Kristof tabbed top player in M&O

Emma Kristof earned the Player of the Year honor in the Marinette & Oconto Conference after a big sophomore season for the Gillett/Suring softball co-op.

Kristof made the all-conference first team as an infielder after leading the co-op from her shortstop position. She was named the top player despite Gillett/Suring finishing third in the M&O with a 5-5 mark.

“To make first team for the second year in a row is special to me because I have work hours on end getting better and getting first team make it seem like all my work paid off,” said Kristof. “Getting conference MVP is special to me because it shows that I’m a great player and I have respect from the other team.”

In her 10 conference games, Kristof hit for a .593 average and got on base at a .694 clip.

Among Kristof’s 16 conference hits, seven went for extra bases. She drove in 15 runs and scored 14 times. The sophomore walked nine times and was a strikeout victim just once.

“Getting these two awards will motivate me to become better than I am, and it will motivate me to keep pushing myself to be better,” said Kristof.

Senior Chaela Rabas and sophomore Maddie Kushner, both from the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy/Lena co-op, made the all-conference first team.

Gillett/Suring junior Bailey Stuart made the all-conference second team, while junior teammate Autumn Dryja was on the honorable mention list. STAA/Lena junior Lillyan Neta was also an honorable mention.

Rabas made the list for her play at catcher and for a big season at the plate with the bat.

In her 10 conference games, she collected 21 hits, including four extra-base hits. Rabas drove in nine runs and stole seven bases. She committed no errors in M&O action.

“It is very special to be selected first team my senior year,” said Rabas. “It allows me to end my career on a high note and know all my hard work paid off.”

Kushner was honored by the conference as an infielder.

The sophomore finished with nine hits in conference play. She also drew 12 walks, drove in four runs and stole six bases.

“It was special to be named first team this season because it was my goal coming into this season,” said Kushner. “With only being a sophomore, I didn’t think I would get first team but I showed myself that I could do it. Now I can only go up from here and keep trying to get first team for the future seasons to come.”

Stuart was recognized after playing in the outfield for the co-op, a position she hadn’t played coming into the season. She did not commit an error this spring.

At the plate, Stuart tallied three hits in conference play. She also walked seven times to help her finish with a .294 on-base percentage. Stuart scored six runs.

Neta landed on the honorable mention list after tallying 13 hits in conference play. She also drew 10 walks and drove in nine runs.

Dryja was her team’s primary pitcher this spring and battled through some injuries to earn her spot on the honorable mention list. At the plate, she collected five hits in conference play, while also driving in four runs, walking nine times and scoring six runs.

Coleman won the conference title after going 10-0. Crivitz was second at 8-2, while Gillett/Suring was third. STAA/Lena went 2-8 to finish fifth.

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