High school softball: North Ridgeville two-way standout Autumn Behlke a no-doubt choice as Miss Softball

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — The coaches, the administrators and the media all agree, North Ridgeville senior Autumn Behlke was the most dominating two-way player in Lorain County this season. Thanks to her powerful performances in the pitcher's circle and at the plate, Behlke was named the Lorain County Coaches Association Player of the Year and Lorain County's Miss Softball on Wednesday night before the annual senior all-star game. Avon's Emma Ody and Keystone's Delaney Peters earned special mention from the Miss Softball committee. "It's absolutely surreal … I'm just super, super grateful," Behlke said. "I can't even really put it into words, it just means so much to me. I honestly went into (the season) with no expectations. I just tried to go and do my best and help my team win. This is just icing on the cake for sure." After losing her freshman season due to the Ohio High School Athletic Association canceling spring sports due to the coronavirus pandemic, Behlke has been part of a Rangers program that has captured three straight Southwestern Conference championships and won three straight Division I district titles. "I'm so excited for her because she busted her butt all of her high school career," Rangers coach Amy McMillan said. "You know she missed her freshman year for COVID and her sophomore year she had a little bit of foot injury that she was kind of bouncing back from. She just worked so hard and she deserves this. She got a little short-ended with the (All-Ohio) nomination and things like that, but she 100 percent worked for it and earned it in the classroom and on the field." Behlke went 13-3 with a 1.21 ERA and over 200 strikeouts as a pitcher, and batted over .500 with seven home runs, 30 RBIs and 25 runs scored during her senior season. She also provided valuable leadership to a team that had several underclassmen step into varsity roles after heavy graduation losses last year. "Even when she was an underclassman herself she was leading the way and pushing these guys to be better," McMillan said. "She comes into practice and sets a great example … especially this year, we had so many sophomores and young kids and she really pushed them, made them feel comfortable and put their minds at ease. And when they were uncomfortable, she was there to say, 'Hey, we got you. We've got this. We'll be OK.'" Behlke is just the second North Ridgeville player to be named Miss Softball — Lora Dragan was the first in 1996 and split the honor that season with Elyria's Tammy Yount — and the first from the program to be honored as the coaches' Player of the Year. "I didn't even know that … so that's pretty incredible," Behlke said. "I've heard of (the Miss Softball award) before as I used to go to Leffew (Fastpitch) and I know (owner Amie Leffew of Keystone) was Miss Softball (in 1999), so it's such an honor to be with so many other big names and talented people." McMillan was equally excited about adding a North Ridgeville player to the prestigious list of Miss Softball winners. "We've always said that we wanted to change this program and change the direction of it and put it back on the map," McMillan said. "And players like her and her teammates, they've done that. So it's huge for us, but again, she's done the work and she deserves it." Behlke will play next season for Youngstown State University — an NCAA Division I program — and said getting to play in the senior all-star game and accept the county's awards for being the top player on her home field made her last high school softball moments all that more special. "I'm just so honored to be a part of it all," she said. "It means so much to me, you know, all the 6 a.m. pitching sessions, all the late nights hitting … I'm grateful for my family for being with me through it all, my coaches, my teammates. Everybody just played so much of a big role and I'm so grateful for all of them." Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on Twitter. Miss Softball winners 2023 — Autumn Behlke, North Ridgeville 2022 — Cassidy Kettleman, Amherst and Annika Bredel, Elyria Catholic 2021 — Madi Herrington, Keystone 2019 — Sydney Campbell, Keystone 2018 — Madi Nunez, Keystone and Gabby Shackelford, Midview 2017 — Sammie Stefan, Keystone 2016 — Summer Constable, Keystone 2015 — Anna Edwards, Avon 2014 — Carleigh Herrington, Keystone 2013 — Caitlyn Minney, Elyria 2012 — Kenzie Conrad, Keystone 2011 — Kristen Boros, Elyria 2010 — Melissa Rennie, Wellington 2009 — Tess Sito, Elyria and Kara Dill, Keystone 2008 — Jillian Van Wagnen, Admiral King 2007 — Sarah Stromack, Keystone 2006 — Kristie Malinkey, Keystone 2005 — Alex Boros, Elyria 2004 — Christina Swiers, Amherst 2003 — Brittney Robinson, Keystone 2002 — Jess Jesko, Firelands 2001 — Megan Meyer, Vermilion 2000 — Lacey Reichert, Amherst 1999 — Amie Leffew, Keystone 1998 — Rachel Baran, Firelands 1997 — Kim Evans, Keystone 1996 — Lora Dragan, North Ridgeville and Tammy Yount, Elyria 1995 — Jamie Cendrosky, Keystone 1994 — Amy Johnson, Keystone and Sarah Martin, Keystone 1993 — Ashley Anderson, Elyria 1992 — Heather Zehel, Amherst and Cassie Wilmoth, Firelands Lorain County Coaches Association Player of the Year 2023 — Autumn Behlke, North Ridgeville 2022 — Cassidy Kettleman, Amherst and Annika Bredel, Elyria Catholic 2018 — April Howser, Elyria 2017 — Sammie Stefan, Keystone 2016 — Destiny Weber, Keystone 2015 — Anna Edwards, Avon 2014 — Sarah Kaya, Clearview 2013 — Caitlyn Minney, Elyria 2012 — Erin Pond, Keystone 2011 — Sydney Mencke, Midview 2010 — Jen Solanics, Columbia