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That offensive output is just one of the reasons DeMora was selected as the state’s softball Player of the Year. She was one of 12 Henlopen Conference players to make the All-State First Team. (Delaware State News file photo)
If the Polytech High softball team scored a run this season, there was a good chance Whitney DeMora had something to do with it.
DeMora either scored or batted in 55 of Polytech’s 112 runs this year, accounting for 49.1 percent of the Panthers runs.
That offensive output is just one of the reasons DeMora was selected as the state’s softball Player of the Year. She was one of 12 Henlopen Conference players to make the All-State First Team.
DeMora belted 11 home runs, scored 26 runs and drove in 29. Her percentage stats are also off the charts with a .588 batting average, .691 on-base percentage and a 1.471 slugging percentage.
“She was the heart of our offense,” said Polytech coach Jenn Bradshaw.
DeMora, Polytech’s first baseman, led the state in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. She will be playing for Wilmington University next season.
“Whitney impresses me every day with her softball IQ,” Bradshaw said. “She can play a variety of positions with confidence and athleticism. As a person she has matured incredibly from her freshman year and thrives in pressure situations.”
Joining DeMora on the first team was teammate Taylor Pechin from Polytech at pitcher. Also garnering multiple first team honorees were Caesar Rodney High with third baseman Rosa’lynn Burton and pitcher Alyssa Ball along with Sussex Central High with second baseman Brooke Stoeckel and pitcher Hayley McCabe.
Lake Forest’s Mya Maddox, Smyrna’s Kaelyn Press and Milford’s Rajene Bowe were selected as outfielders. Cape Henlopen’s Sydney Ostroski made it as a catcher, Sussex Tech’s Taylor Collins was on as a third baseman and Delmar’s Avery Wheatley was named as a shortstop.
Sussex Central’s John Wells was awarded Coach of the Year.
Pechin was a first-teamer as a senior in her only year as Polytech’s starting pitcher. She will be playing for Stony Brook University next year.
She went 13-5 on the mound with an ERA of 2.19. She also excelled at the plate with seven homers, 18 RBI and a .518 batting average.
“Taylor grew immensely throughout the season as a starting pitcher,” Bradshaw said. “She really focused on improving her accuracy and composure on the mound and she made great strides in both of those areas. She worked tirelessly with our freshman catcher, Brianna Stevenson, and was a positive role model.”
Maddox was Lake Forest’s leadoff hitter and centerfielder and helped the Spartans reach the state semifinals as the 14th seed. She was tops in the state in runs scored with 30 and held a .563 batting average.
For Caesar Rodney, Burton batted .453 on the season with 22 runs scored. Smyrna’s Press also scored 22 runs this year and batted .483 with 16 RBI.
All-State
SOFTBALL
FIRST TEAM
P – Mackenzie Short, jr., Appoquinimink; C – Sydney Ostroski, sr., Cape Henlopen; 1B base – Whitney DeMora, sr., Polytech; 2B – Brooke Stoeckel, sr., Sussex Central; 3B– Rosa’lynn Burton, sr., Caesar Rodney; SS – Kendra Ziemba, sr., Hodgson; OF – Kierstin Fallers, sr., Padua; OF – Taylor Coleman, jr., Appoquinimink; OF – Mya Maddox, jr., Lake Forest; OF – Kaelyn Press, so., Smyrna; P – Holly Brooks, sr., Caravel; 3B – Taylor Collins, sr., Sussex Tech; 1B – Noelle Holiday, sr., Red Lion Christian; SS – Avery Wheatley, jr., Delmar; OF – Rajene Bowe, jr., Milford; SS – Samantha Esper, sr., Caravel; P – Rachel Pritchard, sr., Concord; P – Hayley McCabe, jr., Sussex Central; P – Taylor Pechin, sr., Polytech; P – Alyssa Ball, jr., Caesar Rodney
SECOND TEAM
OF Julia Bomhardt, so., Indian River; C Daniela Solis, sr., Wilmington Christian; DP Jennifer Sieminski, sr., Caravel; P Sarah Bessel, jr., Conrad; 1B Madison Watson, jr., Sussex Tech; OF Kaylee Hazewski, sr., Red Lion Christian; P Abby Cunningham, jr., Padua; 1B Brooke Miller, so., Appoquinimink; P Taylor Wroten, fr., Sussex Tech; P Riley Shields, sr., Cape Henlopen; 3B Rachel DiMarcello, so., St. Georges; 3B Alison Clemons, so., Middletown; 1B Kylie Quirk, sr., DMA; 3B Brooke Glanden, so., Lake Forest
THIRD TEAM
2B Emily Proffitt, jr., Caravel; SS Jude McGough, jr., Newark Charter; C Brooklynne Johnson, so., Hodgson; C Rachel Seivard, so., St. Georges; UT Jordyn Virden, jr., Cape Henlopen; C Shannon Lord, jr., Sussex Tech; OF Alexus Johnson, so., DMA; 2B Jordan Scout, sr., Appoquinimink; SS Taylor Gillis, fr., Charter of Wilmington; C Chelsey Ward, sr., Sussex Central; SS Caitlin Baxter, fr., Padua; C Hannah Williams, so., Padua; P Antonia Browning, so., Ursuline; SS Taylor Cappella, sr., Smyrna; OF Alexa Proffitt, sr., Caravel; 2B Morgan Dodge, sr., Polytech; SS Nicole Hovatter, sr., Sussex Tech; P Alexis Novotny, so., DMA
Player of the Year: Whitney DeMora, sr., Polytech
Coach of the Year: John Wells, Sussex Central
Team Sportsmanship Award: Newark