While Highland Park’s softball team came up just shy of its ultimate goal of qualifying for the playoffs, instead falling to The Colony in a one-game tiebreaker for the final berth out of District 12-5A, it was still a successful year for a senior-laden Lady Scots squad.
Fellow 12-5A coaches certainly took note of the talent on HP’s roster. Seven Lady Scots were recently named to the all-district team.
But while HP boasted a veteran roster, it was freshman Maryn Muntz who took home a superlative honor — the infielder was named the district’s Newcomer of the Year.
Muntz produced a season in which she paced the team in batting average (.516), OPS (1.668), slugging percentage (1.031), home runs (six), runs (41) and even stolen bases (11).
Following with first-team selections were senior pitcher Cecilia Knutson, senior infielder Shannon Hart, and sophomore outfielder Emma Hyde.
Knutson battled injuries throughout the season but still managed to earn all-district honors in part because of her toughness.
On the field, Knutson posted an 8-3 record with a 3.34 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 69 innings in the circle to go with a .466 average and 19 RBIs at the plate.
Hyde was another two-way player for HP, pacing the team in hits (36) and RBIs (39) to go with four homers, a .462 average, and an 8-6 record with 54 strikeouts as a pitcher.
Hart, meanwhile, hit .351 with a team-high 13 doubles, 19 RBIs and 36 runs.
Receiving second-team nods from HP were senior infielder Taylor Gilliam, freshman infielder Lara Meghrabi, and senior catcher Lili Rodriguez.
Rodriguez excelled defensively behind the plate while also hitting .286, while Meghrabi racked up a .435 average with 24 RBIs. Gilliam was also praised for her defensive ability while hitting .314 with a home run.
While head coach Michael Pullen is certainly sad to see a storied senior corps moving on, he said he knows the work ethic and joy for the game left behind will fuel future HP squads led by returners Muntz, Hyde, and Meghrabi.
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