Advertisement

Madie Jamrog, Carly Sleeman are Holland Sentinel Softball Players of the Year

dan d'addona, the holland sentinel
·4 min read
Hamilton's Madie Jamrog poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Hamilton High School. Jamrog has been named The Sentinel's Softball Player of The Year.
Hamilton's Madie Jamrog poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Hamilton High School. Jamrog has been named The Sentinel's Softball Player of The Year.

HOLLAND - For the past three years, the level of softball talent has increased in the area.

Leading the way have been Hamilton's Madie Jamrog and Zeeland West's Carly Sleeman. Both are in the argument for the top pitcher and hitter, respectively, in Holland area history.

This year was no different as both players - headed to NCAA Division I programs and Miss Softball nominees - dominated on the diamond as Holland Sentinel Co-Softball Players for the second year in a row.

Jamrog is being honored for the third year in a row. She led the Hawkeyes to one of the top seasons in school history.

Hamilton won a district title for the first time in decades and reached the regional final.

"I am so proud of the girls. We hadn't even scored a run in a district game before this year (in our three years). We have changed the program completely, and I am so proud of that," Hamilton senior Madie Jamrog said.

Zeeland West's Carly Sleeman poses for a photo in the Dux dugout Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at Zeeland West's softball field. Sleeman has been named The Sentinel's co-softball player of the year alongside Hamilton's Madie Jamrog.
Zeeland West's Carly Sleeman poses for a photo in the Dux dugout Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at Zeeland West's softball field. Sleeman has been named The Sentinel's co-softball player of the year alongside Hamilton's Madie Jamrog.

Jamrog, an Akron commit, was on the mound for most of the season, throwing three no-hitters, including a perfect game.

She was 29-5 with a 1.66 ERA. She struck out 303 and walked just 41 in 194 innings. She broke the season and career strikeout mark at Hamilton.

At the plate, she batted .486 with a .550 on-base percentage. She had 15 triples, 10 doubles, eight home runs, 49 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and 66 runs score.

"Madie Jamrog is the best player in West Michigan amongst many good players," Hamilton coach Mark Behnke said. "She is elite at every single phase of softball. In the circle, she won 26 games and struck out 279. She set the Hamilton career strikeout record in just under three years of her high school career. She has done more for Hamilton Softball than anyone would ever know."

Sleeman broke the Zeeland West career home run record with 29 - 10 more than the next highest in school history and was named Miss Softball for Division 1 position players.

"We all had a close bond and rallied for each other. Im so proud of my teammates and everything they have accomplished this year. I also really enjoyed the new coaching staff. They helped me in the mental side of the game and I'm really thankful for them," Sleeman said. "In my career I am most proud of the two conference championships we won in 2021 and 2022. I am also very proud to say that I broke all of my sister's records but one. She was a great player and I'm happy the records stayed within the family."

This year, the Central Michigan commit and three-time all-state player, batted .519 with 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and 50 runs scored.

“Carly was a tremendous asset to the Zeeland West softball program over the years. She was a threat at the plate for all defenses in the area and an aggressive base runner," Zeeland West coach Kayla Smart Said. "On the field, she will go all out at every ball hit in her direction. Her leadership and presence helps her be one of the best players in West Michigan, if not the state.”

Hamilton's Madie Jamrog poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Hamilton High School. Jamrog has been named The Sentinel's Softball Player of The Year.
Hamilton's Madie Jamrog poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Hamilton High School. Jamrog has been named The Sentinel's Softball Player of The Year.

Two Miss Softball nominees in the same area at the same time.

It has been tremendous to see what they have done on the diamond, but more importantly, how they have impacted the sport as a whole, with younger generations seeing what is possible.

Holland Sentinel All-Area Softball Team

FIRST TEAM

Madie Jamrog, Hamilton (POY)Carly Sleeman, Zeeland West (POY)Alexa Brott, Zeeland WestKatie Carlson, Zeeland EastElla Davison, HamiltonShyla Dozeman, West OttawaElla Hathaway, Zeeland EastKyra Kleinheksel, HamiltonEmily Kragt, Zeeland WestJaiden Lee, Zeeland EastTaylor Oosterink, HamiltonAva Prielipp, HamiltonKierea Smits, Holland ChristianAbby VandenBerg, HamiltonAlesha VandenBerge, HollandKianna Vork, HamiltonHanna Walker, Saugatuck

SECOND TEAM

Ashley Duff, HollandReese Gruppen, Zeeland EastGrace Hughes, West OttawaMikayla Jones, SaugatuckSophia Kloc, West OttawaHannah Knot, Holland ChristianMegan Kuzma, Zeeland EastMaleena Luckadoo, HamiltonKelsey Mersman, HamiltonEmma Meyering, Zeeland EastMariah Saldana, West OttawaIsa Valenzuela, Zeeland EastMadelyn Veersma, Zeeland WestMadison Wyckoff, Zeeland WestIzzy Zamoa, Zeeland West

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Madie Jamrog, Carly Sleeman are Holland Sentinel Softball Players of the Year