By Melanie McGee
Shortstop Ashton Neumann, shown here in a home game against Great Bend, earned first-team All-State honors from the Kansas Softball Coaches' Association.PHS infielders earn All-State honors
By Melanie McGee
June 23, 2009
All season long, the left side of the Pratt High School softball team’s infield was as solid as a rock, thanks to senior third baseman Rebecca Slief and junior shortstop Ashton Neumann.
Both Neumann and Slief were named to the Kansas Softball Coaches’ Association Class 4A All-State teams for their efforts during Pratt’s 15-7 season.
Neumann received first-team honors after hitting .500 with 32 RBIs, two home runs, and an on-base percentage of .577.
She also had a fielding percentage of .932 and a .900 slugging percentage.
Slief was named to the second team after hitting .514 on the season with an on-base percentage of .597.
She had 36 hits, 15 RBIs, and scored 25 runs, plus finished with a .939 fielding percentage at third base.
“Both of these girls are very deserving,” PHS coach Mike Forshee said. “Reba (Slief) was our leadoff hitter and did a great job of getting things started for us offensively while Ash hit third in the lineup and was clutch for us all year. When we needed a big hit, she supplied it.”
“Both of them were just as solid as you can be oon the left side of our defense,” Forshee said. “They were just automatic when anything came their way.”
Slief will continue her career at Hutchinson Community College next season, while Neumann is expected to provide more clutch hitting and solid fielding as a senior at PHS.
The Lady Greenbacks will return six of their nine defensive starters, plus designated hitter Courtney Landis and backup pitcher/infielder Avery Neumann as they look to make a second straight trip to the Class 4A State Tournament.
