By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights put five players on the All-United Kansas Conference softball first team after winning the league title and advancing to the Class 5A state tournament.
The T-Birds, who went 9-1 in the UKC and finished 18-5 overall are represented on the first team by seniors Mykala Johnico, Adysen Burghart, Taylor Hawkins and Ariah Durkes and junior Abby Schulte.
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher Mykala Johnico was one of five T-Birds to earn All-United Kansas Conference first-team softball honors. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Abby Schulte (22) was named to the All-United Kansas Conference softball first team as an infielder. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Johnico was Shawnee Heights' standout pitcher while Schulte, Burghart and Hawkins were selected as infielders and Durkes as an outfielder.
Heights' five first-team selections were a league high, while Basehor-Linwood had four players earn first-team honors and De Soto three.
T-Bird junior Deja Gardenhire received All-UKC honorable mention.
Shawnee Heights senior Taylor Hawkins (right) was named to the All-United Kansas Conference softball first team as an infielder. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
First team
Pitchers -- Taylor Cruse, so., Basehor-Linwood; Mykala Johnico, sr., Shawnee Heights.
Catcher -- Sam Price, jr., Basehor-Linwood.
Infielders -- Mila Seaton, so., Basehor-Linwood; Avery Karlin, sr., De Soto; Abby Schulte, jr., Shawnee Heights; Adysen Burghart, sr., Shawnee Heights; Taylor Hawkins, sr., Shawnee Heights.
Outfielders -- Bella Rollo, so., Basehor-Linwood; Janelle Lang, fr., De Soto; Marisa Johnson, fr., De Soto; Ariah Durkes, sr., Shawnee Heights.
Second team
Pitchers -- Maddie Reynolds, so., De Soto; Landri Lopez, jr., Leavenworth.
Infielders -- Britney Hoffman, jr., Basehor-Linwood; Grace Rose, so., Basehor-Linwood; Ainsley Yoakam, fr., Lansing; Amanda Knutson, so., Lansing; Katie Gray, jr., Lansing.
Outfielders -- Audrey Spellman, jr., Basehor-Linwood; Jessica Lutgen, jr., Basehor-Linwood; Cassidy Woods, sr., Lansing.
Honorable mention
Basehor-Linwood: Kaleigh Small, fr.; Hanna Hull, jr. De Soto: Katelynn Ostronic, sr. Lansing: Aubree Foster, so.; Asa Solomon, sr. Leavenworth: Kaylee McLain, jr. Shawnee Heights: Deja Gardenhire, jr.
