All-Delco Softball: Brough, Banes, Loomis formed nucleus for O’Hara

In addition to Daily Times Player of the Year Sam Tomasetti of Garnet Valley, the rest of the All-Delco first team includes:

Mary Pat Brough, Cardinal O’Hara: The senior pitcher was the anchor of the Lions’ run to its first Catholic League championship game. While Brough didn’t dominate hitters with a blazing fastball and a penchant for strikeouts, she showed great command of the circle using an assortment of well-located pitches, with good precision and late action that typically resulted in hitters making weak contact. Brough posted 14 wins and a .84 ERA in her senior campaign. Brough was named All-Catholic League and her brilliant pitching was a catalyst in what was a historic season for the O’Hara program.

Tori DePietro, Springfield: The senior pitcher is a four-year starter and mainstay during Springfield’s run of dominance over the last three years.

A three-time All-Delco, DePietro started at shortstop and pitcher her first three seasons with the Cougars, and was vital to the team’s championship success in 2014 and 2015. A PIAA Class AAA and two-time Central League champion, DePietro guided the Cougars to the District One Class AAAA for the second year in a row. Bound for PSU-Brandywine, where she’ll continue her softball career, DePietro finished her senior campaign with 15 wins, which ranked second in Delco, and five doubles. Her top moment of 2016 happened when she smashed a walkoff home run in the seventh inning to beat Garnet Valley.

Reva Alderman, Garnet Valley: The senior third baseman was the best power hitter in Delco this season. Moving to the hot corner from the behind the plate for her final year, the Lehigh recruit was a terror at the plate and a plus defender. Alderman tied the PIAA single-season home run record with 12. The rest of her stats tell a broader story: The two-time All-Delco slashed .508/.575/1.149 with 33 hits, including six doubles, and 32 runs scored. Due in large part to Alderman’s scorching bat, the Jags were able to overcome a 0-3 start to make the District One Class AAAA playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Annemarie Banes, Cardinal O’Hara: The junior shortstop made the transition from third base to shortstop look easy. With a slick-fielding glove, Banes converted all the tough plays and was one of the best fielding players in the county. At the plate, Banes was a stabilizing force in the middle of the Lions’ order. On the way to earning All-Catholic League honors, Banes posted team highs in batting average (.481) and on-base percentage (.725) for the Lions. She had four doubles and three triples. One of the best all-around players in the county, Banes was instrumental in helping O’Hara claim the Catholic League regular season championship.

Emily Loomis, Cardinal O’Hara: The junior second baseman was a perfect complement to Banes as they formed arguably the best middle infield tandem in the county. Loomis’ fantastic campaign earned her 2016 Philadelphia Catholic League MVP honors. One of her signature moments came when she delivered the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to lift O’Hara past rival Bonner & Prendergast, 1-0. For the season, Loomis hit .429 with three triples, a .544 on-base percentage and a team-high 20 RBIs.

Mackenzie Lewis, Sun Valley: The junior shortstop excelled on a rebuilding Vanguards team that struggled mightily at times. Along with second-team catcher Amber Michael, Lewis was a bright spot all year. An on-base machine with top-flight speed, Lewis gave opposing pitchers fits thanks to her ability to make contact — with her slap-hitting technique — and caused havoc on the basepaths. She hit.500 (33-for-66) with a .535 on-base percentage and 16 runs scored. To reiterate Lewis’ penchant for putting the ball in play, she struck out just six times all year.

Heather Lazer, Haverford: The junior infielder was the spark at the top of the order for a Fords team that won 13 games and qualified for the District One Class AAAA tournament. Lazer was voted team MVP and earned All-Central League honors following a stellar junior campaign. The leadoff hitter reached base 47 percent of the time leading off a game or an inning. She slashed .424/.457/.485 with 28 hits, 18 runs scored and 11 RBIs.

Sam Witmer, Upper Darby: The junior outfielder was as good as it gets in Delco manning center field. An All-Delco and All-Central League selection for the second straight year, Witmer was a big reason for Upper Darby’s tremendous success in 2016. With Witmer in the middle of the lineup, the Royals rolled to the Central League title and became the first Delco team in eight years to advance to the PIAA Class AAAA tournament. She belted six doubles and two triples while hitting close to .350 with a slugging percentage near .500.

Michala Maciolek, Agnes Irwin: The junior catcher was named All-Inter-Ac League and helped the Owls to a remarkable bounceback season in 2016. With Maciolek leading the way, Agnes Irwin posted an 8-7 record after a 1-13 campaign last spring. A Syracuse recruit, , Maciolek was a hitting machine for the Owls. Her numbers are eye-popping: .625/.755/1.156 with team highs in homers (three), RBIs (21) and runs scored (21).

Amber Seamen, Interboro: The junior catcher was the Bucs’ driving force. A two-year starter, Seamen, a second-team All-Delco a year ago, powered the Bucs to a 14-7 record and a second-place finish in the Del Val League. Alas, despite Seamen’s dominance with the bat and calling games behind the dish, the Bucs were robbed of a District One Class AAAA playoff berth. Seamen was excellent this year, slashing .429/.448/.660. And, despite missing three games, she led the team in hits (24), doubles (four), triples (three) and RBIs (15).

Lexie Witmer, Upper Darby: The catcher is the lone freshman on this year’s All-Delco squad. That means Witmer made quite an impact on the Royals, who won 19 games and qualified for the PIAA Class AAAA tournament. She caught every game for the Royals, teaming up with freshman hurler Rebecca Sorrentino as the youngest battery in Delco. Witmer bested the Royals in several offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. She hit better than .450 on the season with five doubles and four triples. An All-Central League honoree, Witmer, who is Sam’s younger sister, threw out five of eight attempted base stealers and did not to commit an error all year.