Clark, DuBois headline All-District picks

Bechtle, Bowden, Coronado, Maly, Marcett, Tydelski named first-team

June 22, 2009

   

PEARLAND — The Pearland Lady Oilers had one of the greatest years in the history of the softball program. While the 1996 squad won a state championship -- the 2009 team came very close to bringing home another state title as they lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Smithson Valley in the 5A state finals.

Despite the disappointing loss -- the Lady O's return almost their entire team for next season and head coach Laneigh Clark is confident that her girls will be more mature and experienced in making another run back to state.

Clark has been at the helm of the Pearland softball program since 1998. The Lady O's have been to the playoffs 11 out of the past 12 years. They haven't missed the post-season since 2001.

The 2009 team set a new season record with 37 victories while winning the District 22-5A and 5A Region III titles.

The District 22-5A coaches selected Clark as the 2009 "Coach of the Year" and rightly so. Clark began this season with a 245-96 record at Pearland. She is now 282-103 and is only 18 wins shy of reaching the 300 win milestone which she should pick up next year.

Sophomore pitcher Brooke DuBois was named District 22-5A "Newcomer of the Year" after posting an 11-2 pitching mark including a 2.50 ERA with 84.0 innings and 74 strikeouts. Opponents hit only .202 off the righthander. BuBois hit .232 with four doubles, one home run, 15 RBIs, and six runs scored.

Pearland also placed six players on the All-District first-team headed by sophomore pitcher Jessica Bowden who was 23-2 in the pitching circle which included a 1.65 ERA, 174.0 innings, 134 strikeouts, and opponents hitting only .216. Bowden also performed well at the plate with a .367 batting average, four doubles, 21 RBIs, and 30 runs scored. Bowden stole 17-of-20 bases.

The District 22-5A coaches selected Deer Park pitcher senior Brittany Simmons as the league's MVP -- but Bowden defeated Simmons in all three of their head-to-head matchups during the regular season and playoffs -- but it was clear that the district coaches shunned Bowden because she was only a sophomore versus Simmons who was a senior.

Senior Jensen Tydelski was a first-team selection and was also named to the UIL 5A state tournament team as well as being picked to the Texas Girls Coaches Association 4A/5A East All-Star team. Tydelski was also named to the TGCA 5A All-State team with Bowden.

Tydelski led all of the 5A hitters across the state with 72 hits while batting a sparkling .522. The centerfielder had a double and a triple to go with 13 RBIs, 37 runs scored and a .543 slugging percentage. The petite, swift-footed Tydelski stole 40-of-44 bases to also lead the state in that category.

Junior catcher Brittany Marcet hit .405 while leading the Houston area with 55 RBIs. Marcet had 12 doubles, two triples, three home runs and scored only four times since she was usually replaced with a courtesy runner. Marcet had a .632 slugging percentage and a .477 on-base percentage.

Junior first baseman Megan Coronado was a first-team pick after hitting .371 with 37 runs scored, six doubles, seven triples, and 27 RBIs as the leadoff hitter. Coronado stole 24-of-26 bases.

Sophomore leftfielder Leandra Maly was named to the first-team after hitting .323 with 27 runs scored and two RBIs. She stole 22-of-23 bases while committing only one error.

Junior shortstop Jaclyn Bechtle was named as an At-Large position after hitting .288 with 13 runs scored, six doubles, three triples, and one home run with 21 RBIs. She stole 5-of-6 bases.

The Lady Oilers also had two players named to the All-District second-team.

Sophomore third baseman Chelsea Bennett hit .253 with 14 runs scored, three doubles, one triple and seven RBIs.

Sophomore second baseman Lauren Langner hit .309 with 18 runs scored, one double, two triples, and 10 RBIs. Langner stole 10-of-12 bases.

Senior Kimberlee Rychlik was named honorable mention after hitting .333 with one double and 14 RBIs. Rychlik came up with some clutch hits in the playoffs that enabled the Lady Oilers to advance to the state tournament.

While Pearland will lose a couple of talented seniors -- the good news is that the Lady O's will return a very strong nucleus of players who should be able to lead the team to another run to the state tournament.

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