High school softball: Elyria Catholic's Hannah Brooks makes first-team All-Ohio and Jim Piazza named Coach of the Year in Division IV

After Elyria Catholic's softball team completed its season with 24 wins, the inaugural North Coast Conference title and the school's first district title in eight years, it was no surprise to see the Panthers well-represented on the All-Ohio team. Panthers senior Hannah Brooks earned Division IV first-team honors while Jessica Connor made the second team and Lillian Ciryak the third when the list was released by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association. Brooks, who is continuing her softball career at Bradley University, batted .459 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs for the 24-2 Panthers. "I am proud of myself for the hard work I put in the past couple of years," Brooks said. "It allowed me to show off my skills and get the award I've been wanting. Although we didn't get to the state championship I'm proud of how we handled ourselves. We had a younger team this year with only two seniors, but we put in the work and, honestly, it was a great season." Elyria Catholic coach Jim Piazza was also named the Division IV Coach of the Year. "The way I look at it, every team has its own identity," Piazza said. "My job as a coach is to find out what I have to do to help that identity. It's the kids who do the work. We can set the framework but it's the kids who have to buy in and do the work." Piazza wasn't surprised to see Brooks make the first team. "Hannah's not afraid to work hard," he said. "She dedicated herself to the game. She had high expectations. She worked at being a leader on and off the field. Whatever she needs to do she does it." Conner put up the biggest offensive numbers of anyone in the potent Elyria Catholic lineup. The sophomore batted a team-leading .554 and also led the Panthers with 14 doubles and 56 RBIs while tying Brooks for the lead in home runs. Ciryak, a junior, hit .466 with eight doubles and 30 RBIs. Elyria Catholic hit .395 as a team with 43 home runs this year. "I think the girls are even hungrier now for next season," Piazza said. "The team kind of got really close when we started talking about reaching some goals and putting the time into achieving those goals." Brooks is confident Elyria Catholic will continue to build on the success it had this season even as she looks forward to playing Division I college softball. "I'm only going to grow as an athlete and as an individual," she said. "I'm super excited to start this next chapter." In Division II, Amherst sophomore pitcher Karina Shuster was a second-team selection, while North Ridgeville's Naomi Bottomlee was honorable mention. Keystone senior Jordan Owca and Black River junior Mia Rosales earned second-team honors in Division V and VI, respectively, while Open Door's Julia Reaser was a Division VII honorable mention pick. All of the players previously mentioned were also first-team All-Northeast District selections. Four other local players also earned first-team district distinction while not making the All-Ohio team: Elyria's Morgan Palos and Alliyah Alberto in Division I, North Ridgeville's Gabby Thibdeaux in Division II and Brookside's Markie Aliff in Division IV. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. All-Ohio Lorain County selections Division II Second team: Karina Shuster, sophomore, pitcher, Amherst Honorable mention: Naomi Bottomlee, senior, outfielder, North Ridgeville Division IV First team: Hannah Brooks, senior, infielder, Elyria Catholic Second team: Jessica Conner, sophomore, outfielder, Elyria Catholic Honorable mention: Lillian Ciryak, junior, catcher, Elyria Catholic Coach of the Year: Jim Piazza, Elyria Catholic Division V Second team: Jordan Owca, senior, outfielder, Keystone Divisoon VI Second team: Mia Rosales, junior, catcher, Black River Division VII Honorable mention: Julia Reaser, senior, infielder, Open Door Christian All-Northeast District Division I First team Pitchers: Maddie Booth, Berea-Midpark; Summer McCaw, Hoover, Quinn Robinson, Kenston; Addison Heidenhoffer, Strongsville Catchers: Lexie Groves, GlenOak; Sienna Koosh, Hoover; Alliyah Alberto, Elyria Infielders: Abby Toth, Austintown Fitch, Ryleigh Hall, GlenOak; Addison Compton, Brunswick; Morgan Palos, Elyria. Ryann Allar, Medina Outfielders: Kaliana Ray, Austintown Fitch, Katie Rubino, Medina, Haley Wheeler, Magnificat; Elena Osowski, Brunswick Second team (locals only) Olivia Charlton, pitcher, Lorain Division II First team Pitchers: Olivia Franko, North Royalton; Annaliese Davis, Riverside; Annie Liszewski, Green; Karina Shuster, Amherst Catchers: Caleigh Shaulis, Walsh Jesuit; Gabby Thibodeaux, North Ridgeville; Brielle Raus, North Royalton Infielders: Clara Granchi. Riverside; MaKayla McGee, Walsh Jesuit; Jaryn Wolff, Massillon Washington; Mackenzie Swenney, Twinsburg; Madi Davis, Cuyahoga Falls Outfielders: Ella Girard, Walsh Jesuit; Rowan Weber, Brecksville-Broadview Heights; Gianna Dasenbrook, Brecksville-Broadview Heights. Naomi Bottomlee, North Ridgeville Second team (locals only) Maria Young, pitcher, Avon; Nevaeh Sadler, outfielder, Amherst Division III First team Pitchers: Sophie Retton, Aurora; Tori Strines, Boardman; Kara Mekulsia, Madison; Rylie Sprouse, Ellet Catchers: Sophie Schechterman, Aurora; Addie Rudge, Boardman; Addy Campbell; Louisville Infielder: Olivia Brown, Uniontown Lake; Sydney Lutz, Canfield; Alexa Kelley, Revere; Gayle Mishic, Revere Outfielders: Lailah Bohanan, Aurora; Paige Kelley, Revere; Ava Gundling, Gilmour Academy; Leila Staszak, Tallmadge Division IV First team Pitchers: Kwynn Czerwony, Buckeye; Any Rein, Streetsboro; Lely Percassi, West Geauga; Markie Aliff, Brookside Catchers: Lillian Ciryak, Elyria Catholic; Eleanor Shaw, Buckeye; Kayleigh Helm, Crestwood Infielders: Maddie Burge. Field; Breanna Ruggiero, Akron Springfield; Hannah Brooks, Elyria Catholic, Sarah Michaels, Buckeye; Elise Strahan, Perry Outfielders: Jessica Conner, Elyria Catholic, Chelsea Miller, Marlington; Ava Burkhart, Coventry; Arianna Rogers, Perry Second team (locals only) Aubrynn Reichle, infielder, Firelands; Sarah Blankenship, infielder, Firelands Division V First team Pitchers: Gabriella Gradishar, Champion; Rachel Baker, Machester; Riley Rowe, LaBrae; Leigha Blazetic, Wickliffe Catchers: Ava Stephens, Southeast; Hadley Porter, Tuslaw; Cameron Perkins, Columbiana Infielders: Caitlynn Pleska, Columbiana; Morgan Muncy, Southeast; Kenzie Gatti, Triway; Ava Panaciulli, Chippewa; Whitney Davis, Berkshire Outfielders: Jordan Owca, Keystone; Makenna Heyden, Norwayne; Ella Dota, Columbiana; Lilly Kamenash, Rootstown Division VI First team Pitchers: Lila Manfredonia, Independence; Addie Christy, Mogadore; Lily Merolillo, MIneral Ridge; Mei Simmons, Dalton Catchers: Mileena Williams, Campbell Memorial; Callie Koons, United Local; Mia Rosales, Black River Infielders: Kiki McFadden, Hillsdale; Hannah Wenger, Dalton; Sullivan Sandy, Mineral Ridge; Kendall Rising, Waynedale; Addison Hess, Mapleton Outfielders: Chloe Angelo, United Local; Jordyn Fickes, Hillsdale; Paige Priebe, Independence; Maggie Kothera, Kirtland Second team (locals only) Mallory Pickering, pitcher, Wellington; Abbey Kiser, pitcher, Black River; Sadie Schulke, pitcher, Columbia; Bree Heidecker, catcher, Columbia; Grace Anderson, infielder, Columbia Division VII First team Pitchers: Addison Marker, Maplewood; Tatum Hudak, Chalker; Katie Byers; Jackson-Milton; Samantha Bradbury, Badger Catchers: Maddy Hufford, Mathews; Abby Grimm, Chalker; Grace Johns, Jackson-Milton Infielders: Olivia Matheny, Mathews; Claire Urchek, Maplewood; Cadence Imhoff, Bristol; Brena McBeth, Jackson-Milton; Julia Reaser, Open Door Christian Outfielders: Ava Shugart, Mathews; Morgan Strock, Chalker