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Meet the 2023 Journal Star all-area softball team and the player of the year

adam duvall, journal star
·4 min read

Softball again thrived in the Peoria-area during the 2023 season.

Illini Bluffs made its third consecutive trip to the Class 1A state championship, while Tremont made a run to the Class 2A sectional final. Metamora was an Elite Eight participant in Class 3A for a second successive season. In total, seven programs across the four classes won regional plaques this season.

Here is the 2023 Journal Star all-area softball team, led by the player of the year. The rest are listed in alphabetical order.

Kaidance Till, Metamora

Metamora sophomore infielder Kaidance Till helped lead the Redbirds to a second consecutive appearance in the Class 3A supersectionals. She is the 2023 Journal Star Softball Player of the Year.
Metamora sophomore infielder Kaidance Till helped lead the Redbirds to a second consecutive appearance in the Class 3A supersectionals. She is the 2023 Journal Star Softball Player of the Year.

The 2023 Journal Star player of the year batted .496 on 58 hits, with 19 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 30 RBIs and 44 runs for the Class 3A Elite Eight participant. The sophomore infielder also stole 11 bases and drew 17 walks, earning Illinois Coaches Association 3A first-team all-state and all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors.

Zoe Eeten, Illini Bluffs

Illini Bluffs' Zoe Eeten connects on a St. Bede pitch during the Class 1A softball state title game Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The defending champion Tigers fell to the Lady Bruins 7-6.
Illini Bluffs' Zoe Eeten connects on a St. Bede pitch during the Class 1A softball state title game Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The defending champion Tigers fell to the Lady Bruins 7-6.

The senior infielder batted .434 on 43 hits, with seven doubles, five triples, seven homers, 33 RBIs and 25 runs for the Chiefs. She also stole 16 bases and drew 12 walks, earning ICA 1A first-team all-state honors along with being named an all-Tomahawk and Inter-County Athletic conference first-team selection.

Taylor Ford, Abingdon-Avon

The sophomore infielder batted .505 on 51 hits with 15 doubles, six triples, eight homers, 34 RBIs and 42 runs. She stole 10 bases and drew 12 walks to earn ICA Class 1A first-team all-state honors along with being named to the all-Lincoln Trail Conference first team.

Sara Finn, Illini Bluffs

Illini Bluffs' Sara Finn rounds second base on her home run against Morton on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Morton. The Tigers defeated the Potters 9-7.
Illini Bluffs' Sara Finn rounds second base on her home run against Morton on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Morton. The Tigers defeated the Potters 9-7.

The freshman outfielder batted .515 on 51 hits with six doubles, four triples, 12 homers, 48 RBIs and 45 runs for the 1A state runner-up. She stole 14 bases and drew 22 walks to earn ICA first-team all-state honors along with being an all-Tomahawk and Inter-County Athletic Conference first-team selection.

Danika Frazier, Olympia

The junior utility player batted .467 on 43 hits with 12 doubles, eight homers, 45 RBIs and 12 runs for the Class 2A sectional participant. The Illinois commit went 18-4 with 242 strikeouts and 28 walks with a 0.66 ERA in 128 innings. She earned ICA first-team all-state honors along with being a unanimous all-Sangamo Conference first-team pick.

Gracie Luna, East Peoria

East Peoria's Gracie Luna, left, congratulates pitcher Meadow Terry on a strikeout against Washington on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Jan Smith Field in Washington. The Panthers defeated the Raiders 2-1.
East Peoria's Gracie Luna, left, congratulates pitcher Meadow Terry on a strikeout against Washington on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Jan Smith Field in Washington. The Panthers defeated the Raiders 2-1.

The senior infielder batted .476 on 50 hits with nine doubles, 12 homers, 45 RBIs and 31 runs for the Raiders. She stole six bases and drew 14 walks to earn ICA first-team all-state honors along with being an all-Mid-Illini first-team selection. Luna will continue her playing career at Southeast Missouri State University.

Katie Petran, Illinois Valley Central

IVC's Katie Petran pitches during the Senior Salute All-Star softball game Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
IVC's Katie Petran pitches during the Senior Salute All-Star softball game Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

The senior pitcher had a 13-6 record with 316 strikeouts and 22 walks.

She held opponents to a .112 batting average and posted a 0.92 ERA in 137 innings.

Petran batted .444 on 32 hits with 11 doubles, two triples, five homers, 18 RBIs and 34 runs. The Butler also commit stole 18 bases and drew 21 walks to earn ICA Class 2A first-team all-state and all-Illini Prairie Conference first-team honors.

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Katy Ramage, Metamora

Metamora's Katy Ramage claps after making it to first base on an error late in the Class 3A softball supersectional Monday, June 5, 2023 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. The Redbirds fell to Lemont 6-0.
Metamora's Katy Ramage claps after making it to first base on an error late in the Class 3A softball supersectional Monday, June 5, 2023 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. The Redbirds fell to Lemont 6-0.

The senior outfielder batted .450 on 50 hits with 18 doubles, one triple, three homers, 41 RBIs and 38 runs for the Mid-Illini champions. She stole 34 bases and drew 17 walks to earn ICA first-team all-state honors along with being an all-Mid-Illini first-team pick as a Northern Illinois commit.

Ellie Schaffer, Metamora

The sophomore outfielder batted .420 on 34 hits with seven doubles, 19 RBIs and scored 21 runs for the Redbirds. Her breakout games came in the regional title with a 2-for-4 game against Dunlap, then went 3-for-4 versus Normal West in a 3A sectional semifinal. She stole 13 bases and drew six walks to earn all-Mid-Illini first-team honors.

Sarah Stufflebeam, Macomb

The senior catcher batted .415 on 39 hits with 11 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 38 RBIs and scored 38 runs for the 2A regional title winners. Stufflebeam caught three runners stealing and posted a .907 fielding percentage. She earned unanimous all-Prairieland Conference-South Division first-team honors.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

Journal Star softball players of the year

  • 2023: Kaidance Till, Metamora

  • 2022: Kierston McCoy, Illini Bluffs

  • 2021: Paige McAllister, Tremont

  • 2020: Season canceled by COVID-19 pandemic

  • 2019: Monique Hoosen, East Peoria

  • 2018: Monique Hoosen, East Peoria

  • 2017: Alyssa Graves, East Peoria

  • 2016: Madi McCoy, Washington

  • 2015: Morgan Florey, Brimfield/Elmwood

  • 2014: Sarah Finck, East Peoria

  • 2013: Annie Fleming, Notre Dame

  • 2012: Kasey Kanaga, Metamora

  • 2011: Sarah Finck, East Peoria

  • 2010: Justine Phillips and Jodi Rebholz, Metamora

  • 2009: Keri Leach, Olympia

  • 2008: Mackenzie Camp, Limestone

  • 2007: Amanda Ashley, East Peoria

  • 2006: Lindsay Watkins, Olympia

  • 2005: Colleen McGlaughlin, Morton

  • 2004: Tara Toepke, Metamora

  • 2003: Janelle Phillips, Metamora

  • 2002: Tricia Gaither, Olympia

  • 2001: Brynn Hasse, IVC

  • 2000: Missy Koenig, Illini Bluffs

  • 1999: Tana Barnes, Washington

  • 1998: Kristin Smith, Morton

  • 1997: Brooke Monroe, Morton

  • 1996: Lori Greiner, Morton

  • 1995: Ashley Fauser, Morton

  • 1994: Ashley Fauser, Morton

  • 1993: Aimee DeKeyser, Notre Dame

  • 1992: Becki Warner, Farmington

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2023 Peoria Journal Star all-area softball team, player of the year