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