Piedra Vista hasn't known what it's like to finish the spring season without a state championship in softball. Karysta Donisthorpe is a big reason why.
The senior hurler led the Panthers to their sixth straight New Mexico 4A state championship, mowing down batters to the tune of 307 strikeouts in 170 innings pitched this year. She rarely allowed a run in racking up a 25-4 record as she had 18 shutouts on the season.
As a result, Donisthorpe has been chosen as the MaxPreps Medium Schools National Player of the Year.
Justin Chaney of Newton County (Miss.) joins Donisthorpe on the honor roll as the Medium Schools National Coach of the Year. Chaney led the Cougars to the Mississippi 4A state championship, but his team was also considered the top team in the state regardless of division. His team posted a 34-2 overall record and finished the season ranked No. 25 in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Rankings.
All of this despite the fact that 19 of his 23 players were grades seven, eight or freshman. Only four of his players were juniors and he had no seniors listed on his team roster.
The Medium Schools All-American Team is chosen from schools who play in state enrollment divisions generally consisting of 1,000 to 2,000 students.
MAXPREPS MEDIUM SCHOOLS ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
First Team
Pitcher - Karysta Donisthorpe, Piedra Vista (Farmington, N.M.), Senior
Led Piedra Vista to sixth straight New Mexico 4A state title... Two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year... Coaches All-State Team... ... Committed to New Mexico State.
Stats - Record of 25-4 with 0.66 ERA and 307 strikeouts in 170 innings pitched. Had 18 shutouts and six no-hitters. She also batted .387 with 37 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 12 doubles.
Pitcher - Erin Gabriel, Poland Seminary (Ohio), Senior
Erin Gabriel feature storyTwo-time Gatorade State Player of the Year... Coaches Division II All-State Team... Led Poland Seminary to Ohio Division II state championship... ... Committed to Tennessee.
Stats - Record of 16-1 with 0.82 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched. She batted .571 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs.
Pitcher - Rachel Gillen, Archmere Academy (Claymont, Del.), Senior
Rachel Gillen feature storyThree-time Gatorade State Player of the Year... All-State Team... Committed to Virginia.
Stats - 18-1 record with 253 strikeouts and a 0.41 ERA in 120 innings pitched. She threw 12 shutouts and five no-hitters. Batted .679 with 31 RBIs, 30 runs, eight doubles, five triples and four home runs.
Pitcher - Christina Gabriele, Gulliver Prep (Miami), Junior
Miami Herald All-Dade County 4A-1A Team... Florida Dairy Farmers 3A State Player of the Year... Led Gulliver to 3A state championship.
Stats - Record of 21-2 with 151 strikeouts and a 0.93 ERA.
Pitcher - Skylar Cagle, Pilot Point (Texas), Sophomore
Texas Sports Writers 3A All-State Team... Denton Record Co-Pitcher of the Year... Texas Girls Coaches Association 3A All-State Team.
Stats - Record of 27-8 with 388 strikeouts and a 0.87 ERA in 208.1 innings pitched. Gave up only 29 walks and had 17 shutouts. Batted .463 with 31 runs, 30 RBIs, 10 doubles, six triples and two home runs.
Pitcher - Tiarra Davis, Henderson (Texas), Sophomore
East Texas Player of the Year... Texas Sports Writers 3A All-State Team... Texas Girls Coaches Association 3A All-State Team.
Stats - Record of 22-4 with a 1.31 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 149.2 innings pitched. Batted .547 with 22 RBIs, three triples, 17 doubles and one home run. Also had 22 stolen bases.
Pitcher - Haylie Wilson, Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), Senior
All-First Coast Player of the Year.
Stats - Record of 24-5 with 0.70 ERA. Also batted .448 with four home runs and 41 RBIs.
Pitcher - Allison Walljasper, Sierra (Manteca, Calif.), Freshman
Stockton Record Player of the Year... Modesto Bee Pitcher of the Year.
Stats - Record of 26-2 with 252 strikeouts and 0.40 ERA in 162 innings pitched.
Pitcher - Lauren Fischer, Robbinsville (N.J.), Sophomore
New Jersey All-State Team... New Jersey All-Group 2 Team... Led Robbinsville to Group 2 state championship.
Stats - Record of 23-0 with 213 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched. Also batted .458 with 22 RBIs.
Pitcher - Kasia Smith, Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.), Junior
Arizona Republic All-State Small Schools Team.
Stats - Record of 31-3 with 245 strikeouts and 1.13 ERA in 167 innings pitched. Also had 12 shutouts.
Catcher - Brittany Toney, Goodpasture Christian (Madison, Tenn.), Senior
Nashville Tennesseean All-MidState Team... Led Goodpasture to Tennessee AA state championship.
Stats - Batted .500 with 50 RBIs and 11 home runs.
Catcher - Shelby Bishop, Newton County (Decatur, Miss.), Junior
Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team... Led team to Mississippi 4A state championship.
Stats - Batted .531 with nine doubles, four triples and seven home runs. Also had 42 RBIs and 59 runs scored.
Catcher - Kelly Ryan, Andrean (Merrillville, Ind.), Senior
Indiana Girls Coaches Association All-State Team... Post Tribune Player of the Year.
Stats - Batted .412 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 28 runs scored. Threw out 28 of 28 runners on stolen base attempts.
First Base - Macy Jones, Briar Woods (Ashburn, Va.), Junior
Washington Post All-Met First Team... Led Briar Woods to Virginia AA state championship.
Stats - Batted .574 with 43 runs and 25 RBIs. Also pitched and had a 0.39 ERA with 291 strikeouts in 144.1 innings pitched.
First Base - Casey Stangel, Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), Sophomore
Gatorade State Player of the Year... Led Lake City to 5A state championship.
Stats - Record of 25-0 with 0.33 ERA and 283 strikeouts in 149 innings pitched. Had 17 shutouts and two no-hitters. Also played first base and batted .590 with 52 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 16 doubles and 11 home runs.
Infield - Sami Fagan, Dunnellon (Fla.), Senior
Ocala Star Banner Player of the Year... Gatorade State Player of the Year... Committed to Florida.
Stats - Batted .693 with four doubles, three triples, 51 runs, 17 RBIs and 28 steals. Batted .629 for career with 234 runs and 141 stolen bases.
Infield - Bailey Castro, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), Senior
Bailey Castro feature storyFort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel 3A-2A-1A Player of the Year (three years in a row)... Miami Herald All-Broward County Team... Committed to Florida.
Stats - Batted .618 with 32 runs, 28 RBIs, 16 home runs, 12 stolen bases.
Infield - Shelby Carter, Celina (Texas), Junior
Dallas Morning News Player of the Year... Texas Sports Writers Association 3A All-State Team... Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State Team.
Stats - Batted .541 with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Cheyenne Cordes, Rodriguez
Photo by David Steutel
Led Rodriguez to Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship... Solano County Athletic Conference MVP... Gatorade State Player of the Year... Commited to California.
Stats - Batted .652 with 12 home runs, 18 doubles, 64 runs, 66 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
Infield - Alex Powers, Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.), Junior
Space Coast Player of the Year... Led team to Florida 5A state championship.
Stats - Batted .537 with 36 RBIs and 13 home runs.
Infield - Whitney Cooper, Red Rock (Sedona, Ariz.), Junior
Arizona Republic 3A All-State Team.
Stats - Batted .602 with 47 runs, 62 RBIs, seven doubles, three triples and 20 home runs.
Infield - Whitney Jordan, Athens (Ala.), Sophomore
Alabama Sports Writers Association Super State Team... Alabama 5A Hitter of the Year.
Stats - Batted .409 with 65 RBIs, 13 doubles and 22 home runs.
Outfield - Dani Heichen, Pembroke Pines Charter (Fla.), Senior
Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel 6A-5A-4A Player of the Year... Committed to Appalachian State.
Stats - Batted .537 with 13 RBIs, 22 runs, 20 stolen bases.
Outfield - Shelby Davis, Goddard (Kan.), Senior
Gatorade State Player of the Year... Wichita Eagle All-Metro First Team... Kansas Coaches All-State Team... Committed to Oklahoma State.
Stats - Batted .538 with 40 runs scored and 20 RBIs, 37 stolen bases and three home runs.
Outfield - Dominique Grossman, Gulliver Prep (Miami), Junior
Miami Herald All-Dade County 4A-1A Team.
Stats - Batted .455 with 33 RBIs and seven home runs.
Outfield - Heather Pollick, Swan Valley (Saginaw, Mich.), Junior
Detroit News All-Super Team... Coaches Association Division II All-State Team.
Stats - Batted .495 with 69 RBIs and 16 home runs.
Outfield - Haylie McCleney, Jordan (Morris, Ala.), Junior
Alabama Sports Writers Association 5A All-State Team... Birmingham News North/East Hitter of the Year.
Stats - Batted .606 with 62 runs, 80 hits, four home runs and 35 stolen bases.
All-Purpose - Griffin Joiner, Christian County (Hopkinsville, Ky.), Senior
Gatorade State Player of the Year... Kentucky Coaches Association State Player of the Year... Committed to Kentucky.
Stats - Batted .654 with 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 33 runs, 66 RBIs. As a pitcher, she was 20-2 with a 1.73 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched.
All-Purpose - Kenzie Conrad, Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), Junior
Ohio Coaches Association Division II All-State Team... Cleveland Plain Dealer Player of the Year.
Stats - Record of 22-2 with 0.98 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 135.2 innings pitched. Batted .440 with 26 runs, 12 doubles, 39 RBIs and nine home runs.
All-Purpose - Briana Combs, Ladywood (Livonia, Mich.), Junior
Michigan Coaches Association Division II All-State Team... Detroit News All-Super Team.
Stats - Record of 32-2 with 0.22 ERA and 324 strikeouts and only nine walks in 253 innings pitched. Also threw three consecutive perfect games during the postseason. Batted .528 with 74 hits and 41 runs.
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