Julia Gossett, Jerry Goodpasture lead Repository All-Stark County softball awards

Batters feared her. Opposing pitchers opted to walk her rather than deal with her power bat. The all-around game of Jackson High School senior Julia Gossett makes her our Repository Stark County Softball Player of the Year.

Gossett, a University of Purdue recruit, helped powered the Polar Bears to a district final appearance this season. She allowed just 21 runs in 105 innings of work while putting together a record of 11-4. Gossett finished second in the area, according to stats submitted to the Repository, in strikeouts with 198.

She also hit .531 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 26 runs. Gossett also led the area in walks, with 35 in 87 plate appearances. That helped her record a remarkable 2.060 OPS. She earned first-team All-Ohio honors from the state coaches association.

A familiar name to fans throughout the area is the Repository Stark County Coach of the Year. Hoover head coach Jerry Goodpasture takes home the honor after guiding the Vikings to a district championship this season with a record of 15-9.

Hoover overcame the loss of several top players from its team that reached the 2022 state semifinals under Goodpasture. This may have been one of his more challenging runs to the regional tournament. The Vikings started the season 1-5 and lost four consecutive games by a single run. Goodpasture helped the sophomore pitching staff of Summer McCaw and Ella Letosky develop and the Vikings peaked at the right time of the season.

2023 Repository All-Stark County Softball Teams

First team—Julia Gossett, Jackson, senior; Sofia Nase, Marlington, senior; Evelynn Lynn, Canton South, junior; Matti Benson, Louisville, junior; Ava Brown, McKinley, senior; Ryleigh Hall, GlenOak, sophomore; Audrey Miller, Marlington, senior; Emma Jackson, Marlington, senior; Delaney Shannon, Hoover, junior; Anna Jones, Hoover, senior; Summer McCaw, Hoover, sophomore; Grace Miller, Perry, senior; Camryn Kiefer, Tuslaw, junior; Brooklyn Ury, Lake, senior; Ava Collins, Marlington, senior; Kaitlyn Mazzocca, Tuslaw, senior.

Player of the year—Julia Gossett, Jackson, senior

Coach of the year—Jerry Goodpasture, Hoover

Second team—Emma Reese, Alliance, senior; Jocelyn Quior, Lake, senior; Morgan Christopher, Jackson, sophomore; Makayla Ball, Hoover, senior; Chyanne Knapp, Marlington, senior; Sadie Carroll, Hoover, junior; Marlee Pireu, Perry, junior; Emma Fulk, Lake Center Christian, senior; Teresa Petro, Sandy Valley, freshman; Delaney Ellis, Perry, junior; Faith Savage, Marlington, sophomore; Caroline Metzger, Northwest, junior; Hannah Smith, Fairless, sophomore; Hannah Spencer, East Canton, junior; Lillian Bucher, Tuslaw, senior.

Honorable mention—Lola Bleakley, Northwest, sophomore; Ella Letosky, Hoover, sophomore; Brooklyn Mazzocca, Tuslaw, junior; Hannah Valentine, Canton South, freshman; Faith Pavkov, Lake Center Christian, sophomore; Brianna Yoder, Alliance, senior; Olivia Brown, Lake, sophomore; Amelia Richardson, GlenOak, junior; Peyton Nicholson, Sandy Valley, sophomore; Maria Walder, Marlington, sophomore; Anna Wright, Jackson, senior; Emma Reemsnyder, GlenOak, junior; Anna Sirohman, Louisville, freshman; Sienna Koosh, Hoover, sophomore; Chloe Christiansen, Jackson, senior; Alexis Sin, Jackson, junior.

Meet the Repository All-Stark County softball first team

Julia Gossett

Jackson, senior

University of Purdue recruit helped Jackson reach the district finals. Gossett was 11-4 as a pitcher with 198 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched. She also hit .531 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, 26 runs and 35 walks in 2023.

Sofia Nase

Marlington, senior

Nase was one of the top pitchers in the area, helping Marlington reach the regional finals in Division II. Nase was 20-1 with 206 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched and a 0.80 ERA.

Evelyn Lynn

Canton South, junior

Lynn She led the area in average (.692), home runs (15) and RBIs (44). She holds several school records and may completely rewrite the record book by the time her high school career is done.

Matti Benson

Louisville, junior

Benson is a complete player who verbally committed to the University of Maryland. She hit .556 with nine home runs, 25 RBIs and 36 runs. The Louisville leadoff hitter has blazing speed and led the area with 25 stolen bases.

Ava Brown

McKinley, senior

Brown is a complete, hitting .556 with four home runs and 22 RBIs. She also struck out 89 batters in just 64.2 innings pitched. Brown has signed with Claflin University.

Ryleigh Hall

GlenOak, sophomore

A Division I college prospect with a great all-around game. Hall helped GlenOak make massive strides this season. She hit .515 with nine home runs, 29 RBIs, 28 runs and 10 walks.

Audrey Miller

Marlington, senior

A dangerous power hitter who helped power Marlington to the Division II regional finals. Miller hit .417 with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs, 39 runs and 14 walks.

Emma Jackson

Marlington, senior

Perhaps the most dangerous hitter in a lineup full of them for Marlington this past season. Jackson hit .500 with nine home runs, 35 RBIs and led the area with 48 runs. Jackson has signed with West Virginia Wesleyan.

Delaney Shannon

Hoover, junior

Shannon is a clutch hitter who helped the Vikings reach regionals this season. Shannon had 19 RBIs and 23 runs for Hoover this season. Shannon caught fire in the district tournament, going 7-for-8 at the plate.

Anna Jones

Hoover, senior

Jones is an incredible defender with an impressive glove and a great arm. Her speed allows her to cover a lot of territory quickly. Jones was a key security blanket throughout the season for a young pitching staff.

Summer McCaw

Hoover, sophomore

McCaw came on strong with and was dominant in the district tournament, as she pitched 13.2 scoreless innings and picked up both wins. She was 9-4 overall with a 1.46 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 74 innings.

Grace Miller

Perry, senior

Miller helped Perry upset Green in the Division I district tournament. A solid starter throughout her career, Miller was 10-6 with a 2.16 ERA. Miller also struck out 108 batters in 100.2 innings pitched for the Panthers.

Camryn Kiefer

Tuslaw, junior

Kiefer was a threat at the plate and in the circle. She hit .468 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. Kiefer was 11-7 as a pitcher with a 2.83 ERA. She struck out 155 in 109 innings.

Brooklyn Ury

Lake, senior

Ury is a tremendous fielder with a consistent bat. She has speed on the bases and hit .579 with 29 runs this season.

Ava Collins

Marlington, senior

A complete athlete who was not slowed down by a late start to her season after helping the Marlington basketball team reach the regional tournament. Collins started at catcher and scored 29 runs and had 20 stolen bases for the Dukes. She also called great games for starting pitcher Sofia Nase.

Kaitlyn Mazzocca

Tuslaw, senior

Mazzocca was a consistent threat in the middle of the Tuslaw lineup all season. Mazzocca hit .459 with seven home runs, 21 RBIs, 37 runs and 13 walks.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Julia Gossett is Canton Repository Stark County Player of the Year