Taylor Ebbs was recognized as the Mountain Valley Conference player of the year. The sophomore shortstop batted .628 this season with seven homers and 60 RBIs (File).
The McNary softball team had eight players receive all-Mountain Valley Conference recognition for their excellent play throughout the 2019 season.
Taylor Ebbs- (sophomore) shortstop: Player of the Year.
Ebbs stood out for this McNary team as not only the best player in the league, but one of the best players in the state. She batted an incredible .628 with seven homers and 60 RBIs. She also had 22 extra-base hits on the year and only struck out three times. Despite only being a sophomore, Ebbs excelled in a leadership role the Celtics this season.
What her coach (Kevin Wise says):
“Taylor is a natural leader on and off the field, and probably one of the best I have had the opportunity to coach.That is impressive considering she is a sophomore. The greatest asset for Taylor, is that she is very humble. I have seen athletes who are very good at that they do, but you can’t stand to be around them because they let you know how great they are. Taylor is the exact opposite of that.”
Faith Danner- (senior) pitcher: Pitcher of the year.
Danner has been a four-year starter in the circle for the Celtics and has received all-conference recognition in each season. But she saved her best for last during her senior campaign, going 17-8 on the season with a 3.62 ERA over 135.1 innings, with only 32 walks and 65 strikeouts. Danner also had a marvelous season at the plate, hitting .434 with 38 RBIs, which was second on the team.
McNary pitcher Faith Danner was named the Mountain Valley Conference pitcher of the year after finishing the year with a 17-8 record with a 3.62 ERA (File).
What her coach says:
“I can’t put into words what Faith has meant to the program over the course of her four years here. She has brought a lot of joy and laughter, a great attitude, hard work, and is one of the most consistent pitchers in the state. I think it would be hard to find a pitcher who hits spots as well as Faith does, and she has great movement.”
Alexa Cepeda- (junior) outfielder: First-team all-league
As the top leadoff hitter in the league, Cepeda led the team in runs scored (48), and was second on the team in batting average (.495), on-base percentage (.560) and in doubles (10). She also proved to be one of the top defensive center fielders in the MVC.
What her coach says:
“When you have your leadoff hitter getting on base a majority of the time, it sets the tone for the rest of the team. The great thing is, even when we had the innings where she was not leading off, she was putting balls in play and moving and scoring runners.”
Abbi Covalt- (sophomore) infielder: Second-team all-league
Covalt was third on the team with 40 runs scored and batted .404 on the season with seven extra-base hits and 27 RBIs. She also proved to be a leader in the infield as one of the scrappiest players on the team.
What her coach says:
“Abbi is a true competitor. She absolutely loves the game and has more passion for it than anyone I have coached. She is the player who will go work for a couple of hours after a practice or game to fix a weakness in her swing or defense.”
Kate Ronning- (sophomore) infielder: Second-team all-league
Ronning controlled the hot corner (third base) all season for the Celtics and was arguable the best infielder on the squad. At the plate, she batted .466 and was tied for the team lead in doubles (11). She also scored 26 runs on the season and knocked in 22 runs.
What her coach says:
“Kate is one of the smartest softball players I have ever coached. Her knowledge and passion for the game is unmatched. She is basically like having another coach on the field … Other players on the team watch her work ethic, and her desire to be successful, and it motivates them.”
Kamryn Miller- (sophomore) outfielder: Second-team all-league
Miller established herself as arguably the most dangerous #9 hitter in the state this seasons, batting .439 with 22 runs scored and an OBP of .513.
What her coach says:
“People outside of the sport might think that the #9 hitter in the lineup is not as good of a hitter, but that is not how softball works. You want a player who can be a second leadoff, and Kamryn filled that role to perfection … Having Kamryn in that part of the lineup made the opposing team cringe.”
Shaylee Custer- (sophomore) outfielder: Second-team all-league
Played several different positions for the Celtics this season before finally finding a home in left field. She hit .333 with eight extra-base hits and 24 runs scored.
What her coach says:
“Shaylee will work super hard at whatever you ask her to. She is willing to do anything she needs to, in order to help the team … She is athletic and versatile enough to play anywhere.”
Hannah Ebner- (freshman) infielder: Second-team all-league.
Ebner started at first base as a freshman, but she also gave the Celtics some high-quality innings in the circle. She batted .258 with a homer and 21 RBIs.
What her coach says:
“She had some clutch defensive plays and hits at huge times throughout the season. I will never forget her first high school home run against South (Salem). It was always such great feeling knowing that we had another pitcher, as many teams do not have that luxury. We are going to rely on her even more the next three years.