High school softball: The Olympian’s 2021 All-Area team

First- and second-team selections for The Olympian’s 2021 All-Area high school softball team.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kamy Dacus, W.F. West, jr. — The 5-foot-9 right-hander pitched all but three innings this season for the Bearcats, resulting in a 16-0 record and a 0.69 earned run average. She struck out 185 batters while walking only 10 in 102 innings pitched. She was equally menacing at the plate, hitting .500, slugging .983 with six home runs and 28 runs batted in. She hit for the cycle in one game. Along with Olympia’s Aly Waltermeyer, Dacus is one of just two repeat first-team All-Area selections from the 2019 squad. “Kamy has a dominating and consistent presence in the circle,” said W.F. West coach Caty Lieseke. “When she’s at the plate, there’s always a chance the ball will leave the yard.”

COACH OF THE YEAR

Lindsay Walton, Yelm — In the old days, if a competitor won the same event three times in a row, they would get to take the trophy home and retire it. If there was hardware associated with The Olympian’s softball Coach of the Year award, Walton would already have the trophy on her mantle as she won it in 2017, 2018 and 2019. After her Tornados ran the table in the 3A South Sound Conference this season, finishing 14-0 with a team batting average over .400 and a team ERA just under 2.00, Walton receives the honor for the fourth consecutive time. Yelm showed nerves of steel in its final two match-ups with runner-up Timberline, winning both in the Tornados’ final at-bat to hang onto the league championship. Walton’s previous Olympian Coach of the Year honors came after guiding Yelm into a pair of state 3A championship games and a semi-final.

Pitchers

Emily Baxter, Tenino, jr. — Baxter struck out a state-high 207 batters on her way to three no-hitters. A workhorse who totaled 119 innings for the season, she held opponents to a 1.09 earned run average. 1A Evergreen Conference Defensive Player of the Year. “Emily is an amazing leader and works harder than anyone I’ve ever coached,” said Beavers’ coach Chris Johnson. “She doesn’t let anything rattle her.”

Jasmyn Polanco, Timberline, fr. — The 3A South Sound Conference Pitcher of the Year struck out 112 batters in 66 innings. She pitched a no-hitter. At the plate, she hit .636 with a .707 on base percentage, scoring 29 runs and driving in 26. Stole 16 bases and struck out just once all season. “She was the leader on the mound and tough to hit,” said Blazers’ coach Lynsi Polanco. “She can hit for power or small ball and is a threat on the bases.”

Sami Potvin, Olympia, fr. — The 4A SPSL South Pitcher of the Year, Potvin fashioned a 6-1 record with a 0.88 ERA and a .180 opponents’ batting average.

Vivian Watts, Yelm, jr. — A first team All-3A South Sound Conference selection, the left-handed Watts posted a 1.83 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. She struck out 55 and walked 20 in 57 innings pitched.

Catcher

Tori Trotter, Timberline, soph. — The 3A SSC MVP, Trotter hit a startling .763, with a 1.474 slugging percentage. She scored 32 runs and drove in 26. Stole 16 bases. Did not commit an error in 66 innings behind the plate. “She’s not just a standout in our area, but throughout the state,” said Polanco.

Infielders

Ashlyn Aven, Yelm, jr. — Batting .463, the Tornados third baseman belted four homers and drove in 20 runs. First team All-3A SSC. “Ashlyn is very strong offensively and makes adjustments on the spot,” said Walton.

Kylie Baker, Timberline, sr. — A first-team 3A SSC selection, Baker hit .595 with a 1.444 OPS. She scored 29 runs and drove in 17. She stole 17 bases.

McKenzie Camus, Timberline, jr. — A 3A SSC first-team selection, Camus hit .478 with a 1.390 OPS. She drove in 26 runs and scored 22. Stole 17 bases.

Kailei Thompson, Yelm, jr. — The Tornados’ shortstop batted .531, scoring 26 runs and driving in 17. First team All-3A SSC. “Kailei is extremely fast and hard to read as a lefty slapper,” said Walton.

Aly Waltermeyer, Olympia, jr. — The 4A SPSL South Division MVP hit .630, with 10 total extra base hits. One of two returning players, along with Dacus, from the 2019 All-Area first team, Waltermeyer won’t return to the Bears in 2022 as she has transferred to Tumwater, where she played basketball this spring.

Outfielders

Abby Severse, Tenino jr. — The two-time first team All-1A EvCo selection hit .500. with a .600 on base percentage. Severse drove in 20 runs and stole 10 bases in 11 tries. Committed just one error in the outfield. “She makes playing center field look easy,” said Johnson. “She’s in control of the alignment of our outfield and studies opponents to know where to move her fielders.”

Alisha Anderson, W.F. West, sr. — Anderson, a first-team 2A EvCo center fielder, hit .353 with a 1.111 OPS. She hit five home runs and collected 20 RBI. “Alisha has pure athleticism. She had many inning-ending catches that had no business being outs,” Lieseke said. “She covers a crazy amount of ground and is the epitome of hard work.”

Alyssa Hoff, Olympia, soph. — A first-team 4A SPSL choice, Hoff hit .424 with nine doubles for the Bears.

Katrina Tuller, Timberline, sr. — Tuller, a first team All-3A SCC pick, hit .677 with a 1.414 OPS. She scored 24 runs and drove in 11. Stole 12 bases.

Utility

Bailey Elwell, Rainier, jr. — Elwell pitched and hit with equal ability for the Mountaineers. She struck out 121 batters, including 19 in a single game against Stevenson. She batted .514, striking out only three times, scored 16 runs and drove in 10.

Tori Smith, Olympia, soph. — A first team All-4A SPSL choice, Smith batted .471 for the Bears and was also the second pitcher, posting a 3.50 ERA in 42 IP.

Taylor Martinez, Tumwater, jr. — The 2A EvCo Offensive Player of the Year can catch or play either of the corner infield spots. She hit .468 for the T-Birds, with nine doubles and 28 RBI.

SECOND TEAM

Pitchers: Ashley Brascher, Tumwater, sr.; Savannah Johnson, Capital, jr.; Zoey Theophilus, Black Hills, soph.

Catchers: Natalie Mace, Capital, soph,; Laila Smith, Olympia, soph,; Danyka Squire, Shelton, soph.

Infielders: Ally Baumgart, Shelton, soph,; Cassie Cannon, Tenino, sr.; Brielle Etter, W.F. West, soph.; Kamryn Hyland, Shelton, soph,; Ella Orr, Centralia, jr.; Gracie Ray, Olympia, jr.; Jalyn Whipple, Elma, sr.

Outfielders: Kassidy Jack, North Thurston, fr.; Kendall Lawson, Yelm, jr.; Ally McCrary, North Thurston, jr.; Tillie Trinidad, River Ridge, jr.; Kylie Waltermeyer, Olympia, soph.

Utility: Courtney Backman, Tenino, jr.; Jaylen Latchaw, Tumwater, jr.