Awards season for spring sports continued with the release of the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association’s All-State team for softball.

Five players from three different area schools were named to the first team, while four other players were named as second-team all-stars.

The list includes three players from Northwestern, the District 11 runner-up. On the left side of the Tigers infield - third baseman Marissa Christman and shortstop Izzy Akelaitis - were both named to the first team, as was Abby Dunstan, who was named as the designated player.

The 3A All-Star Team includes third baseman Jordyn Hemingway from Northern Lehigh, and Mikayla Yuricheck is a first-team catcher.

Northwestern catcher Sage Toman and outfielder Rylee McGinley were both named to the 4A second team. In 3A, pitcher Carly Gaffney of Palmerton is a second team honoree and in 1A, Morgan Kelly of Marian is a second team pitcher.

Christman has been the heart, soul, and comedienne of the Tigers over her career. Even with her ability to make teammates laugh, Christman is respected enough that when she stops joking other players are listening.

In each season, Christman pushed her offensive stats higher and held down third base well defensively. She finished off her career with four home runs, 38 RBIs and a .469 average. Even with her freshman season being canceled, she still crossed the 100-hit mark for her career, finishing with 106.

Rising senior Izzy Akelaitis made the move from second base to shortstop for the Tigers in 2023 and handled the move with ease. She and Christman gave Northwestern one of the better defensive shortstop-third base combinations in the area.

Offensively, Akelaitis drove in 41 runs with a .457 average in 2023, and - like her two sisters before her - crossed the 100-hit plateau and did it during her junior season.

Another underclassman, rising sophomore Abby Dunstan made a late season move from first base to behind the plate when Toman moved to left field. Dunstan helped to bring power to the lineup and finished as the team leader in home runs with five and hit a robust .419 for Northwestern.

With 36 hits in her freshman season, there is a good chance that Dunstan will also cross the 100-hit mark in her career.

“We had a lot of girls contribute for us this season,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Zimmerman. “Marissa was really good throughout her career and helped keep the team loose before a big game and help younger players adapt.

“Izzy and Abby are both exciting players who do anything we ask of them. We have both of them back next year, so it’s going to be interesting to see how they develop.”

Panther Valley had a young team for the 2023 season, and Yuricheck provided much needed leadership for the younger players.

With her freshman season wiped out by COVID, Yuricheck came into her sophomore season figuring to play shortstop - where she had been impressive defensively - but instead, made the team as the starting catcher.

With her usual approach to not just adapting to any situation, but excelling at what she does, Yuricheck worked hard to improve her skills over her four seasons at the position.

“We didn’t have anyone to play that position, and Mikayla worked hard to learn the catching position and became one of the best catchers in the state,” said Panthers head coach Tara Yuricheck.

Offensively, Yuricheck had eight home runs with 38 RBIs and an eye-opening .672 average with 14 stolen bases.

“She has a way of making everyone on the team feel comfortable and confident,” said coach Yuricheck. “It’s fun to watch Mikayla play because she has a great softball IQ and loves the game.”

At Northern Lehigh, the team has grown from a group of just 14 players two years ago to 19 for the 2023 season. While there is definite growth, the school’s roster is well short of where many schools are in terms of players.

With fewer players on the roster, the odds of having a player make the first team at the state level generally is not good. That changed with the selection of Hemingway as the best third baseman in the state in the 3A classification.

“She contributed a lot to the team over her three seasons, and she leaves behind some big shoes to fill at third base,” said head coach Kate Farber.

While she has had a lot of success at a small school, Farber shies away from the spotlight. That is not to say that she does not lead for the Bulldogs, it just means that she prefers to do it in a more subtle, non-flashy way.

“Jordyn is not arrogant and instead of seeking the spotlight, she is more concerned with setting an example for the other players on the team,” said Farber. “She has been a silent leader. She’s not vocal but leads with skills and has great confidence that she uses, but does not come across as arrogant or egotistical. That’s what has made her special to her teammates and the entire school community.”