Karli Merlich took the mound for most of the way for the Kennedy fastpitch softball team this year, leading the Lancers to a state Class 3A championship.

Merlich was honored as the Most Valuable Pitcher of the year for her efforts in the Seamount League.

Meanwhile, her coach -- Dino Josie -- reeled in the Coach of the Year award.

Sarah Martinez of Mount Rainier was named as the Most Valuable Player.

Merlich and Martinez also led the first team selections as seniors, with Merlich named as a first team pitcher and Martinez as the first team shortstop.

Kennedy catcher Lindsy Dugan was honored for her junior season, in which she worked closely with Merlich.

Maniqua Sanchez scored another pitching position as a junior with Tyee and Ashley Messmer of Mount Rainier was named as the first baseman after a solid senior season.

Mount Rainier second baseman Blessed Joy Mipalar was named to the first team as a freshman, and Ashley Davis of Kennedy earned the third baseman position as a sophomore.

JFK's Maggie Whaley was named as a first team outfielder as a senior along with Brittany Copenhaver of Mount Rainier and Brandi Brown of Mount Rainier.

The first team utility position went to Marie-Faye Schaffer, a senior from Tyee.

The second team also had two area pitchers named to it -- Mount Rainier sophomore Kelly MacDonald and Evergreen sophomore Lisa Anderson.

Tyee senior Leandra Lemon was named as the second team first baseman and Highline freshman Tyler Sanchez as a third baseman along with Evergreen junior Shakira Delacruz.

Highline senior Ashley Engel and Highline junior Racheal Williams were both named as second team outfielders and Kennedy sophomore Jessica Lewis was a second team pick at utility.

Honorable mention selections from Highline were Samantha Erben, Krista Childs, Leslie Rowden and Kayla Carlile and Mount Rainier had Shelby Klein and Kesley Berg honored.

Picked from Kennedy were Kelsey Trautmann, Lindsay O'Connell, Peggy Mathison, Jamie Yellam and Shelly Donohue.

Evergreen choices were Stephanie Olson, Sabrina Hunter and Erene Togi. Tyee had Nicole Wright, Shelby Wright, Jo Lelu and Leanna Van receiving honorable mention.

Baseball

The Seamount League had nine players from the Highline/Des Moines area named to this year's all-star first team.

JFK junior Josh Kutz was named as the first team catcher and Mount Rainier first baseman/pitcher Kyle Johnson also made the squad as a junior.

Highline second baseman Lee Carson was a first team selection as a sophomore and senior Hayden Rovegno of Highline was a first team third baseman selection.

The first team outfield included Highline senior Tyler Werle, Kennedy sophomore Derick Lewis and Mount Rainier sophomore Desmond Santos.

Highline sophomore Ryan Brett was named as a first team pitcher and Highline senior Chris Graham as a first team designated hitter.

Leading off the second team was Highline senior Ryan Mayner at first baseman/pitcher. The second base award went to Mount Rainier junior Andrew Larsen-Pulver and Highline sophomore Ryan Brett made the squad as a shortstop.

Jacob Elmore of Tyee was named to the second team as a junior, while JFK sophomore Derick Lewis was selected as a pitcher along with Mount Rainier senior Tyler Freudenthal.

Kennedy junior Steve Konkel made the second team as a junior utility player. Tyee freshman Colby Goodner is the second team designated hitter.

Boys soccer

Marshall Kosaka of Highline was honored as the Seamount League Most Valuable Player, while Kennedy's Brian Mullen was chosen as the Coach of the Year. Tyee took home the sportsmanship award.

Kosaka also made the first team as a senior midfielder and Evan Richter of Highline also made the first team at midfield as a senior.

Andres Suazo-Ramirez was named as a first team defender/midfielder as a senior, and defender positions went to Mount Rainier senior A.J. Nitzel and Mount Rainier sophomore Kevin Bodle.

Making the first team at forward were Mount Rainier sophomore Darwin Jones, Mount Rainier junior Tucker Rockwell and Mount Rainier sophomore Kyle Danielson.

Honored at first team midfielder from Kennedy were senior Tony Armitage and junior Jacob Ambrozic, while the first team goalkeeper was Kennedy senior Sean Miller.

Another midfield position went to Frank Martinez, a senior from Tyee. The Totems also had sophomore Okoyoro Gahou named to the first team at forward/midfield. Evergreen sophomore Kenny Albright made the first team at forward.

Making the second team at defender were Evergreen junior Saul Torres, Evergreen sophomore Fabian Valencia, Evergreen junior Israel Robles and JFK junior Christian Nichols. David Lugo of Mount Rainier made the second team at goalkeeper as a senior.

A second team midfield position went to Dalton Rockwell as a senior from Mount Rainier, and Highline defender Nick Reynolds was named as a senior. Jesus Cervantes of Highline earned a second team forward position as a junior.

Tyee led the area schools in honorable mention picks with Lalo Aguirre, Khalid Abate, Hanok Yazio and Mostafa Hedayat. Tristen Brown, Gian Russo and Nick Foutz were all named from Highline. Daniel Garcia Prieto was selected from Kennedy.