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Madison Renner, Kaci Alderson named Players of Year

3 min read

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

West Greene’s Madison Renner celebrates while scoring the game-tying run in the 5th inning against Monessen.

Madison Renner, a senior shortstop from West Greene, and Kaci Alderson, a sophomore shortstop from Chartiers-Houston, were named Player of the Year in their respective classifications by the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association.

Renner, who helped the Pioneers repeat as PIAA Class A champions, and Alderson, who helped the Bucs earn another berth in the Class AA postseason, were two of 17 local players who were named to the All-State teams.

Six other West Greene players – sophomore pitcher Jade Renner, senior first baseman Lexie Mooney, senior outfielder Linzee Stover, junior second baseman Kaitlyn Rizor, junior third baseman Madison Lampe and junior outfielder McKenna Lampe – were selected.

Alderson was one of four C-H players honored. The others were junior first baseman Ella Brookman, senior pitcher Kaitlyn Dittrich and junior catcher Kasey Scears.

Madison Renner batted .551 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 45 RBI. She also pitched when her sister, Jade, got a day off. The Renners were key to West Greene making the Class A state finals the past two seasons.

“She’s the driving force on keeping us up (emotionally),” said West Greene head coach Bill Simms. “Everyone knew she was the captain of the team, the team mom and mother hen all rolled into one. She kept everyone in line and with the ability as a fellow teammate not to go overboard and lose respect from teammates.”

Renner’s 45 RBI put her fourth in the state, in all classifications, in statistics gathered by MaxPreps.

“Her discipline improved at the plate,” said Simms. “You look at her walk totals … and they were up. She was a great bad-ball hitter. But when she went 3-0, she got more disciplined on taking the walk and letting people hitting behind her get her in.”

Alderson had equally eye-popping statistics. She batted .596 with nine doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBI.

“I’m happy for her and I’m happy for all the girls who made the teams,” said Chartiers-Houston head coach Tricia Alderson of her daughter. “Kaci will be the first to tell you that she would trade every honor for winning a WPIAL and state championship.

“She grew as a player this year. She worked hard to improve and I hope she will continue to grow.”

Kaci Alderson said she was surprised to learn of her selection.

Kaci Alderson

“When you think about all the people who were considered, I’m really honored,” she said. “I’m happy for my three teammates making it.”

The other local players named to the All-State teams were Bailey Parshall, a senior pitcher from Belle Vernon; Kylie Sinn, sophomore pitcher from Carmichaels and Rachel Elsenheimer, junior third baseman. Three players from Monessen were selected in senior pitcher Dana Vatakis, junior outfielder Mattie Telegraphis and senior second baseman Destiny Habeck.

Parshall, Alderson, Scears, Telegraphis, Vatakis, Elsenheimer, Madison Lampe, McKenna Lampe, Jade Renner, Madison Renner and Rizor were named to the first team. Sinn, Brookman, Dittrich, Habeck, Mooney and Stover made second team.

The three-week selection process came after nominations were accepted from more than 250 high school coaches and 140 sports writers/newspapers. Those nominations were considered by the active members of the PHSSBCA.

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