The Palm Beach Post’s All-County teams are here!
The Post is proud to announce the Player of the Year nominees for small school softball.
Player of the Year winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony. The show is May 28 at the SoFi Center on the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Palm Beach State College. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the awards program at 6:30 p.m.
Award winners have been contacted by staff with invitations to attend the show, which is produced with support from Baptist Health Orthopedic Care.
First Team All-County Small School Softball
P: Aubrey Vital, So., Oxbridge Academy
Arguably the most impressive two-way player across small school lacrosse in Palm Beach County this year, Aubrey Vital was electric in the circle and at the plate. She allowed just two runs scored across both games in the state series to guide the Thunderwolves to the program’s first state title, pitching to a .073 ERA with 162 strikeouts in 135 innings pitched. At the plate, she helped her own cause with a .474 average, complete with 36 hits ― 10 doubles and a home run ― with 21 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
P: Caroline Duncan, Jr., King’s Academy
Caroline Duncan was a leader for King’s Academy both in the circle and at the plate this year. The junior hurler pitched to a 3.23 ERA with 71 strikeouts across 102 innings pitched. she frequently helped her own cause on offense, contributing a .340 batting average with 17 hits and 13 RBIs. Duncan helped the Lions win the program’s first district title in 13 years and accomplish a 19-5 record.
INF: Gracyn Needle, Jr., King’s Academy
There is a reason Gracyn Needle sports orange and white colors in her hair on game day. The Tennessee commit was electric in every facet of her game this year, leading the county with 11 home runs as part of her .667 batting average. five doubles, three triples, and a grand slam rounded out some of her offensive accolades, with Needle adding 47 runs and 36 RBIs. While pitching staffs frequently had to game-plan around her, she was also exceptional in the field and on the basepaths.
INF: Taylor Priske, Jr., Oxbridge Academy
Taylor Priske had the power to change the game with one swing of the bat for Oxbridge Academy this year. The hard-hitting first baseman swung for a .439 average with six doubles and five home runs making up over a third of her 29 hits on the year. She added 26 runs scored and paced the Thunderwolves with 34 RBIs. Priske’s presence in the heart of the order played a big role in Oxbridge’s journey to the state series, where the 24-3 Thunderwolves won their first title.
INF: Lily Stone, Jr., King’s Academy
Lily Stone was dominant at the plate for King’s Academy this year, hitting .485 with 32 hits. Among those were six doubles, two triples, and eight home runs, one of which was a grand slam. Stone also accounted for 34 runs scored and paced the team with 42 RBIs to help the Lions win the first district title in 13 years prior to a regional run. King’s Academy finished with a stellar 19-5 record.
INF: Reese Khanna, Sr., Cardinal Newman
Reese Khanna finished her high-school career with another impressive softball campaign, hitting .556 with a team-high 30 hits, including eight doubles and two triples. Khanna added 32 run and 14 RBIs to pair with her team-leading 12 stolen bases. With her help, Cardinal Newman posted a 13-8 record and accomplished one of the upsets of the year with a run-rule victory over Florida Christian in regionals.
OF: Sydney Mahoney, So., Cardinal Newman
Not many hitters can claim the stats that Sydney Mahoney put up for Cardinal Newman this year, let alone sophomores. The young outfielder hit .595 this season with 25 hits including seven doubles, two triples, and three home runs. She added 22 runs scored and paced the crusaders with 24 RBIs on the year, guiding the team to a 13-8 record and perhaps the upset victory of the year with a run-rule win over top-seed Florida Christian in regionals.
OF: Ashly Nevarez, Sr., Oxbridge Academy
Ashly Nevarez played a big role in Oxbridge Academy’s state championship run, heating up at the plate at the right time during the Thunderwolves’ postseason success. The senior hit .500 on the year with 30 hits ― nine doubles, a triple, three home runs ― with 21 runs scored and RBIs apiece. Batting in the heart of a dangerous lineup, Nevarez guided Oxbridge to a 24-3 record and the first title in program history.
OF: Hailey Goode, Jr., Oxbridge Academy
Hailey Goode was electric at the plate and on the basepaths for Oxbridge Academy this season, hitting .558 with a team-leading 43 hits. Among those were two triples, but though the speedster often landed at first base, she rarely stayed there for long. Goode tallied 29 stolen bases on the year and was the ideal leadoff hitter for the 24-3 Thunderwolves. She was integral all year long but even more so in the state series in helping Oxbridge softball win its first championship.
C: Julianne Severson, Jr., Berean Christian
Berean Christian relied heavily on the skillset of Julianne Severson this season, and the junior did not disappoint. The older of the Severson sisters his .769 on the year, with 30 hits, including six doubles, two triples, and four home runs. her 35 RBIs and 28 runs scored paced the Bulldogs en route to a district championship.
DH/UTIL: Ella Bianco, So., Oxbridge Academy
Continuing the trend of young Oxbridge Academy stars, Ella Bianco was the definition of consistency at the plate for the 24-3 Thunderwolves. The sophomore tallied 35 hits and runs scored apiece, helping Oxbridge softball win its first state championship in program history. She was effective in her limited time on the mound and showcased strong defensive play as well, providing a solid foundation for Oxbridge’s returning production.
Second Team All-County
Honorable Mention
Coach of the Year
Kevin Drake, Oxbridge Academy
Kevin Drake was already an accomplished coach with little left to prove in his legendary career. But after reaching the state series for the sixth time since 2017, he finally led Oxbridge Academy softball to a state championship, the first of its kind. Drake’s emotional postgame speech to his players left little doubt about what the victory meant to him, just as it meant to the Thunderwolves community. It’s the latest chapter of a coaching story that keeps on giving in Palm Beach County.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Spring All-County: Best of small school softball in Palm Beach
Reporting by Alexander Peterman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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