The recently concluded high school softball season featured plenty of success for area teams. With that success came a high-level recognition for six area softball players.

Four stars from Northwestern, one from Jim Thorpe, and one from Panther Valley have been selected to the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches’ Association’s All State Team.

Junior Mara Levins from Jim Thorpe is a Class 3A First Team selection as a utility player.

Levins played three positions for the Olympians this past season as coach Kathy Levins — her mother — used her primarily as a pitcher, but also at third base and shortstop. She led the team with a .544 batting average and 14 extra base hits that included eight home runs, believed to be the most homers hit by any JT softball player in school history. Levins drove in a team-leading 23 runs from her No. 3 spot in the Thorpe batting order.

“I’m so proud of her,” said coach Levins. “She’s earned everything she gets from her hard work and dedication. She trains at the gym three times a week and playing volleyball helps her stay involved in athletics in the off season. Mara has also been solid at the hot corner. She’s not afraid of getting in front of hard hit balls.”

From Panther Valley, Mikayla Yurichek was selected by the PAHSSCA as a Class 2A First Team catcher.

The four-year starter and Chestnut Hill College commit hit .585 this season with a team-leading 31 hits and 20 RBIs. Yurichek became the first softball player in school history to total 100 hits in a career.

Panther coach Tara Yurichek praised her daughter: “Mikayla has an old school work ethic. She trains with weights. She’ll stay after practice and hits balls off the tee.”

The Panthers’ coach said that her daughter’s competitive nature began when she played in boys’ Little League and made their All-Star team. “At a young age playing baseball was a good experience for her to get used to the speed of the game. She also was mature beyond her years and was a team captain for us this year.”

Northwestern — which was a District 11 runner-up and PIAA State Tournament semifinalist this past season — placed four players on the PAHSSCA All State team in the Class 4A division.

Sophomore Abby Dunstan was selected to the First Team at the catcher position. She batted .543 from the cleanup spot in the Tigers’ batting order. Dunstan led the team with 50 base hits, belted five home runs, and knocked in 31 runs.

“As a sophomore, Abby plays the game beyond her years,” said Northwestern coach, Kate Farber. “She’s poised and focused and she does the little things right like making the most out of her at bats, especially by making contact.”

Also selected to All State First Team was senior shortstop Isabelle Akelaitis. She batted .427 with 41 hits, 31 RBIs, 33 runs scored and a team-leading 20 doubles. Akelaitis struck out just twice in 96 plate appearances this season. She also had a .909 fielding percentage.

“Izzy played very well under pressure, especially at the plate where we can count on her to put the ball in play,” said Farber. “She’s a strong power hitter and that’s why we had her hitting No. 3 in the order.”

Tigers’ sophomore pitcher Emma Freeman was chosen Second Team All-State as a pitcher. She finished with a 19-5 record and an ERA of 1.70. Freeman struck out 183 batters this year and is now only two strikeouts away from 300 in her career.

“Emma was simply dominant, confident, driven and focused. There was no rattle in her,” said Farber. “She was great against Valley View in the States and just as solid against Blue Mountain (D-11 final and state semis) which is a team with exceptional hitting.”

A Second Team selection was junior first baseman Shelby Mitman, who hit .395 with 32 hits, 23 RBIs and 21 runs scored.

“I’m super proud of Shelby,” said Farber. “She comes from a family of accomplished high school and college softball players and she set out to create an identity of her own and to leave her footprints on our program. She works very hard. She’ll stay after practice and do extra reps with her swing. Shelby also played a solid first base for us.”

One of the most impressive things about the six area players honored is that just two of them have recently graduated, meaning four of them will bring their skill and hard work back to the area diamonds next season.