Calaveras junior Kappmeyer named softball MVP of Mother Lode League

All-around talent Kayla Kappmeyer of Calaveras was named the Mother Lode League’s MVP.

Kappmeyer was at the heart of the Redskins’ title run in the MLL, delivering clutch pitching and hitting throughout the 18-game schedule.

Calaveras finished 17-1, two games ahead of Linden (15-3).

The Redskins were the No. 8 seed in the Division IV tournament and were eliminated by top seed and finalist Bear River, 4-1.

Linden suffered a 10-2 defeat to top-seeded Ripon in the quarterfinal round of the D-V tournament, but won three straight games to force a winner-take-all game against Ripon in the final. The Indians staged a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Lions, 8-7.

Kappmeyer was 13-2 in the chalked circle with a 3.62 ERA, five complete games and 52 strikeouts in 65  2/3 innings.

The junior was even better with the bat.

Kappmeyer led Calaveras in batting average (.506), runs (41), hits (45), doubles (12) and triples (five). She was second on the team in RBIs (42).

Shelby Conklin of Summerville was named the Most Outstanding Player, completing an emotional senior season.

The standout pitcher dedicated her final season to her mother, Lani Conklin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Conklin was 12-6 for a team that featured eight sophomores. The Missouri Valley College-bound ace boasted a 2.68 ERA with 125 strikeouts in 112  1/3 innings. She also hit .426 and tied for the team lead in RBIs with 22.

Seven underclassmen were named to the all-league first team, including three freshmen: Alanda Cardon and Alexis Dawe of Calaveras, and Taya Escalante of Linden.

The four sophomores awarded with a first-team selection were Bret Harte’s Katie Juarez, Linden’s Carly Lucchetti, Sonora’s Haylie Santos and Summerville’s Kennedee Witt.

Rounding out the first team were senior Katelyn Leatherman of Calaveras; junior Emily Orr of Linden; senior Marisa Peters of Linden; and junior Kaylee White of Argonaut.

The second team was composed of sophomore Amber Andrews of Linden; sophomore Coco Bolin of Calaveras; sophomore Lauren Braseco of Summerville; senior Rachel Carpenter of Linden; sophomore Haley Chaboya of Calaveras; senior Brooke Dondero of Linden; sophomore Breanna Dunn of Calaveras; freshman Bri Head of Calaveras; freshman Chole Koll of Amador; and sophomore Madison Wyllie of Calaveras.

The Mother Lode League’s Character awards were presented to senior Claudia Koll of Amador, senior Mikaela Milan of Argonaut, sophomore Summer Scheidt of Calaveras, senior Brooke Dondero of Linden, sophomore Makayla Grogan of Sonora, and senior Ryley Durling of Summerville.

Calaveras’ Mike Koepp and Summerville’s Nick Parry shared Coach of the Year honors.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Calaveras junior Kappmeyer named softball MVP of Mother Lode League."