Diamond gems: Presenting the 2021 All-Main Line softball teams

Several Main Line high school softball squads enjoyed memorable seasons this past spring, particularly Haverford High, which posted a 23-5 record and reached the PIAA Class 6A state championship finals for the first time in program history.
Episcopal Academy posted a 12-0 record during regular-season Inter-Ac play, and Baldwin School captured the Inter-Ac Tournament title.
Other top teams included Shipley (13-2 overall, 10-0 in the Friends’ Schools League), Archbishop Carroll (15-5), Conestoga (11-10, qualified for District 1 6A tourney) and Friends’ Central (10-3).
The All-Main Line high school softball teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of spots available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.
What follows are the 2021 All-Main Line high school softball teams:
FIRST TEAM
Jada Wade, Academy of Notre Dame – Sophomore first baseman/third baseman and captain, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .833 in league play. A fine fielder (.970 fielding percentage) noted for her agility at first base and her defense at the hot corner.
Gianna Liciardello, Archbishop Carroll – Junior pitcher, a second team All-Catholic League selection, was a vital force for the Patriots this spring, batting .404 with 20 RBI’s, and striking out 90 batters.
Cheyenne Niehoff, Archbishop Carroll – Junior outfielder, a first team All-Catholic League selection, was an effective leadoff hitter for the Patriots, batting .595 with 35 hits and 17 RBIs.
Christina Jackson, Archbishop Carroll – Senior catcher and captain, a first team All-Catholic League selection, batted .519 with 27 hits and 19 RBIs. Will attend West Chester University.
Blake Landow, Baldwin School – Junior center fielder, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .577 with an OPS of 1.313. Scored 23 runs, had 9 RBIs and cracked four doubles.
Joelle Pearlstein, Baldwin School – Freshman pitcher, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, struck out 113 batters in 74.1 innings and posted a 2.50 ERA. Batted.479 with an OPS of 1.155, scored 17 runs and collected 12 RBIs.
Tessa Pearlstein, Baldwin School – Senior shortstop was Polar Bears’ Most Valuable Player, batting .404 with an OPS of 1.154, scoring 18 runs and collecting 19 RBIs along with playing fine defense at shortstop.
Libby Winters, Conestoga – Junior shortstop, a first team All-Central League pick and the Pioneers’ Most Valuable Player, batted .585 with a slugging percentage of 1.200, with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 23 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
Kate Clement, Conestoga – Senior outfielder, a first team All-Central League selection, batted .400 with an OPS of 1.028, 21 runs scored, 13 RBIs and five doubles. Had three game-winning RBIs, twice with two outs in the seventh inning. Will play softball for Franklin & Marshall next spring.
Allison Noll, Conestoga – Senior outfielder, a first team All-Central League pick, batted .444 with a .968 OPS, 14 RBIs and five doubles. Noted for her ability to make contact, and her excellent defense (committed no errors this spring).
Emma Tansky, Episcopal Academy – Senior pitcher, the Inter-Ac’s Most Valuable Player, pitched six shutouts this spring, with one no-hitter, posted an ERA of 1.07, a WHIP of 0.90, and struck out 101 batters. Batted .622, stole 16 bases and scored 30 runs. Will play softball for Hamilton College next year.
Hailee Moran, Episcopal Academy – Senior shortstop batted .523 as EA’s No. 3 hitter, with a slugging percentage of .864, scoring 22 runs, collecting 20 RBIs and stealing 10 bases. All-Inter-Ac selection is noted for her versatility (trained as an outfielder, stellar backup catcher, and a smart and reliable shortstop) and leadership. She will play softball for Dickinson College next year.
Elliana Hopple, Episcopal Academy – Senior catcher, an All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .561 in the cleanup spot with 10 extra-base hits (including four home runs), 29 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of 1.073. Will play softball for Gettysburg College next spring.
Kasey Xenidis, Friends’ Central – Freshman pitcher was the Phoenix’s co-MVP and an All-Friends’ Schools League selection, striking out 130 batters in 76 2/3 innings, allowing only nine walks and posting a 2.65 ERA. Batted .512 with a .608 on-base percentage, 3 home runs, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Maria Morsa, Friends’ Central – Freshman shortstop was the Phoenix’s co-MVP and an All-Friends’ Schools League selection, batting .600 with a .692 on-base percentage, 3 triples, 25 runs scored and 19 RBIs. Committed only one error at shortstop all season, and did a standout job as catcher for one of the Phoenix’s playoff games.
Emma Taylor, Haverford High – Junior pitcher and second-year captain, a first team All-Central League selection, posted an 18-4 record and an ERA under 1.00 through the PIAA 6A state semifinals. For the season, she struck out 205 batters in 136 innings and allowed only 84 hits, tossing nine shutouts. Batted .close to .300 with good power (11 extra-base hits, including four home runs), hit a game-winning round-tripper in the state semifinal and had a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Brooke McKeown, Haverford High – Senior center fielder and second-year captain, a first team All-Central League performer, was a lefty slapper who batted .451 with a slugging percentage close to .700, 11 extra-base hits, 31 runs scored, 27 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Was also a fine outfielder, coming up with five assists.
Kerri McCallum, Haverford High – Junior third baseman, a second team All-Central selection, batted .516 with 8 doubles, 4 home runs, a .828 slugging percentage, 22 RBIs, 19 runs scored and only 5 strikeouts. Noted for her power and consistency at the plate, and her vocal leadership.
Tess Smiley, Haverford High – Senior shortstop, a first team All-Central League pick, was considered the Fords’ sparkplug and a versatile offensive threat. She batted .341 through the PIAA 6A state quarterfinal with 29 runs scored, 10 extra-base hits (including 4 home runs), 19 RBIs, a slugging percentage of .561, and six stolen bases without being caught once.
Abbie DeSantis, Shipley – Senior pitcher/first baseman/third baseman, a first team All-Friends Schools League selection and the Gators’ MVP, batted .615 with 11 extra-base hits, 23 RBIs and 21 runs scored. On the mound, she posted a 6-0 record, an 0.61 ERA, and struck out 39 batters in 23 innings, allowing only 10 hits and 2 walks.
Zoe Manaras, Shipley – Sophomore third baseman, a first team All-Friends’ Schools League selection, batted .568 with eight doubles, 22 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage at the hot corner.
SECOND TEAM
Agnes Irwin – Kelly Cooper, senior catcher; Mia Birkmire, freshman pitcher.
Archbishop Carroll – Maya Preston, outfielder; Lauren Martin, sophomore first baseman; Sophie Spurio, senior third baseman.
Baldwin School – Allie Weiser, freshman catcher.
Conestoga – Allison Roessler, junior first baseman; Casey Kovarick, sophomore third baseman.
Episcopal Academy – Riley Spor, sophomore center fielder; Karen Xiao, junior second baseman/outfielder.
Haverford High – Shannon Gavigan, sophomore second baseman; Ava Cohen, senior left fielder; Haley Greenwald, senior catcher.
Merion Mercy Academy – Bianca Davis, senior first baseman; Grace Andrews, senior outfielder.
Radnor – Lilah Demmy, senior pitcher/shortstop.
Shipley – Morgan Kane, junior center fielder; Maddie Todd, sophomore pitcher/first baseman.
Villa Maria Academy – Tee Keithley, senior catcher; Grace Wisler, sophomore shortstop/pitcher.
HONORABLE MENTION
Agnes Irwin – Kathrine Minnis, sophomore first baseman; Jenna Zwilling, junior third baseman/utility.
Barrack Hebrew Academy – Elianna Weinstein, freshman catcher.
Conestoga – Sydney Tartaglio, junior pitcher; Ella Bass, sophomore catcher.
Harriton – Sydney Goldstein, freshman pitcher; Lucy Klein, sophomore shortstop/catcher; Jemma Klein, sophomore center fielder.
Lower Merion – Sydney Grunfeld, freshman center fielder; Quinn Baker, freshman right fielder/pitcher; Elena Kovach, freshman third baseman.
Merion Mercy Academy – Gabby Brignola, senior catcher; Alexa Hoffman, junior pitcher.