NORTH’S TALIA LACKERSHIRE, a senior, made second-team All-Fox River Classic Conference. – Photo by Nate Weimer

Four North softball players, one from each class, made the All-Fox River Classic Conference team.

Senior pitcher Talia Lackershire and freshman infielder Ally Wagner got second-team recognition, and junior outfielder Natalie Dulmes and sophomore catcher Ashley Thaves received honorable mention.

“As a group, these four girls were the backbone of our team,” Golden Raiders’ coach Chris Lenz said. “The strength of a team is usually up the middle and we had our pitcher (Talia/Ally), catcher and center fielder all represented on this list. It’s not a surprise that our success really stemmed from their success.

“We will definitely miss Talia and her leadership next year, but the other three will be leading a solid core group of returners for next year and into the future.”

Lackershire received honorable mention each of the two previous seasons.

“She had her best season by far with her best strikeout-to-walk ratio,” Lenz said. “She was a definite leader on the team.”

Wagner led the team in hitting with a .424 batting average and she got at least one hit in 17 of the 18 conference games.

Dulmes, according to her coach, was unquestionably the leader of North’s outfield.

“I would argue that she has the most range of any outfielder in the conference,” Lenz added.

And Thaves was a first-year catcher.

“Her knowledge of the game really was a huge benefit to her.,” Lenz said.

Two from South rewarded: Redwings’ freshman Ashleigh Niehaus made the second team as an infielder and senior teammate Helen Flynn, a catcher, earned honorable mention.

Both Ashleigh and I work hard,” Flynn said. “We have both played a lot of softball and it allows us to have field awareness and a sense of the game. We put in a lot of time and effort into this sport.”