LOUDONVILLE — Coaches and players around the Mid-Buckeye Conference can finally rest easy.
Payton VanSickle’s reign of terror has ended.
A senior catcher, VanSickle was selected the MBC softball Player of the Year after leading Loudonville to another conference crown.
The Redbirds (19-6, 8-0) cruised to the MBC title thanks in part to VanSickle. She batted a robust .536 with 38 runs batted in, three home runs, three triples and 12 doubles. She was even better against MBC opponents, batting .679 with 18 RBIs and nine extra-base hits in eight conference games.
VanSickle was joined on the MBC first team by Loudonville teammates Karena Burgess, Olyvia Fenton, Alesha Felix, Helaina Gray and Natalee Buzzard.
Other first-teamers were Lucas’ Maddie Boyer and Alyssa Shay, Crestline’s Lillian Higgins and Mansfield Christian’s Noel Cline.
Lucas’ Myah Midkiff and Kailyn Caugherty were selected to the second team, along with Mansfield Christian’s Bailee Nelson, Crestline’s Jersey Bedson, Loudonville’s Addison Wolford and Kidron Central Christian’s Angela Miller.
Honorable-mention selections included Lucas’ Trinity Stickney, Mansfield Christian’s Abby Heininger, Crestline’s Madison McCulloch and Kidron Central Christian’s Carmen Galvan and Adeline Aubrey.
Loudonville’s Serena Fenton was selected the MBC Coach of the Year.