Softball players Southeast Conference co-champions Hope Lutheran and Houston have been named to the Class A All-State First Team, as voted by the Minnesota Fastpich Coaches Association.
Hope Lutheran pitcher Felicia Meyer and Houston catcher Meredith Lee — both seniors — were named First Team All-State players.
Meyer is one of five pitchers named to the first team. She finished the regular season with 250 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.40. She broke the state record for career strikeouts on Wednesday in Hope Lutheran's Section 1A tournament game against Rushford-Peterson, passing previous record-holder Lindsey Predovich of Virginia, who had 1,178 strikeouts from 1998-2003. Meyer now has 1,197.
Lee ended the regular season for the Hurricanes with a .360 batting average, one home run, six doubles and 19 RBIs. She helped Houston to its 20th winning season in the past 22 years as the Hurricanes earned the top seed in the East Subsection 1A tournament. Their season ended in the subsection semifinals, with a record of 17-4.
Seven area players were named to their respective classes' All-State Second Teams. In Class AA, St. Charles junior catcher Taige Thoreson, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa's Megan Nelson (sophomore, pitcher) and Jamie St. Marie (junior, shortstop) were named to the Second Team. In Class A, pitchers Brianna Martin of Houston and Erica Manske of Blooming Prairie were named to the Second Team, as was Blooming Prairie infielder Kelly Peterson.
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Two area players were named All-State Honorable Mention: In Class A, Jamie O'Laughlin (senior, catcher, Hope Lutheran); and in Class AA, Vanessa Anderson (seventh-grader, third base, Byron).
