Receiving special honors at the Brownstown Central softball awards program were, from left, Kelsey Schneider, Rylee May and Kyndle Huddleston.
Arv Koontz | The Tribune
Darren Bryant, softball head coach at Brownstown Central, said when picking a most valuable player, a lot of things need to be considered.
At the top of the list is “what one player could you least afford to lose off your team that would make a big difference? When the coaches were discussing this, it quickly came down to two or three players,” Bryant said.
He said Rylee May was valuable to the Braves in several areas this spring, and naming her MVP was an easy choice.
May batted 39-for-85 for an average of .459. She scored 30 runs and had 30 RBI, 14 doubles, one triple and six home runs.
On the mound, the junior left-hander was 4-0 with 51.2 innings of work, 37 strikeouts and a 2.98 earned run average.
Bryant also presented May with the mental attitude and leading hitter awards and said she was named to the all-Mid-Southern Conference first team along with Kelsey Schneider.
Bryant said he “looked for someone that always came to practice and games ready to play and had a positive attitude and always had a smile on her face,” and May did.
May holds the career record for home runs with 13, and her six long balls this spring tied the school mark. She needs one more RBI to tie the career RBI mark as she has 81.
Schneider received the leading pitcher award, and Kyndle Huddleston received the defensive player award.
Schneider had a record of 5-2, pitching 59.1 innings with 65 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.07.
Huddleston split her time between first base and third base and was one of four players who didn’t make any errors this season. The other players were Emily Dillman, Sophie Wayt and Brooke Meahl.
“By the nature of some positions, obviously, there are more opportunities for putouts and assists,” Bryant said. “You’ve got to look and see who can separate themselves as making exceptional defensive plays.”
He said Huddleston was that player and mentioned she was involved in five double plays this season.
Huddleston and Olivia Justice were named MSC honorable mention.
Huddleston broke the season RBI record this spring with 34, and Schneider broke the season runs record by scoring 40 times.
Bryant said Rylin Huddleston was the only senior on the team. She was 6-2 as a pitcher in 66.1 innings with 94 strikeouts and a 5.38 ERA, and she batted .219.
He said she did an excellent job on the mound and topped her season off by pitching a one-hitter against Brown County.
Rylin Huddleston and Dillman were named to the all-sectional team.
Bryant said the Braves had a very good season, going 17-10. They went 6-2 in the Mid-Southern, losing 2-1 games to Silver Creek and Scottsburg, and tied for second with Scottsburg.
“Overall, I thought we had a very good season,” he said. “The biggest thing I’m excited about is the improvement you guys made from last season to this season. If we can just get a little more out of you next season, maybe we can get over the hump and win the conference and the sectional.”
He thanked his assistant coaches, Catherine Caudill, Kirsten Ault Beavers and Katelyn Campbell.
He said the Braves raised their team batting average from .318 last year to .335 this season, and they also raised their defensive percentage to .914.
Kyndle Huddleston, Meahl and Wayt received their letter jackets.