A pair of local stars are receiving statewide recognition after star-studded senior seasons.
Georgetown Lady G-Men first baseman Kayla Seigla was named first-team all-Ohio by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association following the 2015 season, with Eastern Lady Warriors pitcher Mikayla “Boo” Purdy earning honorable mention.
Seigla, who is headed to the University of Toledo this fall on a softball scholarship, finished second in the Cincinnati area with a .628 batting average according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, as well as finishing with 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, 15 doubles, six triples, and 36 stolen bases.
This past season, Seigla helped lead the freshman-laden Lady G-Men to their first fast-pitch softball sectional title in more than 20 years. She even had the game-winning hit to defeat Roger Bacon to win the sectional title.
“Being recognized as a first-team all-state recipient is an honor for Kayla, our school and our community,” Lady G-Men head coach and Kayla’s father Gar Seigla said. “It is a true example of the fruits of hard work, discipline and support. The numbers Kayla amassed this year were worthy of this honor and I am proud to see the support of the other coaches in the Southwest District to recognize this.
“We look forward to Kayla representing Georgetown Schools and the community at the Division 1 level for the University of Toledo next fall. I couldn’t be more proud as a parent, coach, school employee or community member.”
Seigla was also named first-team all-metro Cincinnati and first-team all-Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Association.
Purdy spent her senior season back on the mound, after being forced to play at first base due to an elbow injury last year. This past season, Purdy compiled a 14-5 record with a tremendous 1.32 earned run average, 109 strikeouts, four shutouts, and a walks and hits per nine innings average of 1.02.
“That award means a lot to me,” Purdy said. “Not every girl who loves softball as much as I do gets to experience the amazing achievement of being named all-state honorable mention. It really is an honor to know that my hard work didn’t go unnoticed. I feel that I played to my best ability throughout the whole season. My team really stepped up and helped me out this past season. I wouldn’t have changed a thing about how I played and the outcome of the season. I will really miss it but I hope to get into a co-ed league soon.
Purdy also led the Lady Warriors to a sectional title this past season and finished her high school career with four league titles. Purdy is the third Lady Warriors player in the last five years to earn all-state recognition, after Seigla, back when she played for Eastern, and Maria Johnson.
“That’s a good honor,” former Lady Warriors head coach Dennis Forsythe said. “She put in a lot of hard work for that and she’s well deserving of it.”
Other local honorees from Division III and Division IV include Whiteoak pitcher Kiley Sosby, who is heading to Bowling Green on a softball scholarship this fall, and Blanchester’s Savannah Brown, Fairfield (Leesburg) infielder Kaitlin Evans, and North Adams pitcher Jade Spriggs.
Here’s a look at the honorees from Division 3 and 4:
Division III
FIRST TEAM
Taran Alvelo, Bloom Carroll; Emily Clark, North Union; Taylor Bowman, West Jefferson; Adrian Smith, St. Clairsville; Chloe Otte, Sandy Valley; Lexi Falde, Waynedale; Elizabeth Birkbeck, Orrville; Sarah Wickline, Loudonville; Jessi Ducat, Evergreen; Haley Hawk, Parkway; Miranda Bensohoter, Elmwood; Michal Cunningham, Wheelersburg; Regan Stonerock, Westfall; Chelsea Copley, Bidwell River Valley; Natalie Higgins, Madison Senior; Kayla Seigla, Georgetown; Kaitlyn Moore, Springfield.
SECOND TEAM
Kelly Mix, Liberty Union; Abby Davis, North Union; Khyla Jones, Cardington; Abbie Hughes, Sandy Valley; Katie Ellzy, Harrison Central; Hallie Ward, Kirtland; Shannon McGee, Berkshire; Kayla Troyer, Waynedale; Haley Robbins, Fairview; Lindsay George, Elmwood; Maddy Rathbun, Oak Harbor; Kendall Meeks, Alexander; Jill Hairston, Rock Hill; Alayna Lytle, Huntington Ross; Carly Allen, Waynesville; Savanna Brown, Blanchester; Amara Wylie, Dixie.
HONORABLE MENTION
Megan Hatfield, Northridge; Kipley Detwiler, Bloom Carroll; Geirgie Stacy, Pleasant; Amber Immell, Garaway; Michaela Miller, St. Clairsville; Samantha Achauer, Kirtland; Haylee Gardiner, Champion; Emilee Flynn, Canton Central Catholic; Madison Kohler, Archbold; Ali Cheek, Tinora; Kaylie Dickman, Margaretta; Ashley Webb, Lucasville Valley; Mikayla Purdy, Eastern Brown; Kalle Coleman, Wheelersburg; Hailee Loughman, Brookville; Jenna Shepherd; Kris Bigelow, Miami East.
Division IV
FIRST TEAM
Cerena Woodgeard, Berne Union; Bri Staats, Danville; Megan Heagney, Shadyside; Sydney Anderson, Tuscarawas Catholic Cnetral; Dayna Denner, Cuyahoga Heights; Cheyenne Eggens, Mathews; Ashley Burns, St. Joseph Central Catholic; Allison Brickel, Hicksville; Kara Scherger, New Riegel; Hannah Johnson, Arlington; Courtney Stoltz, Arlington; Kaitlyn Payne, Symmes Valley; Kiley Sosby, Whiteoak; Kaitlin Evans, Leesburg Fairfield; Morgan Arbogast, Covington; Hannah Watkins, Triad.
SECOND TEAM
Shanna Mickley, Danville; Lynsey Meeks, Worthington Christian; Gabrielle Fredricks, Tuscarawas Catholic Central; Keri Renzler, Bridgeport; Lauren Goetz, Cuyahoga Heights; Aleah Hughes, Western Reserve; Taylor Arbogast, New Riegel; Michaela Bauer, Hicksville; Nicole Miller, Van Buren; Taylor Farmer, Riverdale; Addy Bame, Hardin Northern; Cami Whitley, Portsmouth Clay; Mikayla Wyke, Pike Eastern; Brooke Pierron, Portsmouth Notre Dame; Janell Hoying, Fort Lorarmie; Hannah Trent, Houston.
HONORABLE MENTION
Rowan Rine, East Knox; Brooke Swinehart, Millersport; Alex McComb, Steubenville Catholic; Olivia Ray, Strasburg; Kailey Minarchick, Columbia; Paige Summers, Dalton Local; Meghan Reiter, St. Wendelin; Aubrey Bickford, Kansas Lakota; Britnee Johnson, Arlington; Megan Johnson, Arlington; Konti Martin, Ayersville; Jade Spriggs, North Adams; Sidney Cook, Eastern; Taylor Webb, Symmes Valley; Megan Rutledge, Newton; Maria Herron, Russia.
