Dowagiac’s Megan Soderbloom, Taylor Hulett and Amiyah Smith were named to the Division 2 All-District softball team, which was selected by the coaches following last weekend’s tournament.

District champion Edwardsburg and Paw Paw, which was defeated by Edwardsburg in the semifinals, each had four players selected.

Dowagiac, the district runner-up, had three players named to the squad, which is the first step in the all-state process.

All-district team selections are now eligible for all-regional honors, which will be voted on following Saturday’s regional tournament.

Allie Strycker, Hannah Shoupe, Savannah Dixon and Layne Stinnett were selected from Edwardsburg. Brooke Timm and Sadie Fountain represent Niles.

Soderbloom hit .461 with 16 doubles, a triple and 34 RBIs. She scored 21 runs in 38 games.

“Megan was a leader for us behind the plate and made us a better team when she was there,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke. “She got big hit after big hit for us and will be hard to replace.”

Hulett hit .457 with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 33 RBIs. She scored 42 runs in 35 games. On the mound she was 10-12 with an ERA of 2.71 with 159 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched.

“Taylor has been a steady force for us the last four years in the circle,” Behnke said. “As a freshman, in the second game of the year we were behind to Decatur and she came in and shut them down and we came back to win and she never looked back. Her bat was just as good as her pitching and it will be hard to fill those gaps in our team next year.”

Smith hit .478 with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 30 RBIs. She scored 43 runs in 36 games and stole 21 bases.

“Amiyah is the kind of player every coach wants to have more of,” Behnke said. “She can play any position on the field and played shortstop, third base and catcher for us this year and played all of them well. She will be looked upon to do more of the same next year for us.”

Timm hit .298 with nine doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs.

Fountain hit .391 with six doubles, two triples and 17 RBIs.

“Sadie and Brooke are both well deserving of their all-district awards,” said Niles coach Rick McKeel. “Sadie led the team in hitting from pretty much the beginning of the year and was our most consistent hitter all year. Brooke got off to a slow start but then got it going towards the back half of the season. It was good to see her crush a homer in the district game.  

“Both of these girls work very hard which is why you see them getting honored for their achievements.”

McKeel was named Coach of the Year.

Strycker hit .451 with three doubles, a triple and 18 RBIs. In the circle she was 14-4 with an ERA of 2.154. She struck out 98 in 117 innings pitched.

Shoupe hit .367 with 10 doubles and 24 RBIs, while Dixon hit .424 with five doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 44 RBIs.

Stinnett hit .455 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, eight home runs and 38 RBIs.

DIVISION 2 ALL-DISTRICT

Outfield

Allie Strycker, Edwardsburg

Brooke VanTilburg, Paw Paw

Kiarra Herson, Paw Paw

Shortstop

Anna Castellucio, Paw Paw

First base

Hannah Shoupe, Edwardsburg

Second base

Savannah Dixon, Edwardsburg

Third base

Layne Stinnett, Edwardsburg

Catcher

Megan Soderbloom, Dowagiac

Pitchers

Ashley Pion, Edwardsburg

Taylor Hulett, Dowagiac

Utility

Amiyah Smith, Dowagiac

Designated player

Brooke Timm, Niles

At-large

1. Grace Sylvester, Paw Paw

2. Sadie Fountain, Niles

Sportsmanship

Dowagiac

Coach of the Year

Rick McKeel, Niles