Crestview's Durbin, Plymouth's Back earn special Firelands Conference softball honors

They were two of the best players in the Firelands Conference all season long.

And they were two of the best players in all of Richland County to boot.

So, it is no wonder why Crestview junior Sophie Durbin and Plymouth senior Makenzie Back took home special FC honors as announced by the league.

Durbin was the co-player of the year after hitting .577 with 41 hits, 42 runs scored, 18 RBIs with eight doubles, seven triples and four home runs. She also drew 16 walks and stole 28 bases. She proved her worth as a two-way player sporting a .949 fielding percentage at shortstop with just three errors on the season.

Back was dominant in the circle from start to finish. She threw 161 ⅔ innings sporting a 2.30 earned run average with 278 strikeouts to just 34 walks and only allowed 53 earned runs all season long. She was just as good at the plate with a .558 batting average with 53 hits including 20 doubles and four home runs while also driving in 44 runs and scoring 15 times herself.

The duo was joined by teammates Chesnie Patton of Crestview and Chloe Trine and Jaylin Branham of Plymouth as first team All-Firelands Conference honorees.

Crestview's PJ Endicott and Plymouth's Bree Fellows and Aryssa Horne were honorable mention selections.

Here is the complete list of All-Firelands Conference softball teams.

2023 All-Firelands Conference Softball Teams

FIRST TEAM: Sophie Durbin, Crestview; Abbi Poths, Monroeville; Chesnie Patton, Crestview; Holly Earl, Mapleton; Heidi Earl, Mapleton; Madison Rowland, New London; Chloe Trine, Plymouth; Jaylin Branham, Plymouth; Makenzie Back, Plymouth; Kaylee Richards, South Central; Klaire Hickey, St. Paul; Sydnie Prince, Western Reserve.

SECOND TEAM: PJ Endicott, Crestview; Camryn Hurst, Monroeville; Taryn Tyler, Monroeville; Emily Scheid, Monroeville; Madison Rieber, Monroeville; Avery Rosser, Monroeville; Emilee Rowland, New London; Gracie Thomas, New London; Bree Fellows, Plymouth; Aryssa Horne, Plymouth; Lydia Chaffee, South Central; Krystin Hamons, South Central; Brooklyn Prince, Western Reserve.

HONORABLE MENTION: Makenzie Tucker, Crestview; Brynnae Ables, Mapleton; Ava Krueger, Monroeville; Tara Davidson, New London; Cailynn Bailey, Plymouth; Hannah Ayers, South Central; Josalynn Vazquez, St. Paul; Abby Hamisfar, Western Reserve.

Firelands Conference co-Players of the Year: Sophie Durbin, Crestview; Abbi Poths, Monroeville.

Firelands Conference Pitcher of the Year: Makenzie Back, Plymouth.

Firelands Conference co-Coaches of the Year: Joe Thomas, New London; Abe Helmstetter, Monroeville.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Crestview's Durbin, Plymouth's Back earn special Firelands Conference softball honors