BATTLE CREEK – The B.O.B. is hitting the diamond.
The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on baseball and softball fields throughout the area.
Each week, throughout the spring, we are going to ask, “Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?” as we look at each position in baseball and softball among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.
MORE:
Who is the No. 1 pitcher in high school softball in the Battle Creek area?
Who is the No. 1 pitcher in high school baseball in the Battle Creek area?
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Tuesday with polls closing at noon.
Next up are the catchers for the city/area softball teams:
Brooke Carden
School: Marshall
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A three-year starter, Brooke Carden is in her first year starting at catcher. The junior is hitting .554 with 10 doubles, three home runs and 31 RBI. Defensively, she has thrown out six runners.
Allie Cook
School: Battle Creek Central
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Allie Cook is an important leader for a young Battle Creek Central team as a returning starter at catcher. Cook gives BCC the ability to compete in a tough Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference with her ability to play defense behind the plate.
Allyson Govier
School: Harper Creek
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A first-year varsity player, Allyson Govier has stepped up behind the plate, showcasing a strong arm, throwing out six base runners so far. The sophomore is hitting .367 with 12 RBI.
Reagan Henry
School: Tekonsha
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Reagan Henry is the leader of the Tekonsha team behind the plate and in the dugout. With a .962 fielding percentage, she has nine assists. She is hitting .513 with 22 runs scored and a .590 slugging percentage and was all-conference and all-area a year ago.
Ellie Luma
School: Gull Lake
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Working with a young pitching staff, Ellie Luma is a good defensive catcher for Gull Lake. At the plate, Luma is hitting .453 with 21 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
Lani Miller
School: Homer
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: With a .559 career batting average, Lani Miller is one of the top young prospects at the catcher position in the area. The sophomore has improved even more this year, hitting .656 with eight home runs, 41 RBI and 24 runs scored for an 18-3 Homer team.
Grace Paul
School: Athens
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Grace Paul has stepped into the catcher position as a senior and has improved quickly, throwing out eight baserunners so far. At the plate, she is hitting .333.
Claire VanDis
School: Lakeview
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: One of the top catching prospects in the area, Claire VanDis is having a big junior season with a .469 batting average with 15 RBI and eight walks. She is a key returner of of last year’s district championship team at Lakeview and earned all-league and all-city honors as a sophomore.
Lydia Wells
School: Bronson
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Lydia Wells is a returning all-state catcher in Division 3. As the No. 3 hitter for the Vikings, the junior is hitting .471 with nine doubles, six triples and two home runs with nine stolen bases.
Ellie Williams
School: Union City
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Having never played softball until her freshman year, Ellie Williams is a natural behind the plate and is a standout defensive junior catcher for the Chargers. She is hitting .400 with five triples.
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Vote: Who is the best high school catcher in softball in Battle Creek area?
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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