The 2024 Marshall Independent All-Area softball first team includes Natalie Wahl, Morgan Winter, (left, top to bottom) Kya Alderson, Morgan Bjella, Madison Hennen, (center) Avery Carlson, (right, top to bottom) Laken Baartman, Halla Casavan and Brielle Riess.

MARSHALL — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Marshall led the Independent’s 10 area schools with two and three All-Area first-team softball selections, upon the All-Area teams’ release on Thursday.

For Marshall, the senior trio of Morgan Bjella, Halla Casavan and Brielle Riess got the nod while the senior-freshman duo of Kya Alderson and Laken Baartman each earned selections for RTR.

Baartman’s 32 RBIs led the area and her 11 home runs in the regular season were more than the next two area leaders combined. She also was the lone freshman on the first-team and one of just three non-seniors, along with Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove junior Natalie Wahl and Minneota/Canby sophomore Madison Hennen.

Alderson, Baartman and Wahl were each named to the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association’s Class A All-State first team, while Independent All-Area second-teamers Morgan Winter of Murray County Central and Avery Carlson of Wabasso were both named to the All-State second team. Bjella was also named to the Class AAA honorable mention team.

Bjella and Alderson continued to be among the area’s best two-way players. Bjella’s 0.50 ERA and 0.62 WHIP were both area-bests while Alderson trailed right behind her in both categories at 0.90 and 0.69. Alderson was also far and away the area’s strikeout queen with 256 punchouts to just 19 walks.

At the plate, Alderson was dominant; her .711 on-base percentage and .585 batting average were both area-bests, and her 1.692 OPS trailed only Baartman’s 1.899 mark.

Marshall also had a pair of honorable mention selections in pitcher Harley Beek and catcher Mackenzie Olsen, giving the Tigers a total of five honorees.

Minneota/Canby tied Marshall for the most players on the teams with catcher Kiersyn Hulzebos and outfielder Faith Myhre each receiving a second-team selection while Kenadi Arndt and Dakota Pesch were both honorable mentions. Dawson-Boyd added another four selections, including second-teamer Natyah Ritter, who led the area with 24 stolen bases, while Wabasso recorded another three.

The Independent’s Softball Player of the Year will be announced next week.

Regular-season statistics only

FIRST TEAM 

Kya Alderson, RTR, P, Sr.

124 2/3 IP, 17-3, 0.90 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 256 SO, 19 BB; 76 PA, .585/.711/.981 (1.692 OPS), 4 HR, 22 RBI

Laken Baartman, RTR, C, Fr.

76 PA, .561/.671/1.228 (1.899 OPS), 11 HR, 32 RBI

Morgan Bjella, Marshall, P/1B, Sr.

83 2/3 IP, 10-2, 0.50 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 168 SO, 10 BB; 76 PA, .434/.400/.488 (.848 OPS), 6 RBI

Avery Carlson, Wabasso, P, Sr.

109 2/3 IP, 13-6, 1.53 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 102 SO, 27 BB; 71 PA, .414/.485/.517 (1.003 OPS), 10 RBI, 11 SB

Halla Casavan, Marshall, 3B, Sr.

75 PA, .333/.413/.515 (.928 OPS), 17 RBI, 2 HR

Madison Hennen, M/C, P/SS, So.

106 IP, 12-6, 1.65 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 192 SO, 20 BB; 72 PA, .365/.444/.492 (.937 OPS), 17 RBI, 6 SB

Brielle Riess, Marshall, OF, Sr.

83 PA, .360/.383/.560 (.943 OPS), 15 RBI, 2 HR, 7 SB

Natalie Wahl, RRC/WWG, 3B, Jr.

74 PA, .517/.622/.948 (1.570 OPS), 27 RBI, 2 HR, 11 SB

Morgan Winter, MCC, 1B, Sr.

42 PA, .487/.524/.795 (1.319 OPS), 3 HR, 13 RBI

SECOND TEAM

Melaina Ankrum, TMB, 1B/P, Fr.

65 AB, .308/.392/.554 (.946 OPS), 24 RBI, 10 SB; 25 2/3 IP, 4-1, 2.73 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 21 SO, 12 BB

Emma Brusven, Lakeview, P, 8th

51 IP, 3.29 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 51 SO, 32 BB; 48 PA, .395/.521/.605 (1.126 OPS), 4 RBI, 8 SB

Leah Carter, RRC/WWG, 1B, So.

63 PA, .392/.508/.510 (1.018 OPS), 11 RBI, 4 SB

Kiersyn Hulzebos, M/C, C, Jr.

78 PA, .397.474/.397 (.871 OPS), 9 RBI, 20 SB

Taylen Jorgenson, DB, 2B, Sr.

57 PA, .556/.579/.667 (1.246 OPS), 15 RBI, 15 SB

Faith Myhre, M/C, OF, Sr.

75 PA, .377/.486/.574 (1.060 OPS), 18 RBI, 11 SB

Natyah Ritter, DB, OF, Jr.

57 PA, .481/.526/.519 (1.046 OPS), 8 RBI, 24 SB

Thea Schneider, MCC, P, Jr.

97 IP, 10-6, 1.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 113 SO, 32 BB; 63 PA, .250/.333/.411 (.755 OPS), 11 RBI

Bayli Sneller, YME, P/SS, So.

104 IP, 7-9, 2.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 174 SO, 27 BB; 64 PA, .387/.406/.419 (.826 OPS), 7 RBI, 5 SB

HONORABLE MENTION

Alana Almich, YME, C, So.

63 PA, .200/.429/.511 (.940 OPS), 10 RBI, 4 HR

Kenadi Arndt, M/C, 1B, Sr.

62 PA, .418/.484/.491 (.975 OPS), 13 RBI, 16 SB

Harley Beek, Marshall, P/1B, Sr.

53 1/3 IP, 4-4, 2.63 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 48 SO, 14 BB; 74 PA, .328/.452/.379 (.831 OPS), 10 RBI

Jordyn Hanson, TMB, 2B, Sr.

67 AB, .388/.462/.493 (.954 OPS), 7 RBI, 11 SB

Olivia Hinz, Lakeview, 3B, Sr.

59 PA, .439/.458/.579 (1.037 OPS), 12 RBI, 7 SB

Lyla Kittelson, Wabasso, C, Jr.

67 PA, .212/.379/.500 (.879 OPS), 13 RBI, 3 HR, 3 SB

Mackenzie Olsen, Marshall, C, Sr.

72 PA, .254/.352/.475 (.827 OPS), 12 RBI, 3 HR

Dakota Pesch, M/C, 2B, Sr.

71 PA, .350/.451/.567 (1.017 OPS), 17 RBI, HR, 7 SB

Macy Rohlik, Wabasso, 3B, Jr.

65 PA, .357/.431/.464 (.895 OPS), 13 RBI, 10 SB

Madalyn Wente, DB, 1B, Jr.

54 PA, .538/.556/.673 (1.229 OPS), 13 RBI, 9 SB