by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Members of the Kansas City Kansas Community College softball team excelled not only on the playing field but in the classroom.
On the field, six Blue Devils were named to the NJCAA Region VI All-District D team for 2019.
Academically, the team had a combined 3.59 grade point average as six players had perfect 4.0 GPAs, sophomores Kaylee Arnzen, Britney Beck, Gracie Gentry and Britney Smith and freshmen Hannah Redick and Shay Grosstephan.
Arnzen. Redick and Grosstephan were joined by Devin Purcell on the All-District team; Smith and Mackenzie Pinkerton were selected on the second team.
Equaling the second most wins in KCKCC history, the Blue Devils (38-10) defeated tri-champion Hesston twice in the District D playoffs before losing to nationally ranked Johnson County 4-2 in the champion ship game.
A first baseman from Pampa, Texas, Arnzen led the Blue Devils in most offensive categories including hitting (.379), slugging (667), home runs (10), runs-batted-in (51) and extra base hits (23).
Redick, a graduate of Shawnee Mission North, played every game at shortstop. Hitting from the leadoff position, Redick led the Blue Devils in hits with 75 while batting .368 with 37 RBI and a team high 17 doubles.
A centerfielder from Eudora, Purcell led the Blue Devils in stolen bases with 14.and committed only one error in 77 chances in the outfield. Hitting second in the batting order, she hit .354 with 12 doubles and 18 RBI.
A righthander pitcher from Girard, Kansas, Grosstephan also served as the designated hitter when not on the mound, hitting .337 with 30 RBI. On the mound, she compiled a 15-6 record with a 4.10 ERA, striking out 73 and walking 54 in 145 innings.
A second baseman from Basehor-Linwood, Smith hit .307 with 33 RBI. She also stole eight bases and had just four errors in 195 fielding chances.
Pinkerton was the Blue Devils winningest pitcher with a 16-12 record. A righthander from Channhassen, Minnesota, she also had four saves while striking out 134 and walking 91 for a 4.65 ERA. As the designated hitter, Pinkerton batted 256 with 10 doubles and 26 RBI.
Johnson County, which won the District D championship and earned a berth in the national tournament, landed three players on the first team while co-champion Hesston dominated the first team with six selections.