Colorado: Softball Pitchers and Players of the Year

MaxPreps Colorado Softball Pitchers and Players of the Year

Shelby Babcock, Legacy

Photo by Patrick Miller

Pitcher of the year: Shelby Babcock, Legacy, Sr.

Who else? The budding University of Arizona recruit pitched the Lightning to its third consecutive title by blanking Ralston Valley 1-0 in eight innings. Babcock surrendered one earned run all season (only 10 runs overall) and came away with a microscopic 0.05 ERA. Her 211 strikeouts pushed her career total to 934, and she capped her career with a 22-0 season. For good measure, she batted .593 and slugged eight home runs from the clean-up spot in the lineup. “I feel accomplished now,” Babcock said. “I feel good.”

Honorable mention: Mikayla Duffy, Grand Junction Central, Jr.; Paxton Duran, Brighton, Sr.; Raquel Escareno, Poudre, So.; Raya Johnson, Eaglecrest, Jr.; Lexi Love, Chatfield, Sr.; Meagan Murphy, Ralston Valley, Sr.

Player of the year: Nicole Hudson, Standley Lake, Jr.

OK, so her team didn’t make it to the state tournament. It’s difficult to punish Hudson for that, because who else clubbed 12 homers and drove in 47 runs to go with a nice .494 batting average? Oh, and her defense from the catcher position was top-notch as well. Look for scouts to be constantly scouring Hudson during the summer and as she enters her senior season.

Honorable mention: SS Kasey Cash, Poudre, Jr.; C Jenna Dentino, Chatfield, Sr.; CF Katherine Drake, Douglas County, Sr.; Util. Rainey Gaffin, Legacy, Jr.; SS Aubrey Mable, Eaglecrest, Sr.; 2B Melissa Marcovecchio, Legacy, Jr.; 2B Ashley Martinez, Pomona, Sr.; 3B Molly Mullervy, Arapahoe, Sr.; SS Kelly Reeves, Ralston Valley, Jr.; OF Shae Rodriguez, Legacy, Sr.; C Buggs Torres, Legacy, Jr.; 1B Alyssa Zimmerman, Pomona, Sr.

Stephanie Routzon, Wheat Ridge

Photo by Dennis Marpuri

Pitcher of the year: Stephanie Routzon, Wheat Ridge, Sr.

At the beginning of last season, Routzon was one of three pitchers vying for the Farmers’ starting job. Two full seasons later, she’s a two-time champion. The tall right-hander notched an even 200 strikeouts this season, which fit in nicely with her 22-1 mark that included a 5-1 win against D’Evelyn in the state championship game. She had some of the best offensive support in the classification, but would have been fine without it, as the 0.62 ERA attests.

Honorable mention: Angela Eickelman, Pueblo East, Jr.; Reggie Gaide, Pueblo West, Sr.; Aryn Grywusiewicz, Thomas Jefferson, Sr. ; Kali Haas, Niwot, Sr.; Ravae Hererra, Pueblo Central, So.; Gia Marquez, Mullen, So.; Holly Reinke, D’Evelyn, So.; Kelly Scribner, Mountain View, Sr.; Megan Wilkinson, Windsor, Sr.

Player of the year: Chelsea O’Connor, Windsor, Sr.

While many candidates also were deserving and posted similar numbers, O’Connor separated herself by spearheading a Wizards lineup that mowed down nearly everybody en route to a semifinals appearance, while maintaining her role as one of the speediest outfielders in the state. Her .585 batting average was complemented with six homers and 32 RBI, proving she was more clout and less finesse.

Honorable mention: 3B Amanda Arias-Young, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; 1B Kendal Bergman, D’Evelyn, Jr.; 3B Jenna D’Ottavio, Mullen, Sr.; SS Gianna Duncan, Wheat Ridge, Sr.; C Amy Ekart, Berthoud, Sr.; SS Tori Esparsen, Pueblo Central, Sr.; SS Emily Fahring, Niwot, Sr.; OF Elle Madsen, Wheat Ridge, So.; 3B Brittney Padilla, Pueblo Central, Sr.; SS Rachael Reinke, D’Evelyn, Sr.; 3B Paige Reis, Pueblo East, Sr.; SS Alexa Snyder, Pueblo East, Jr., C Kelsey Tillery, Windsor, Sr.

Class 3A

Pitcher of the year: Mariah Bledsoe, Erie, Jr.

Another three-time title winner, Bledsoe will have an opportunity to do something even Babcock couldn’t: win a fourth. Granted, the right-hander will have to do it in 4A as the Tigers are moving up in classification, but she capped Erie’s 3A reign with an 8-0 title-game shutout of Burlington. Sometimes splitting time with Lauren Murphy-Payne, Bledsoe, daughter of Tigers coach Bob Bledsoe, went 13-1 with a 1.00 ERA and fanned 94.

Honorable mention:  Taylor Johnson, Faith Christian, Sr.; Amber Lowther, Rocky Ford, Sr.; Jordan May, Burlington, Sr.

Player of the year: Taylor Hutton, Valley, Jr.

As the elder of perhaps the finest sister softball tandem in the state, Hutton traded off with freshman sister Haley at pitcher and shortstop. The combo, led by Taylor’s .591 average, four homers and 34 RBI, led the Vikings to the semifinals. Taylor Hutton batted in the cleanup position and often drove in her sister, the leadoff hitter. “I don’t know if anyone knows how to get the Hutton girls out,” Bob Bledsoe said. “I sure don’t.”

Honorable mention: C Makenzie Ault, Holyoke, Jr.; CF Brinley Benson, Faith Christian, Sr.; C Courtney Davis, Strasburg, Fr.; OF Lindsey Hubbard, Valley, Sr.; SS Haley Hutton, Valley, Fr.; CF Kaylee Korbelik, Burlington, Sr.;  C Makayla Kovac, Erie, So.; 1B Brittany Maul, Erie, Jr.; 2B Casey Mitchek, Burlington, Sr.; C Beth Peterson, Holy Family, Jr.; SS Jordan Ruiz, Erie, Sr.; SS Myndee Thompson, Faith Christian, Jr.; SS Rachel Wild, Holy Family, Sr.

About the MaxPreps Pitchers and Players of the Year: MaxPreps invited every softball coach in the state to nominate players and selections were based on those nominations. A pitcher/player must have been nominated by at least two coaches to be selected.