Butler County softball all-stars: Meet the 2026 player of the year, first team, honorable mentions
Emersyn Jones could have a bad game and nobody would be the wiser.
“She doesn’t let anything bother her,” Knoch softball coach Chris Gardner said of the sophomore shortstop andpitcher. “She can turn that next pitch right over. If she has a bad pitch, whatever. She’s smiling the next one.”
Having registered a .508 batting average with eight home runs and 22 RBIs, Jones’ effort at the plate would’ve been enough to vault her into contention for player of the year.
Jones also pitched more this season — splitting time in the circle just about evenly with Marlee Fraser and Kaila Purcell — working through 36 innings, striking out 57 and turning in a .778 ERA.
Emersyn Jones, so., SS/P, Knoch: The two-way effort earned her Butler Eagle’s 2026 Softball Player of the Year.
“She works hard,” Gardner said. “She adjusted. After the first year, the standard was pretty high. Her freshman year, she was strong, so she had to step up again her sophomore year.”
Gardner expects Jones to see even more time pitching next season with Fraser having graduated. Jones also plays high-level travel ball, and Gardner said, “I’m sure she’s getting (college) looks out there already.”
“We’ll see whether she’s at short or third still,” Gardner said. “I expect a lot more of what she does. A lot of the same.”
Kennedy Brown, jr., P, North Catholic: Brown sat down 129 opponents on strikes, pinned up a 2.64 ERA and threw a no-hitter and one-hitter. And that was while sharing time in the circle.
“She also made history as a pitcher bringing her team to the most wins in North Catholic softball history and also making it furthest in the playoffs,” Trojanettes coach Dave Brown said.
Brown brought a very big bat, too, leading the Trojanettes with a .474 batting average and 23 RBIs.
Addison Burrows, sr., P/2B, Karns City: Burrows was strong at both defensive spots on the way to a first-team All-KSAC nod, having “pitched very well and played flawlessly at second base,” Gremlins coach Mike Grazioli said.
At the plate, Burrows turned in a .426 batting average, 20 RBIs and two home runs and stole 10 bases.
Marlee Fraser, sr., 3B/P, Knoch: Fraser was a two-way star for the Knights, who reached the WPIAL Class 4A postseason. The senior had a .407 batting average and a 1.300 on-base plus slugging percentage, and registered four home runs and 19 RBIs.
In the circle, she struck out 48 and put up a 2.79 ERA in 37 innings.
Riley Geyer, fr., 3B/C, Seneca Valley: Geyer, who hit .345 with a .424 on-base percentage, is the next in line of impressive Raiders, having earned a second-team All-Big 56 nod as a rookie. She’s currently in the recruiting process and figures to star for Seneca Valley for seasons to come.
Nicole Huff, jr., SS, Karns City: Huff, a first-team all-conference selection, was an offensive dynamo for the Gremlins. She posted a .532 batting average, driving in 33 runs, scoring 34 herself and lifting five home runs over the fence.
Huff’s talents at the plate were on display during a game against rival Moniteau in April, when she smashed a pair of three-run homers.
Abby Kalkowski, sr., P/1B/OF, Seneca Valley: Kalkowski, a first-team All-Big 56 pitcher who also hit .379, is also a Gannon commit. She helped power the Raiders to a WPIAL Class 6A title game appearance and was also slated to play in the Western PA Softball All-Star Game earlier this month at Plum High School.
Mary Kotwica, so., SS/C, North Catholic: Kotwica, one of the younger players on this list, batted .434 and had 17 RBIs for the Trojanettes.
“Mary has been a huge clutch (hitter) as our leadoff batter making vital contact with the ball,” Brown said. “It can only get better for this hard-working girl. ... She has one of the best attitudes on the team, which puts her in line to be a leader as she continues to grow.”
Sophia Lawrence, fr., OF, Slippery Rock: Lawrence, who doubled as the Rockets’ No. 2 pitcher, had walk-off home runs against Rocky Grove and in a District 10 playoff game against General McLane. She batted .455, swatting four home runs and pushing across 19 runs.
“Sophia (led) the team in a lot of key offensive categories,” Slippery Rock coach Dan Beebe said.
Neve Miller, sr., C/3B, Seneca Valley: Miller, a .373 batter this season, will play collegiately at Waynesburg after earning a first-team All-Big 56 nod as a utility player. Like Kalkowski, she was also chosen for the Western PA Softball All-Star Game.
Emry Rice, sr., 2B, Seneca Valley: When the Raiders needed runs, they turned to their senior middle infielder, who led the team in that category and batted .288. She will attend Ohio University.
Lily Staab, sr., C, Moniteau: In 16 games, the Warriors’ standout backstop had a .519/.544/.907 triple-slash line. She had five home runs, two triples and two more doubles.
The more telling stat about the four-year starter? She only struck out once.
“She broke the school record this year for career home runs,” Moniteau coach Bob Rottman said. “(She) will be missed more for her leadership and consistent effort. Has never in the four years of varsity softball (shown up) to practice without a smile.”
Alena Tekely, sr., 3B/OF, Knoch: In a Knights offense full of threats, Tekely carved out her own role. She batted .426 with a 1.182 OPS, two home runs and 22 RBIs. She also crossed the plate 20 times herself.
Julia Valasek, jr., LF/C, Seneca Valley: Valasek, who’s in the recruiting process, led the Raiders with a .415 batting average and .492 on-base percentage.
Paige Volz, sr., RF, Seneca Valley: Volz, who hit .464, is another Raider ticketed to play in the PSAC, as she’ll join California (Pa.) with first-team All-Big 56 and Western PA All-Star honors.
Halle Beatty, sr., OF, Moniteau; Addyson Caruso, sr., 3B, Freeport; Carley Conto, fr., DP/2B, Karns City; Alyssa Foltz, so., 3B/1B/C, Mars; Kaylin Garbinski, so., C, Butler; Kaila Purcell, jr., OF, Knoch; Lindsey Wise, sr., 2B/P, Knoch
