Introducing the 2024 All-News-Herald Softball Second Team
KEIRA LOGAN | Riverview: One of the top underclassman in the Downriver region, Keira Logan was a key piece in helping Riverview collect their first district championship in six years this past spring. The standout sophomore shortstop for the Pirates earned all-Huron League, district, and region honors after hitting a tick under .500 with 20 runs batted in and 33 stolen bases. Her 64 hits on the season were one behind all-state teammate Ella Vinco for the team lead.
SARAHA GIROUX | Flat Rock: Sticking with the theme of prominent underclassmen, Sarah Giroux made a statement in multiple sports for Flat Rock this past school year. The freshman, described as a “force to be reckoned with” by Rams head coach Haylee Simpson, wrapped up her high school rookie season with a .481 batting average, an OPS over 1.200, 26 RBIs, 10 swipes, and only having struck out seven times.
MELANY CARREON | Lincoln Park: While they did not have the type of season they had hoped for, Lincoln Park was home to one of the more prolific hitting catchers in the Downriver region. The team leader in every major offensive category, Carreon put together a strong .476/.532/.714 slash line, earning both all-DRL and all-district honors at season’s end. Railsplitters head coach Debbie Howell praised the sophomore for “always being positive during a difficult season.”

BRIANNA MANNING | Allen Park Cabrini: No team locally enjoyed a bigger turnaround than Cabrini, who after winning just three games in 2023 picked up 20 victories this past spring. At the forefront of the Monarchs’ resurgence was Brianna Manning, who was described as an “absolute workhorse” by head coach Stephanie Plona, the Siena Heights University signee put together a senior season that included a .619 batting average offensively with 31 RBIs while also logging a 2.41 ERA in just under 90 innings pitched.
MIA TAYLOR | Brownstown Woodhaven: One would be hard-pressed to find many underclassmen that handles second base better than Mia Taylor, especially locally. An all-state honoree as a freshman in 2023, Taylor put together a campaign that included an even .500 batting average, 18 extra-base hits, 25 runs batted in, and 15 swipes. The sophomore was named all-DRL, district, and region at season’s end.
AVA AULER | Gibraltar Carlson: The Downriver League featured no shortage of steady reliable hitters and Ava Auler fit that description throughout her playing career. A Lourdes University signee, the senior Auler in her final high school season for Carlson earned all-conference recognition after hitting just under the .500 threshold with 13 doubles, 29 RBIs, and scoring 32 times. She also only struck out five times in just over 90 plate appearances.
EMMA SIC | New Boston Huron: One of four all-area catchers on this list, Emma Sic has had a stranglehold on being the area’s top backstops during her high school tenure. Praised for her “high softball IQ and aggressive play” by Huron head coach Tedi Belisle, the four-year starter and University of Tampa signee finished up her career for the Chiefs earning all-league and region honors after hitting over .400 with 13 extra-base knocks and driving in nearly 30 runs.
NATALEE LESKO | Wyandotte Roosevelt: One local team who could be making noise in 2025 and beyond is Roosevelt with the likes of catcher Natalee Lesko in the fold. One of multiple all-league and all-district underclassmen for the Bears, Lesko hit .448 and got on base more than 51 percent of the time. Head coach Joseph Chlipala credits the sophomore for her ability to “immediately stop the run behind home plate.”

PAIGE KRUZAK | Southgate Anderson: One player who makes a third all-area appearance in as many years is Paige Kruzak, who delivered as one of the more prominant two-way players in the Downriver region once more. Dubbed the team MVP, the junior and all-conference honoree for the Titans hit just under .500 with a 1.163 OPS while also logging a little more than a strikeout per inning (110 K in 104 IP).
BROOKE ANTHONY | Allen Park Inter-City Baptist: An all-News-Herald honorable mention in softball as a freshman season ago, Brooke Anthony finds her way back among the best local players after another strong season at Inter-City Baptist. The sophomore for the Chargers earned first-team honors out of the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference after hitting over .450 overall.
ADDISON KOPP | Flat Rock: Like her fellow all-area honoree and teammate Giroux, Addi Kopp had a knack for coming through when it mattered most for Flat Rock. An all-Huron League and all-district honoree this past spring, Kopp for the Rams hit .437 while logging nearly as many stolen bases (19) as she did RBIs (20). Coach Simpson said she “could always count on her in the big moments.”
ALEAH TANGUAY | Trenton: Very few players locally, if any, patrolled center field better over her career than Aleah Tanguay did for Trenton. Named the team’s defensive player of the year at season’s end, Tanguay also provided adequate work offensively at the bottom of the order for the Trojans, hitting well over .300. The University of Detroit-Mercy signee was praised for having “high softball IQ that is second to none” by head coach Rick Tanguay.
OLIVIA SALINAS | Riverview: A resurgent Riverview program had no shortage of threats up and down the lineup and Olivia Salinas was squarely in the center of it. Salinas reached base safely nearly 50 percent of the time, a lot of which came on the heels of 23 extra-base hits leading to 40 runs batted in. The junior also was the Bucs’ primary pitcher in the circle, fanning 129 batters in a little more than 132 innings logged.
GRACE PAPLER | Wyandotte Roosevelt: One player who has already made a big statement early in her playing career is Roosevelt’s Grace Papler. Credited with being able to play multiple positions, the super utility freshman also provided a “strong offensive attack to lineup” according to Coach Chlipala, as evident by her .427 batting average and .505 on-base mark. Papler earned all-DRL, district, and region honors.
MALLORY HOOL | Allen Park: The Hool namesake has been a strong one in recent history at Allen Park and Mallory Hool joins older sisters Madison, Mia, and Molly in having earned all-News-Herald recognition. The sophomore cleanup hitter and starting catcher for the Jags figures to only get better too after putting together a season that included a .408 batting average, 15 extra-base hits, 40 RBIs, and a .983 fielding percentage behind the plate.
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