FIRST-TEAM
Hallie Minch, Sr., P, Garden City: Garden City's march to the school's first-ever state title had Minch's name written all over it. In her fourth year as a varsity starter, she went 28-3 for the season with an 0.76 ERA, but most impressively mowed through eight postseason opponents - including a 2-1 win in 14 innings against Alpena in the Division 1 state final.
"Hallie's had an incredible career at GC and is finally getting her due," said Cougars' head coach Barry Patterson. "... Our entire team fed off the confidence and composure she exhibited both on and off the field. Her passion for the game and her commitment to winning was truly a godsend."
Minch, an All-State selection, also drove in the title-winning run against Alpena, batting .440 for the season. She also was picked to the All-Mega Red, All-District and All-Region teams.
Minch will go to Madonna University, where she likely will step into a key role on the varsity softball team in 2009.
Briana Lee, Fr., P, Salem: The ninth-grader made a sudden impact on the Rocks' fortunes, compiling a 22-6-1 record, which earned her All-Lakes Division honors. She registered one perfect game and 10 shutouts, striking out 238 while walking just 45.
"Briana's stats speak for themselves," said Salem coach Bonnie Southerland. "She will for sure be someone to keep an eye on the next few years. She's certainly off to a great start here at Salem."
Brittany Taylor, Jr., C, Liv. Franklin: The junior catcher earned All-WLAA, All-District, All-Region and honorable mention All-State honors after batting .526 (60-for-114) with 13 doubles, three triples, six homers, 52 runs and 27 RBI.
The first-team All-Area repeat selection also posted an on-base percentage of .585 and had 30 stolen bases.
Taylor led the Patriots in eight offensive categories including hits, bunt singles, walks, runs, doubles, homers, batting average and stolen bases.
Defensively, Taylor threw out 20-of-28 base stealers with 18 putouts and 28 assists.
"Brittany has a very strong and accurate throwing arm,'' Franklin coach Linda Jimenez said. "As a catcher she is extremely quick blocking balls and in her release to the bases.
"She's a very tough out and it enables her to maintain a high batting average. Like Briauna (her twin sister) she comes to every practice and game with a positive attitude and high energy, ready to compete.''
Emily Pitcole, Jr., C, Salem: A three-year varsity player, Pitcole earned first team All-WLAA honors after hitting .390 with an on-base percentage of .483. She also led the team in walks and compiled four home runs and 17 RBI.
"Emily is a very patient batter and is a power hitter," said Southerland. "She's the only player on the team who was back in her position from the previous season. She calls pitches and blocks the plate very well.. She has a strong arm, a quick release and was our offensive MVP."
Alyssa Abramoski, Sr., 1B, Liv. Ladywood: The senior first baseman earned All-Catholic League and All-Observer first-team honors for the second straight year after batting .418 (46-for-110) with five triples, seven doubles, 29 runs scored and 24 RBI.
Abramoski also had a slugging percentage of .573 and an on-base average of .496.
"Alyssa is a tremendous hitter,'' Ladywood first-year coach Scott Combs said. "She hits with powers, slapped, and produced runs all year long. She was a captain and will be very difficult to replace.''
Briauna Taylor, Jr., SS, Liv. Franklin: The junior shortstop batting .518 (59-for-114) en route to All-Western Lakes, All-District, All-Region and honorable mention All-State honors.
The first-team All-Observer repeat selection had 11 doubles and four triples, along with 26 runs and team-best 33 RBI. Taylor had an on-base percentage of .545 along with 21 stolen bases.
Defensively, Taylor finished with a team-best 87 assists to go along with 67 putouts.
"Briauna has great range and soft hands at shortstop,'' Jimenez said. "Her athletic ability on offense and defense is unbelievable. Briauna is a pleasure to coach, she's a good listener and a positive role model for her peer. She also works very hard in the off-season to improve her softball skills and physical condition.''
Christina Seward, Sr., SS, Garden City: Patterson said the always-smiling Seward brought the "heart of a Cougar" to the 2008 D1 champs. She started the season willingly moving from second base (where she was a three-year starter) to shortstop and played it flawlessly, earning the team's Gold Glove award.
Seward, a four-year starter on varsity, chipped in with plenty of determination, leadership and a .327 batting average. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Mega Red and All-District teams.
"How appropriate was it for her to squeeze that final out in the state championship," Patterson said. "Her experience and hustle on the bases led to many extra runs and are rivaled by very few players in the state."
Stacey Klonowski, Soph., SS, Plymouth: Only a sophomore, Klonowski filled the No. 3 slot in the Wildcats' batting order admirably, hitting .561 with eight home runs. She was voted to the All-WLAA first team.
"In a word, Stacey is a powerhouse," said Plymouth coach Val Canfield. "She's someone you really want at the plate when your team really needs a run. She's not only talented athletically but academically as well, as she has a 4.0 grade-point average."
Kristina Susalla, Sr., 3B, Garden City: "'Sus' is the consummate team player," Patterson said. "I think if you look up the word coachability in the dictionary, her picture would come up right beside it."
Susalla, the senior class valedictorian who is hopeful of walking on to the Wayne State University softball team, batted .419, slugging six doubles, two homers and driving in 32 runs. She earned selection to the All-State, All-Mega Red, All District and All-Region teams.
Many of her hits were in key situations, none bigger than a game-tying single with two out in the seventh against Lincoln Park in the D1 state regional semifinal. Meanwhile, she made just two errors all season.
"Her workmanlike approach and her calm yet confident demeanor was a stabilizing influence on us all," the coach added.
Amanda Burnard, Soph., 3B, Plymouth: Burnard batted clean-up for a reason for the District champion Wildcats. The sophomore is armed with explosive power, which is mirrored by her four home runs, .420 batting average and .535 on-base percentage. The All-Western Division player is also a stellar fielder at the hot corner.
"Amanda is like a vacuum at third base," said Canfield. "She's also a very good catcher, but a knee injury prevented her from playing behind the plate this season. She was our clean-up hitter, so she provided us with a lot of power."
Christina Parsons, Jr., OF, Salem: The junior co-captain earned All-WLAA and All-District honors during her third year on the varsity squad. She hit .325 with an on-base percentage of .389 and she led the Rocks in stolen bases.
"Christina is a great team player; she's very coachable," said Southerland. "She covers a lot of ground in center field, has great range and is a great communicator on the field."
Amy Bondy, Sr., OF, Plymouth: Bondy was the catalyst of several important rallies for the Wildcats during her season She was voted the team's MVP after hitting .402 with an on-base percentage of .502 and a fielding percentage of .958.
"Amy puts everything she has into the game," said Canfield. "She's someone the opponents could never figure out because she could hit it hard or lay down a nice bunt. She has a 4.1 grade-point average and will be attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn's honors college in the fall."
Miranda Rysdorp, Jr., OF, Canton: Rysdorp enjoyed a spectacular season for the young Chiefs, hitting .430 with a four home runs.
She was also a solid out-fielder, robbing several opponents of hits this past spring. Her efforts earned the junior All-WLAA first team honors
Kelsey Weekley, Sr., At-Large, Redford Union: Weekley, who will play softball at Alma College, capped off an excellent prep career by batting .438 with 10 doubles and four homer runs and also striking out 229 batters in 131 innings of pitching.
The tri-captain and fourth-year varsity player was named to the All-Mega White, All-District and All-Region teams.
"Kelsey has been the heart and soul of the team since I've come aboard," said Panthers' head coach Alan Kruck. "She has been of the leaders on our team in all aspects of the game."
COACH OF THE YEAR
Barry Patterson, Garden City: In his 22nd season with the Cougars, Patterson does not seek out the limelight. But it had no other choice but to find him after Garden City's Hallie Minch-led varsity girls softball team went 32-6 and won the first athletic state championship in the history of the high school.
"What an incredible ride it's been," said Patterson, who surpassed the 500-victory plateau for his career this season. "I couldn't have even imagined the feeling of jubilation and satisfaction that the conclusion of the season would bring. We were there (finals) back in 1991 and fell just short. As a coach, you never know if you'll ever get that chance again, thankfully we did."
Patterson characteristically down played his own role in the championship. He praised assistant coaches Chuck Drewicz, Al Russell, Mark Minch for their efforts and emphasized that plenty of support from athletic director Bob Dropp, parents and staff members were instrumental.
"Let's not forget those 16 gifted players who are truly the ones responsible for it all," Patterson concluded. "Thank you girls!" | 
