CLARK GRELL
Lincoln Journal Star
It’s time to announce the winners of the 2021 Prep Sports Awards. These high school athletes have had amazing seasons this year and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.
Papillion-La Vista has a new look in 2021.
Actually, "new look" probably doesn't do it justice in describing the transition phase the Monarchs program is currently navigating.
Papio graduated 10 seniors from last year's team, a group that punctuated the most impressive high school softball era with back-to-back state championships and a 72nd straight victory.
Many of those 10 departed players will soon set foot on Division I campuses, including Jordyn Bahl, arguably the best player in state history and the nation's top 2021 recruit. She is headed to Oklahoma.
Now many, many (and many) new faces are ready for their turn.
The names are different. The experience level is vastly different. But these Monarchs have the same expectations as the teams before them.
"We're going to take it one game at a time and hopefully we keep improving and keep getting better, because we do plan to be there at the end," Papillion-La Vista coach Todd Petersen said of reaching state. "That's our goal."
Only two players with starting experience are back. Senior co-captain Sofia Hurst and junior Haley Wilwerding were outfielders during last year's Class A state title run. They'll start this year as infielders, Petersen said.
The duo will be counted on as leaders for a team that remains deep in talent, especially in the sophomore class.
"From a position perspective, we have probably about 14 girls that could start, and I kind of think that could happen sometime during the year for all of them," Petersen said. "That's an advantage for us if we approach it the right way, because it gives us a lot of options on different things we could do."
The Monarchs also will take a much different approach in the circle. For three seasons, Bahl tossed a bulk of the innings in becoming a two-time Super-State honorary captain.
Papio has four pitchers — seniors Grace Anderson and Megan Kvetensky, sophomore Kloey Hamblen and freshman Carly Bertolini — on the varsity roster this year, and they're all likely to share the innings.
For two seasons, the Monarchs were on a different level compared to the rest of the state. Only six teams played Papio to within four runs over the past two seasons, and most games ended via mercy rule.
The Monarchs are aware they'll be coming back to the pack in 2021. Class A's depth this year — there are more than eight teams with state-caliber lineups — also will challenge the Monarchs in their quest to reach state for a 29th straight season.
When Petersen writes out his lineup card for Thursday's season opener against Millard North, it will be without names like Bahl, Dumont, Jarecki and Vasa. But the new Monarchs — "They've been waiting," Petersen says — are eager to make their names known to Class A, and ready to carry on a winning tradition.
"I think there's always pressure with our teams, and I actually think if you handle it the right way, it's an advantage," Petersen said. "High expectations, there's nothing wrong with that. We have high expectations of them as coaches. They have high expectations as players.
"I think they'll be super-nervous the first game."
Meet the 2020 first-team softball Super-Staters from a season that won't soon be forgotton
Jordyn Bahl
Papillion-La Vista | Senior | College: Oklahoma.
Her best stuff:  Bahl posted numbers that we may not see again for a very long time. The four-time, first-team Super-Stater went 29-0 with a 0.095 earned-run average — the fourth-lowest ERA in state history. She struck out 338 batters and allowed only 28 hits in helping lead Papio to a second straight state championship and a second straight 36-0 season.
Her best moment:  "A lot of things stand out, but I'll have say two things: her absolute dominance in the winners' bracket — perfect game against North Platte and the next day in the championship game, (and) how she enjoyed that day with her teammates and she had that sense of fire and happiness," Papio coach Todd Petersen said.
The best feeling:  For Bahl, it was winning a third Class A state championship and defeating Lee's Summit North (Missouri) — the biggest threat to the Monarchs' long winning streak — 3-1 during the regular season in a matchup of two of the nation's top teams. It was one of Bahl's best games of her career. She threw a no-hitter and struck out a career-high 19.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Ruby Meylan
Omaha Skutt | Junior | College: Undecided.
Her best stuff: Â A dual threat, Meylan shut down offenses with her arm and torched defenses with her bat. In the circle, Meylan went 15-2 with a 2.23 ERA. At the plate, she hit .506 with 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 32 runs scored from the No. 3 spot in the order. Meylan was at her best at state, allowing zero earned runs while striking out 30 in helping Skutt to the Class B title. She also hit key homers against Norris and Hastings.
Her best moment: Â Meylan, who is receiving Power Five recruiting interest, shined in the circle, at the plate and in the outfield this year, helping Skutt to a third state championship. "So many well-pitched games, but I will remember a great diving catch in the outfield at state and the final pitch at state," Skutt coach Keith Engelkamp said.
Best feeling: Â It was Meylan who delivered the last pitch in the state final against Hastings, striking out a Tiger batter swinging. The dogpile ensued. "Winning state and reaching a goal we had (been) chasing for a long time," Meylan said of her favorite moment of 2020.
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Tatum Montelongo
North Platte | Sophomore
Her best stuff: Â Montelongo, who went 20-10 with a 1.75 ERA, turned her star at the state tournament, playing a lead role in getting the Bulldogs to the Class A state championship game. She held a potent Lincoln Southeast lineup in check and earned two wins against Lincoln Southwest in Hastings. She also was one of Class A's leaders in homers (15) and drove in 50 runs.
Her best moment: Â North Platte coach Jeff Barner recalls Montelongo's late efforts against Lincoln Southwest in a final-round elimination game at state. "The game against Lincoln Southwest that put us into the championship game was when Tatum really showed her mental and physical toughness," Barner said.
Her best feeling: Â Montelongo was helping North Platte cling to a late lead in that game against the Silver Hawks. "I was aware of the situation and knew I had to remain calm and focused for my team," she said. The sophomore caught a hard-hit come-backer for the second out and closed the game with a strikeout. "It's a moment and an inning I'll never forget." North Platte won 7-6.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Maddia Groff
Omaha Marian | Sophomore
Her best stuff: Â Groff followed a breakout freshman season with a standout sophomore campaign. The left-hander went 22-8 with a 2.49 ERA while striking out 259 batters for the Crusaders, who finished ranked fourth in Class A. Groff, who also hit around .350, has more than 450 strikeouts through two seasons.
Her best moment: Â Marian coach Chad Perkins recalls Groff's complete-game, one-hit performance against Lincoln East in a first-round game at state. "She was in complete control that game and hit her spots time and time again," he said. "When she would get in a slight jam, she would bear down and finish strong." The Crusaders won 3-0.
The best part of softball: Â "The best part about playing softball is learning valuable lessons and building life-long friendships," Groff said. "Softball has and continues to teach me how to deal with adversity and to stick with the process."
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Brooke Dumont
Papillion-La Vista | Senior | College: South Dakota State.
Her best stuff: Â Dumont finished as one the best catchers in state history. Her offensive production (.531 batting average, 12 homers, 44 RBIs, 1.042 slugging percentage as a senior) played a big part in the Monarchs going 142-4 over four seasons. But the four-time first-team Super-Stater's presence behind the plate is what separates her. By her senior season, coaches put pitch-calling duties in Dumont's hands.
Her best moment: Â "She had a great state tournament again (7-for-12 with two homers and seven RBIs), but it was what we've come to expect," Papio coach Todd Petersen said. "She had one stretch where she went four games and didn't get a hit in three of them, which was very unusual. The thing about Brooke is, though, you could never tell. She was still the same, and that's what leaders do."
The best part of softball: Â "The best part about softball is getting the opportunity to compete with my friends and teammates every day," Dumont said. "It's a blessing to be part of a team and see everyone grow and accomplish such high goals."
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Bella Bacon
Millard West | Junior | College: Iowa.
Her best stuff: Â Bacon made a lot of noise at the plate this season, including grand slams against Elkhorn South and Gretna. The first baseman hit .465 with five homers and 35 RBIs. "She will outwork anybody," Millard West coach Don Brummer said. "What stood out this season was her perseverance. She always came to play."
Her best moment:  Two of the biggest hits in Millard West's season were swats from Bacon — grand slams against Gretna and Elkhorn South. "These two plays were huge," Brummer said. "It helped win both games and get us in better position for the postseason."
The best feeling: Â Bacon said it's her two-run home run against Omaha Marian, which tied the game at 3-3. The shot came in the top of the seventh inning and on a 1-2 count against one of the state's top pitchers. The Wildcats scored three runs in the eighth and won the game 6-4.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Mia Jarecki
Papillion-La Vista | Senior | College: South Dakota State.
Her best stuff: Â A three-time first-team Super-Stater, Jarecki was the tone-setter atop the Papio lineup, and she created a lot of stress for opposing defenses with her ability to hit for power, hit for average and steal bases. She hit .521 with 28 RBIs, 59 runs scored, nine doubles and 23 stolen bases while slugging 1.010 as a senior. In addition to her offensive credentials, Jarecki was a rock at second base.
Her best moment: Â "I would have to say the whole season because she tied our school record with 59 runs and had 23 stolen bases, but also hit 12 home runs," Papio coach Todd Petersen said. "On the big stage she always showed up from when she was a freshman and hit her first high school home run against Pius (X) in a huge win that propelled us to the state title."
The best feeling: Â "The best moment of this season was winning state for the second year in a row and the third time in four years," Jarecki said. "Knowing that we left it all on the field, accomplishing everything we dreamed of."
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Emma Hain
Lincoln Southwest | Senior | College: Omaha.
Her best stuff: Â Hain continued to make defensive plays at shortstop that you rarely see at the high school level. Her range and strong and accurate arm helped save a lot of hits and runs. Offensively, Hain's steady bat stood out. She hit .416 with nine homers, 12 doubles and 47 RBIs. Some of her best moments at the plate came in games against top-10 competition.
Her best moment: Â "There were multiple outstanding defensive plays that Emma made that many shortstops cannot," Southwest coach Mark Watt said. "By ranging into the outfield to catching tweener fly balls or snagging grounders in the hole and using her exceptional arm, she made several great run-saving plays this season."
The best part of softball: Â "The love of the game," Hain said. "When everyone on the field loves and respects the game, the competition becomes thrilling. Knowing your teammate is going to be at the base or pick you up after an out, or the feeling when you've done your job to help your team is all based around that love and the relationships built through it."
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Hannah Camenzind
Omaha Skutt | Junior | College: Arkansas.
Her best stuff: Â Camenzind put up big numbers (.657 batting average with nine homers, 44 runs scored, 33 RBIs at the plate, and a 13-1 record and 1.32 ERA in the circle), and she shined brightest in the big moments. Her home run against Norris in the Class B state tournament got Skutt on track, and then she hit two homers in the state final against Hastings. When she wasn't pitching, Camenzind blanketed center field for the state champs.
Her best moment: Â It's hard to find one moment from a season in which Camenzind hit .633 while also dominating in the circle, but state stood out to her coach Keith Engelkamp. "Hitting .775 in the state tourney with five home runs and setting a new (school) season high batting average of .657, nudging out Kaylan Jablonski's record, which I thought was unreachable."
The best part of softball: Â "Sharing the field with my sister and playing the game we love," said Camenzind, who hits second in the Skutt lineup behind her twin sister, Lauren. Their softball bond will go beyond Skutt after both players committed to Arkansas earlier this fall.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Kacie Hoffmann
Elkhorn South | Senior | College: Arkansas.
Her best stuff: Â Hoffmann, a four-year starter, saved her best stuff for the final season. No player took a step up quite like the Storm center fielder, who hit .612 with 14 homers, 42 runs scored and 50 RBIs this fall. She led Class A in batting average. Hoffmann, known for her defensive prowess, set five school records, including career homers (33), career RBIs (150) and career batting (.464). She was automatic with runners in scoring position, her coach says.
Her best moment: Â "A moment that stood out to me was when she hit three home runs in a game (against Bellevue West)," Elkhorn South coach Elliot Haack said. "It was one of those that you could feel coming and when she stepped up for her last at-bat you could tell she was going to homer."
The best part of softball: Â "The best part about playing is the feeling of excitement and enjoyment I get from being around my teammates and succeeding," Hoffmann said.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Alexis Wiggins
Norris | Senior | College: Creighton.
Her best stuff: Â The ultra-competitive Wiggins was the Titans' workhorse in the circle, but she can also stand out in the outfield. She was the key to Norris' run to a third-place finish at state, finishing with a 23-5 record and 2.96 ERA while hitting .429 with 39 RBIs. She was at her best at the state tournament, striking out 27 in 26 innings behind a variety of pitches.
Her best moment: Â Norris began finding its groove just before the EMC Tournament, and took another big step winning three conference tournament games in one day. Wiggins pitched all three, but she also got help from the Norris bats and the Titans began to show their potential as a team. "It was during that day as coaches we realized how she raised the level of play for everyone around her," Norris coach Kyle McMurray said. "That day showed me the impact Alexis had on this team was significantly more than just as a pitcher."
The best part of softball: Â "Softball has provided me the ability to meet so many new friends and become closer with the friends I already have," said Wiggins, who added her favorite moment was the team's win against Hastings at state.
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Abby Russell
Omaha Marian | Senior | College: Southwest Minnesota State.
Her best stuff: Â Russell's experience and versatility really shined this year. She played lockdown defense at shortstop, and was one of the state's top baserunners while leading her team in homers (11), triples and doubles. Russell hit .460 with 40 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, and she also had some big moments in the circle as the Crusaders' No. 2 option behind Maddia Groff.
Her best moment: Â "I thought the best moment was at districts when Abby came in and pitched in the championship game and pitched a one-hit shutout and was 4-for-4 at the plate," Marian coach Chad Perkins said. "She knew how important that game was in reaching the state tournament and she put the team on her back."
The best feeling : For Russell, it's hard beating the thrill of a district championship. "Every girl worked so hard so that we were able to continue on to state and it was so excited to see that all of our extra work paid off," she said.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lyndsey Roth
On the softball diamond, Lincoln North Star catcher Lyndsey Roth has rewritten some of her high school’s records.
FILE PHOTO BY JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Maggie Vasa
Papillion-La Vista | Senior | College: Iowa.
Her best stuff: Â Vasa continued to produce in her second season with the Monarchs, hitting .435 with nine doubles, 33 runs scored and 29 RBIs. She also stole 16 bases while hitting from the four spot in the Papio lineup. One of the best athletes on the softball diamond, Vasa had a .949 fielding percentage from her shortstop position, and she had some key hits in Papio's state title-sealing win.
Her best moment: Â "For me it would be the state title game," Papio coach Todd Petersen said. "She was struggling a bit and came up big with two hits and helped kick-start our offense in the first inning with a big double. It was a great culmination to her two years here at Papio."
The best feeling: Â "For me, the best moment of the 2020 season was senior night," Vasa said. "It made me step back from the go-go-go of the season and really appreciate the girls and their families that were standing next to me. It made me realize what an absolute honor and blessing it was to be part of and share something so special with my best friends."
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lauren Camenzind
Omaha Skutt | Junior | College: Arkansas.
Her best stuff: Â Camenzind turned the key for Skutt's high-powered offense, hitting leadoff. The shortstop hit .400 with 10 homers, 22 RBIs and 44 runs scored, setting the table for her twin sister, Hannah, and Ruby Meylan, who followed in the lineup. A multi-threat, Camenzind can affect games on the basepaths and is one of the state's top defenders.
Her best moment: Â Camenzind's full arsenal was on display at the state tournament, including on defense. "She made a diving catch in left field from the shortstop position while colliding with the left fielder, and then she popped up to stop runners from advancing," Skutt coach Keith Engelkamp said. "A key play in the state tournament."
The best feeling: Â "When we won state, finally being able to get what we wanted for so long," Camenzind said. The SkyHawks outscored their four state opponents 26-5, leaving no doubt who the best team in Class B was while erasing the bad tastes of prior state exits.
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Ashley Smetter
Lincoln Southwest | Junior | College: Undecided.
Her best stuff: Â Smetter quietly had a strong sophomore season. She followed with highly productive junior campaign, hitting .517 with 77 hits, a school-record 19 doubles, 58 runs scored and 29 RBIs from atop the Silver Hawk lineup. Smetter was just as effective on the basepaths, swiping 26 bases. She showed some pop, too, and gave Southwest a strong glove at second base.
Her best moment: Â "What stood out were two monster home runs she hit, far over the second fence both times and both to take the lead in close games that we went on to win," Southwest coach Mark Watt said. "She has sprinter speed, and also a lot of pop in her bat."
The best feeling: Â "The best feeling this year was in our district final game (against Millard North) when were down 5-0 and we came back and won in the last final innings," Smetter said. "It felt like our team had really played together and wanted it for each other."
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Morgan Adams
Lincoln East | Junior | College: Undecided.
Her best stuff: Â You'll be hard-pressed to find a leadoff hitter with the power of Adams, who was among the Class A leaders in homers (17) and RBIs with 65, an impressive number for a lineup's No. 1 hitter. Adams changed the momentum in many games (injecting thunder into every swing, her coach says). The first baseman also scored 62 runs.
Her best moment: Â Adams hit two homers against Lincoln Southwest in a 12-11 win late in the season. The shots helped kick-start a doubleheader sweep for the Spartans. "Morgan was so consistent in every aspect of the game that you could truly 'count on her' when you needed something," Kingery said. She also had a big homer against Omaha Marian in the Westside tourney final.
Her best feeling: Â For Adams, it was Lincoln East's thrilling 14-13 win against Millard South in the district final. The Spartans scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh to win and it was kick-started by an Adams homer. "Every single person on the team did something to contribute toward the win," she said. "It was so cool to see us all come together and cheer each other on, and pull off the win to send us to state."
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Reach Clark Grell at 402-473-2639 or cgrell@journalstar.com . On Twitter at @LJSSportsGrell.
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