the Roughriders avenged an earlier run-rule loss to Elida with a 6-5 win to advance to the district. Next up was top-seeded Bath, which won a 1-0, eight-inning contest when the teams met in Western Buckeye League play earlier in May. The Roughriders got out to a big start with a three-run first inning and held on to upset the Wildkittens 4-3 to advance to the district final against second-seeded Shawnee, which had defeated St. Marys 7-1 early in the season. The Roughriders jumped out to a 2-0 lead and led until the fourth when the Indians tied the game. Shawnee took the lead for good in the fifth and added insurance late to end St. Marys' season 8-3.

While the Roughriders will miss the efforts of seniors like leading hitter Kiley Tennant and Emma Birt, pitcher Karsyn McGlothen, who struck out 191 batters in 157 1/3 innings this season, will be back.

Catcher - Brenna Homan, Sr.,
Fort Recovery
.543 average, 53 runs, 35 stolen bases

First Base - Jackie Homan, Jr.
Fort Recovery
.423 average, 19 doubles, 39 RBI

Second Base - Paige Stephenson, Fr.,
Parkway
.338 average, 27 RBI, 21 runs

Shortstop - Macy Sheffer, Jr.,
Coldwater
.462 average, 7 doubles, 22 RBI

Third Base - Kiley Tennant, Sr.
St. Marys
.460 average, 39 runs, 22 stolen bases

Outfield - Molly Steinke, Sr.,
Coldwater
.449 average, 8 home runs, 35 runs

Outfield - Alexis Bishop, Sr.,
Minster
.347 average, 9 home runs, 30 RBI

Outfield - Payton Bertke, Soph.,
Celina
.405 average, 4 home runs, 24 RBI

Utility Player - Mikaela Hoskins, Fr.,
Minster
.354 average, 22 RBI, 21 runs

Designated Player - Claire Steinke, Fr.,
Coldwater
.391 average, 9 home runs, 42 RBI

Pitcher - Madison Wendel, Fr.,
Coldwater
16-8, 2.40 ERA, 227 strikeouts

Pitcher - Karsyn McGlothen, Jr.,
St. Marys
12-9, 2.49 ERA, 191 strikeouts

Pitcher - Rachael Hoying, Sr.,
Minster
15-6, 2.38 ERA, 136 strikeouts