TRI-CITY AREA — From the opening pitch to the final out, these players set themselves apart from the rest.
Here is a look at who made the 2021 edition of The Tri-City Times All-Area softball team and the numbers they generated en route to those accolades:
Almont’s Devin Johnston connects on a pitch during a game this past spring.
Grace Schriber, Imlay City.
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Righthanded
Record: Schriber put together a 13-5 record, featuring a 1.64 ERA, this past spring.
In 106 2/3 innings of work, Schriber allowed 95 hits, struck out 97 and issued 21 walks.
Postseason honors: Schriber completed her second season on Imlay City’s varsity as an All-District and All-Region selection.
Meriah Mason, Capac.
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Righthanded
Record: Mason amassed a 9-5 mark, during the 2021 campaign.
In 85 innings of work, Mason gave up 103 hits, retired 98 via the strikeout route and walked 28.
Batting average: Mason ranked first on the Capac ballclub and -seventh among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .431 average.
She supplied 19 singles, four doubles, seven triples and one home run among 72 at bats.
Mason also contributed 19 RBI and stole 13 bases.
Postseason honors: She wrapped up her third year at the varsity level as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East first team selection and All-District choice.
Mason will continue her softball playing days at St. Clair County Community College next season.
Becca Weiss, Dryden.
Year: Junior
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Lefthanded
Record: Weiss managed a 7-5 record this past spring.
In 73 innings of work, Weiss gave up 76 hits, retired 88 on strikes and issued 25 walks.
Batting average: The junior wound up third on the Dryden squad and 10th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .387 average.
Weiss supplied 21 singles, one double, one triple and one homer in 62 at bats.
She also contributed 23 walks, 22 stolen bases and 11 RBI to Dryden’s cause.
Postseason honors: Weiss wrapped up her third season on Dryden’s varsity as an All-North Central Thumb League Stars Division first team selection.
Kassy Amon, Capac.
Year: Senior
Position: Catcher
Batting average: Amon amassed a .413 average, thanks to 19 singles, nine doubles and three triples among 75 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was second best on the Capac ballclub and eighth out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also collected 17 RBI and stole seven bases.
Postseason honors: Amon, who has signed to play with Adrian College, finished her only season on Capac’s varsity as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East second team pick.
Skylar Stone, Imlay City.
Year: Senior
Position: Catcher
Batting average: Stone ranked fifth on the Imlay City ballclub and 11th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .356 average.
She provided 33 singles and three doubles among 101 at bats.
Stone also generated 18 RBI, waited out 10 walks, was hit by a pitch four times and stole two bases.
She finished her fourth season at the varsity level as an All-Blue Water Area Conference honorable mention choice.
Kendall Roszczewski, Almont.
Year: Sophomore
Position: Catcher
Batting average: Roszczewski managed a .354 average, thanks 22 singles, nine doubles and three home runs among 96 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was seventh best on the Almont ballclub and 12th out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also scored 28 runs, collected 25 RBI and stole eight bases.
Postseason honors: Roszczewski concluded her initial varsity season as an All-Blue Water Area Conference honorable mention pick.
Sarah Hall, Almont
Year: Junior
Position: Third base/catcher/outfield
Batting average: Hall produced a .471 average, thanks to 39 singles, five doubles, one triple and four home runs among 104 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was fourth best on the Almont ballclub and fourth out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also contributed 39 RBI, scored 31 runs and registered 16 stolen bases.
Postseason honors: The junior concluded her third season on Almont’s varsity as an All-Blue Water Area Conference honorable mention selection.
Natalie Stone, Imlay City.
Year: Sophomore
Position: Third base
Batting average: Stone ranked third on the Imlay City ballclub and ninth among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .390 average.
She had 22 singles, 13 doubles, one triple and 10 home runs in 101 at bats.
Stone also collected 45 RBI, scored 32 runs, waited out 12 walks, stole two bases and was hit by a pitch once.
Postseason honors: She ended her second season at the varsity level as an All-Blue Water Area Conference honorable mention selection.
Jaya Forti, Imlay City.
Year: Junior
Position: Shortstop
Batting average: Forti sported a .447 average, thanks to 42 singles, six doubles and two triples among 114 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was second best on the Imlay City ballclub and sixth out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also furnished 46 runs, supplied 33 RBI, stole 20 bases and waited out 18 walks.
Postseason honors: The junior wrapped up her third season on Imlay City’s varsity as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team choice.
Devin Johnston, Almont.
Year: Sophomore
Position: Infield
Batting average: Johnston wound up with a .600 average, thanks to 43 singles, 18 doubles, one triple and one homer among in 105 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was best on the Almont squad and out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also provided Almont with 51 RBI, 46 runs and stole 29 bases.
Postseason honors: Johnston finished her first season on Almont’s varsity as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team selection and All-District choice.
Grace Koenig, Almont.
Koenig amassed a .508 average, thanks to 44 singles, 12 doubles, four triples and one home run among 120 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was second best on the Almont ballclub and out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also scored 54 runs, collected 37 RBI and stole 23 bases.
Koenig wrapped up her initial varsity season as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team pick and All-District selection.
Abigail Thibodeau, Imlay City.
Year: Senior
Position: Second base
Batting average: Thibodeau provided a .464 average, thanks to 41 singles, seven doubles and three triples in 110 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was best on the Imlay City ballclub and fifth out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also supplied 45 runs scored, collected 27 RBI, registered 14 steals, waited out nine walks and was hit by a pitch once.
Postseason honors: Thibodeau wrapped up her third season on Imlay City’s varsity as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team choice.
Skielar Tesnow, Capac.
Year: Freshman
Position: Second base.
Batting average: Tesnow furnished a .282 average, thanks to 12 singles, six doubles and two triples among 71 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was ninth best on the Capac ballclub and 15th out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
She also scored 10 runs and stole two bases.
Tesnow concluded her initial season on Capac’s varsity as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East first team selection.
Cerenity Helzer, Capac, first base.
Year: Junior
Position: First base
Batting average: Helzer ranked fifth on the Capac ballclub and 13th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .347 average.
She had 21 singles, two doubles and two home runs in 72 at bats.
Helzer also contributed 13 RBI and five stolen bases to Capac’s cause.
The junior finished her first year on Capac’s varsity as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East honorable mention choice.
Grace Johnson, Almont.
Year: Junior
Position: Outfield
Bating average: Johnson supplied a .480 average, thanks to 49 singles among 102 at bats. Her level of plate proficiency was third best on the Almont ballclub and third out of those who attained Tri-City Times All-Area first team status.
The junior also scored 47 runs, stole 29 bases and collected 29 RBI.
Postseason honors: Johnson completed her third season on Almont’s varsity as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team pick and All-District selection.
Natalie Douglas, Imlay City, outfield.
Douglas ranked eighth on the Imlay City ballclub and 14th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .313 average.
She had 18 singles, nine doubles, two triples and two home runs in 112 at bats.
Douglas also supplied 32 RBI, scored 28 runs, waited out 11 walks, was hit by a pitch three times and stole three bases.
Postseason honors: Douglas concluded her third season on Imlay City’s varsity as an All-Blue Water Area Conference honorable mention choice.
Second team- Makenzie Hayward, Imlay City, pitcher; Madalyn Roberson, Capac, pitcher; Riley Knox, Dryden, pitcher; Lydia Lacavera, Almont, pitcher/second base/outfield; Isabella Theisen, Almont, catcher/second base; Elly Schapman, Almont, first base; Jordyn Wheeler, shortstop, Capac; Julia Schaefer, Capac, outfielder; Emma Sellers, Imlay City, outfielder; Samantha Leid, Almont, outfielder; Lexa Forti, Imlay City, outfielder; Natalie Embree, Dryden, outfielder; and Chloe Moran, Capac, outfielder.
Honorable mention- Rilynn Lindsey, Dryden, shortstop; Addie Tresnak, Dryden, infield; Lauren Abromaitis, Dryden, second base; Avery Grondin, Dryden, catcher/first base; and Miya Wolff, Dryden, rightfield.
For directing Imlay City to a 27-14 overall mark, a top Division 2 district showing and a 9-5 Blue Water Area Conference showing (good enough to tie North Branch and Almont for second), Jean Bannister earns Tri-City Times All-Area Coach of the Year accolades.
She edges out Erik Johnson, who guided Almont to an 18-12 overall record and a 9-5 Blue Water Area Conference showing (which tied Imlay City and North Branch for second) for the honor.
Note: The numbers of varsity years mentioned in the article include the 2019 campaign which was called off due to the pandemic.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
