The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
3 Keystone players earn All-American honors
Sammie Stefan has a bit of a problem. But it’s a good one. The recently graduated Keystone senior was one of three Wildcats named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American teams on July 7. The problem? Stefan is running out of places for all of her awards.
“They’re definitely starting to pile up,” Stefan said with a laugh. “I have a wall and some shelves that I’ve been putting everything up on. That’s been working well, but it’s getting crowded.”
A week after seniors Stefan and Lauren Shaw and freshman Marlie McNulty were awarded first team All-North Region honors by the NFCA, the trio were once again honored by the Association with All-American status.
Stefan was named a first team All-American, while Shaw and McNulty were given third team All-American status.
It is the second time Stefan has been named a first
team All-American, while Shaw makes her debut on the All-American teams. Additionally, McNulty became the first Keystone freshman to receive AllAmerican honors.
“I’m just extremely proud, not only of those three, but of the entire team,” Keystone coach Jim Piazza said. “You can’t get these types of recognition without the entire team doing their jobs. All three of them are hard workers who are great softball players. They definitely earned this honor.”
Only one other team in the United States had three players receive All-American status: Los Alamitos (Calif.), the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division I softball champions.
Additionally, only one other player in Ohio was given All-American honors: Lakota East shortstop Rachel Lewis.
“There is a lot of talent in Ohio,” Piazza said.
“I know the entire state takes pride in the national awards. As a coach, I take a lot of pride in being able to have our team recognized like this.”
Only two other times in Keystone history have three players been named All-Americans: 2012 (Kenzie Conrad, Erin Pond, Bri Buckley) and 2011 (Conrad,
Alisha Silva and Pond).
For Stefan, it is the second time the Marylandbound third baseman has been named a first-team All-American, with the other coming last year. She was named to the second team in 2015.
Stefan is only the second player in Keystone history to be named a first-team All-American twice, joining 2012 graduate Conrad. She is also the third player to be named an All-American three times, joining Conrad (first team in 2012 and 2011, third team in 2010) and Pond (second team in 2012 and 2011, third team in 2010).
“It’s just crazy to think that people are noticing me,” Stefan said.
“I mean, you put in the hard work and hope that it pays off, but you’re never really thinking about the awards. To receive firstteam honors for the second time, it’s just a complete honor.”
Stefan may not have been thinking about the awards this year, but it has not prevented her from piling them up. During the 2017 season, Stefan was named The Morning Journal Player of the Year for the second time in her career, Lorain County Miss Softball and the Lorain County Coaches Association Player of the Year, NFCA first team All-North Region, OHSFCA first team All-Ohio and first team AllNortheast District, Lorain County D-II Player of the Year, first team All-Lorain County, Patriot Athletic Conference MVP and first team All-PAC.
To Stefan, though, the awards are simply a physical reminder of her career as a Wildcat.
“Being part of Keystone and helping to build the legacy here, it’s something amazing,” Stefan said. “It’s great and humbling to get the awards, but in the end I’m going to look a them and remember my teammates and the moments we had together and the memories we’ve made. That’s the part that is the most special.”
Shaw echoed Stefan’s sentiments.
“The memories will definitely outlast the awards,” Shaw said. “It’s an honor to get them, but the memories of playing at Keystone and the friendships will be what I always remember.”
For Shaw, being recognized as an All-American for the first time in her career meant a lot.
“It feels amazing,” Shaw said. “I’ve worked hard for four years at Keystone, and to be recognized for it is just a great feeling.”
Her stats back up the honor. The Iowa-bound senior went 13-3 in the circle with a 1.20 ERA, notching 141 strikeouts and she kept opposing batters to a .168 average.
“It’s awesome that I have a chance to be named an All-American now both in high school and in college,” Shaw said. “I’m definitely looking forward to Iowa. I have been since I committed two years ago. At the same time, it’s great to know that I’ve helped leave a legacy at Keystone and helped develop some of the younger players to keep the legacy going.”
One such younger player is McNulty, the first Keystone freshman to ever receive All-American honors.
She earned the accolade following a breakout season in which she hit .489 with 45 hits, four doubles, three triples, two home runs, 17 RBI and 36 runs. She also led Lorain County with 37 stolen bases.
To Piazza, the inclusion of McNulty as an All-American means a bright future for the Wildcats.
“Marlie has worked hard to be a great player,” Piazza said. “That’s something great for our program. Not only is she developing into a leader, but she’s also showing the other young players what can be accomplished when you put in the hard work and are willing to learn.”