The 2021 all-Times Leader softball team is made up of 20 of the finest talents in our coverage area.

The season, the first since COVID-19 shut down 2020, saw Martins Ferry roar to a school-record wins while claiming the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class 4A championship. However, the Purple Riders stubbed their toe in the first round of the sectional as the top seed. They did bounce back to capture the Buckeye 8 title.

Union Local, under the direction of second-year head coach Melissa Lahna, advanced to the Division III Eastern District finals before bowing out. The Jets took out Harrison Central in a district semifinal played in Gnadenhutten.

Martins Ferry’s Lauren McFarland serves as captain of the talent-laden squad.

The team is selected by head coaches and members of The Times Leader sports department.

A capsule of each honoree follows:

McFARLAND was a huge part of the Purple Riders success. For her performance, the junior was selected to the Division III second team all-state and first team all-Eastern District teams; was voted the OVAC Class 3A Player of the Year; and all-Buckeye 8.

“Lauren produced a lot of key hits for us and pitched in a lot of big games, none bigger than the OVAC (Class 4A) Championship,” Martins Ferry head coach Jerry Magistro said. “She works hard all year round. Her work ethic is the reason why she’s so successful. I look for her to get even better for her senior season.”

A pitcher/first baseman, she hit a team-leading .452 with 42 hits, of which five were doubles and one a home run. She drove in 31 runs and scored 18. Inside the circle, she was 10-3 with a 3.19 ERA. She struck out 65 batters in 81 innings while issuing 22 walks.

KATIE LIVELY, River, was the Pilots ace inside the circle where she went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA.

“Katie was a 3-year letterwinner for us and was a joy to coach,” River head coach David Wright said. “She plans to attend Marietta University and continue playing softball.”

Lively led River with 34 hits. She batted .486 and hit three home runs.

She earned Division IV all-Eastern District first team honors, as well as honorable mention all-state.

HARLEY NALLEY, Beallsville, was the Blue Devils leader with a sizzling .514 batting average that included 46 hits and 31 RBI. She recorded 10 doubles, four triples and smacked three home runs. She also scored 35 runs and made just one error in 39 chances.

“We were always able to count on Harley to perform in key situations, whether she was in the field or at the plate,” Beallsville head coach Rhea Pittman said of her centerfielder. “She frequently threw runners out at home and, as a senior, served as a role model for our underclassmen in how to take the game seriously and how to work hard to get better every day.”

CASEY KILDOW, Union Local, played the final few games with a broken right hand, but it didn’t stop the senior centerfielder from contributing.

“Casey was our silent leader. She always led by example,” Lahna said. “She is a player every coach dreams of having play for them. You never had to ask her to do anything because she always knew what needed down and did it.”

Kildow batted .485 with 33 hits and 30 stolen bases.

HUNTER POLLOCK, Martins Ferry, was a potent leadoff hitter for the Purple Riders as the junior batted .416 with 42 hits. She clubbed six home runs, recorded a team-best 14 doubles and knocked in 34 runs. Her .752 slugging percentage topped her team, as were her 20 base-on-balls and 49 runs scored.

“Hunter is all business. She comes to practices and games ready to play. She is very quiet but plays loud on the field,” Magistro said of his second baseman. “She set the tone for our offense as our leadoff hitter. Whenever she got on base our chances of winning were even better. She is a hard-nosed, tough player and that is what I like about her.”

Pollock earned first team all-Eastern District as well as first team all-OVAC and all-Buckeye 8.

KALISTA FRIDAY, Monroe Central, was the Seminoles heart and soul as their junior shortstop.

“Kalista led the team in batting average, hits and doubles,” Monroe Central head coach Michael Brock said.

Friday batted .418 with 38 hits and 25 runs scored. She drove in 24 runs, had 14 doubles, a triple, a homer and nine stolen bases.

JAYDEN LOWE, Bellaire, was the senior leader on a young Big Reds squad that advanced to the OVAC Class 3A semifinals.

“Jayden led by example this year,” Bellaire head coach David Menendez said. “She gave us everything she had on every pitch and, as a coach, that is all you can ask for.”

Lowe batted .311 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in. She also stole 11 bases. Inside the circle, she compiled a 10-7 record with a 3.01 ERA. She struck out 110 batters.

JENNA JASKOWIAK, St. Clairsville, was a duel threat for the Red Devils at the plate and inside the circle.

“Jenna was a player who always gave her all from start to finish. She will always be proud of being a Red Devil,” St. Clairsville head coach John Jaskowiak said of his 4-year letterwinner.

The West Liberty recruit struck out 91 batters while compiling a .410 OBP.

BRITTON POSITANO, Harrison Central, served as the Huskies’ senior centerfielder.

“Britton was a force in center field. There wasn’t much that got past her in either gap,” Young said. “She was a 4-year starter.”

Positano hit .477 — second to Butler — and recorded 41 base hits. She had five doubles and a trio of homers while driving in 31.

MARIA CLARK, Martins Ferry, is another junior that supplied a lot of offense and can also pitch. She hit .418 with 38 hits, a team-leading seven home runs and five doubles. She drove in 30 runs and scored 33.

“A player like Maria is a coach’s dream. Her effort and attitude are second to none,” Magistro said of his third/first baseman. “She is another one of those girls that comes ready to play. She’s all business and all about winning. She also has a great work ethic and that is why she is so successful.”

Clark was also a first team all-Eastern District selection, as well as all-OVAC and all-Buckeye 8.

KILEY JO BAKER, Shadyside, was a four-year regular for the Tigers and head coach Jillian Ongley. She could play multiple positions and played them well.

“Kylie Jo has been a leader on the team since her freshman year. She was always willing to put in extra time to make herself and teammates better,” Shadyside head coach Jillian Ongley said. “It was a joy to coach an athlete like Kylie Jo and she will surely be missed next season.”

Baker batted .521 with 45 hits and 31 RBI. She recorded 16 doubles, four triples and hit three home runs. She also stole 25 bases.

She was rewarded for her performance with first team all-OVAC and honorable mention Division IV all-state honors.

DANIELLE LUDE, Martins Ferry, is just a freshman but plays like a senior, according to Magistro.

“Her greatest quality is her maturity. She handles things very well,” Magistro said of her shortstop. “She puts a lot of time into the game and travels all over the country to get herself better. She is probably one of the best all-around freshman softball players in the Ohio Valley. She truly loves the game and the sky is the limit for her.”

Lude batted .438 with a team-leading 46 hits and 42 runs batted in. She rapped out 12 doubles, a pair of triples and four roundtrippers. She also scored 41 runs.

DEKOTAH NAMACK, St. Clairsville, was one of the strongest catchers in the Ohio Valley, according to her coach.

“Dekotah had a great year for us and is continuing to improve her skills this summer,” Coach Jaskowiak noted. “She will definitely be ready for her senior year.”

Namack slugged seven home runs and drove in 23 runs this season. She had a .506 on-base percentage.

LIZ RODERICK, Monroe Central, was the Seminoles lone senior and only one of three returning lettermen as they reached the OVAC Class 3A championship game.

“Liz pitched in 20 games and led our team in stolen bases, home runs and RBI,” Brock noted.

Roderick hit .343 with 35 hits and 27 runs scored. She also had 32 runs batted in, stole 23 bases, rapped six doubles, a like number of triples and homered three times.

KATIE RUFENER, River, was a veteran backstop for the Pilots for three seasons.

“Like Katie Lively, Katie is planning on attending Marietta University and has hopes of playing softball, as well,” Wright added.

Rufener was a first team all-Eastern District selection while hitting .449 and leading the team in runs batted in. She also had a .980 fielding mark.

MADDY BUTLER, Harrison Central, was the Huskies’ leader from the leadoff spot.

“We knew every time Maddy got on base there was a good chance that she was going to score,” Harrison Central head coach Darrin Young said of his sophomore third baseman. ”

She led the team with a .524 batting average that included a team-best 43 hits, of which six were doubles. She belted two home runs and drove in 13.

LEXI FERGUSON, Harrison Central, was the Huskies’ senior second baseman.

“This was her first time playing the position, but she was solid,” Young noted. “She always seemed to come up with a big hit and is a great leader.”

Ferguson batted .417 with 35 hits. She rapped out six doubles, a triple and three roundtrippers while driving in 30 runs.

KEIRA GREGOR, Union Local, was the Jets junior ace inside the circle and also one of their top hitters.

“Keira is a player who wants the ball at all costs,” Lahna noted. “No matter is she is struggling or on fire, she wants the ball and loves the thrill of competing on a daily basis.”

Gregor led UL in hits (40) and RBI (45).

RYLEE MAGNANI, Union Local, was a jack-of-all-trades for the Jets as she played just about everywhere on the field.

“Rylee is the most dedicated player I’ve ever seen. She was always at the field hitting, pitching or fielding before practice,” Lahna pointed out. “She strived to be the best.”

TORRE KILDOW, Union Local, was a standout shortstop as a sophomore.

“She is a force to be reckoned with wherever she plays on the diamond,” Lahna praised. “She is normally a first baseman but we asked her to play short and she did a wonderful job. She has a great glove.”