Mitchell softball lands 4 on 1st-team all-state list

The Mitchell high school softball team had four players named to the 1st-team all-state list after a 19-13 season in which the Kernels captured the Eastern South Dakota Conference crown and finished runner-up at the state tournament.

The players selected to the all-state team were seniors Krista Huber and Courtney Moore as well as sophomores Abby Sudbeck and Hallie Misiaszek.

The team recognized the players’ achievements at its end-of-the-year banquet Saturday. The awards were announced last week.

Huber finished the season with a 9-5 record as a pitcher and recorded 120 strikeouts on the season. She also had a batting average of .338.

Moore batted .433 on the season and set a single-season team record for hits in a year with 42.

“Our seniors are going to be missed,” Mitchell coach Jim Misaiszek said. “Courtney has been a lock in the infield for three years and Krista has developed herself as one of the best pitchers in the state.”

Other seniors on Mitchell’s roster this season included Ashley Larson and Emily Sudbeck.

Although two all-state selections will be leaving the team, the Kernels have the luxury of bringing back a battery of all-state players for the next two seasons.

“It all starts with the pitcher and catcher and with two with that much talent, we can focus on what’s around them,” Jim Misiaszek said.

In her sophomore season, Abby Sudbeck led the team in batting with a .446 average. She was also awarded the offensive MVP at the team banquet.

Hallie Misiaszek also had a standout sophomore year, finishing 9-8 and recording a single-season team record 132 strikeouts pitching for the Kernels. She also batted .344 on the year and was named the team’s defensive MVP.

“They’re only going to get better and it’s very exciting,” Jim Misiaszek said. “We built this program to last. We like where our program is at and we always want to be a threat to compete for a state title.”

Other players to receive team awards at the banquet included juniors Jenna Skinner, who was named the team’s silver slugger with a .402 batting average and earned the Hustler award, and Kelsey Weber, who received the golden glove award for her efforts as the team’s shortstop.

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