GALESBURG — After claiming the first Arrowhead Conference title in school history, the Carl Sandburg College softball team was rewarded with a league-high six players on the All-Arrowhead Team.
Sophomore pitcher Kylie Stineman (New Boston, Ill./Mercer County) earned the honor for the second straight season and was joined on the team by sophomore pitcher/designated player Madison Benge (Stronghurst, Ill./West Central), freshman third baseman Emily Bloomer (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington), freshman first baseman Lauryn Campbell, freshman catcher Erin Flairty (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) and freshman outfielder Grace Wilmington (Chillicothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central).
Also, coach Todd Winkler was named Arrowhead Conference Coach of the Year for guiding the Chargers to a 16-2 record. It’s the second Coach of the Year award in the 2018-19 season for Winkler, who in the fall led the Sandburg volleyball team to an undefeated mark and its first Arrowhead championship since 1990.
Stineman went a perfect 5-0 in six Arrowhead starts in addition to earning a save in her lone relief appearance. The efficient righthander posted a 2.64 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while striking out 18 and walking just four in 39 1/3 innings.
Benge was named to the All-Arrowhead team as a designated player, but the two-way threat also teamed up with Stineman to form a formidable 1-2 punch in the circle. As a pitcher, Benge led the Chargers in conference victories with an 8-1 mark in nine starts covering a team-high 51 innings. She also sported a 2.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while striking out 19 and walking just seven.
At the dish, Benge blasted a team-best three home runs against league opponents to go with a .407 batting average, .475 on-base percentage and .667 slugging percentage. Her 18 RBIs were second on the squad.
Bloomer appeared in all 18 conference games and led the Chargers with nine doubles, 19 RBIs, 11 extra-base hits and 43 total bases over 68 plate appearances. She was also second on the team with a pair of homers and 20 runs scored while hitting .444/.485/.683. Bloomer’s 1.168 on-base plus slugging percentage was second on the team in Arrowhead action.
The Chargers’ cleanup hitter, Campbell turned in a slash line of .410/.455/.541 in conference play, hitting a homer and driving in 17 over 66 plate appearances. She also scored 15 runs, doubled five times and had 33 total bases.
Batting atop the order, Flairty led Sandburg with 22 runs and five steals in 18 Arrowhead games while hitting .446/.493/.615. Flairty’s 40 total bases were second to only Bloomer, and she had six doubles, a home run and 14 RBIs.
A right fielder, Wilmington played her best ball during the conference schedule as she led the Chargers in batting (.512), OBP (.583), slugging (.756) and OPS (1.339). She doubled eight times in just 48 plate appearances, and her nine extra-base hits were good for second on the team. Wilmington scored 15 runs and knocked in 11 in Arrowhead play.
2019 ALL-ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
Infielders: Emily Bloomer (Sandburg, third base), Shea Moritz (Illinois Valley, first base), Kelsey Bollon (Highland, shortstop), Taylor Workheiser (Black Hawk, shortstop), Lauryn Campbell (Sandburg, first base).
Outfielders: Grace Wilmington (Sandburg, right field), Jessica Garner (Illinois Valley, outfield), Hailey White (Kishwaukee, center field), Lillie Ledbetter (Sauk Valley, center field).
Catchers: Bailey Simpson (Illinois Valley), Erin Flairty (Sandburg), Sarah Bisland (Sauk Valley).
Pitchers: Brenna McCann (Illinois Valley), Kylie Stineman (Sandburg).
Designated Player: Madison Benge (Sandburg).
MVP: Brenna McCann (Illinois Valley).
Coach of the Year: Todd Winkler (Sandburg).
2019 Arrowhead Conference Softball Standings
Sandburg 16-2
Illinois Valley 12-2
Highland 6-8
Black Hawk 6-12
Sauk Valley 5-11
Kishwaukee 3-13
***Report Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
