ALL-COUNTY SOFTBALL

In a year where younger players dominated on the diamond, St. Cloud sophomore and rising star Addison Felblinger is the Osceola News-Gazette Softball Player of the Year, edging Osceola freshman Faith Ferrer and Harmony junior Lindsay Green.

Although St. Cloud finished with a sub .500 record, note its extremely difficult schedule – playing seven games against teams ranked in the top 15 in the state, including Hagerty, Wellington, Lake Brantley and two games against 2023 state champion Lake Wales.

Against that tough competition, Felblinger posted outstanding numbers in the pitching circle and at the plate. She struck out 145 batters in 124 innings, while leading the Bulldogs in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.424), hits (36), RBI (34) and doubles (11).

“Addison is just starting to scratch her potential,” veteran St. Cloud coach Ray Whobrey said. “No one works harder. She wants to play at the (NCAA) Division I level and that potential is definitely there.”

For her part, Felblinger, also named the coaches’ Orange Belt Conference Player of the Year, said the season went pretty well, but absolutely believes the best is in front of both her and her St. Cloud teammates.

“We had a pretty young team and faced a tough schedule early in the season and definitely took some lumps,” the rising junior said. “But it gave us a taste of what we knew would follow. Record-wise we didn’t finish where we wanted to, but we played a lot of close games against some really outstanding teams. Based on our returning players and young players coming in, we have a chance to be pretty good next year.”

Felblinger is spending the summer traveling the country and playing high-level travel ball with the Tampa Mustangs and says improving the mental part of her game is her goal for the coming season.

“It’s the area I want to concentrate on the most,” Felblinger said. “Getting down after a mistake can lead to more mistakes and the mental aspect of the game is something I want to get better at.”

Felblinger is just one of seven freshman and sophomores who dominate our All-County team. Ferrer also had a terrific year in leading a young Osceola squad to a district title. The catcher batted a lofty .557 and led the team with 28 RBI, 18 extra base hits, six home runs and 17 stolen bases. Her sister Destiny, another freshman, joins her on the squad after hitting .350 with 10 extra base hits; as does fellow Osceola freshman Tenley Dawson, who hit .397 and knocked in 26 runs. Sophomore Yeidi Rose (.368, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR) and senior Alexis Miranda (11-6, 113Ks, 3.55 ERA) also earn spots to give the Lady Kowboys a team-leading five selections to the ONG All-County team.

Two other freshman were also selected, including Harmony’s Jade Allen (.443 batting average, 18 RBI) and Tohopekaliga’s Gaby Santiago (2.86 ERA, .393 batting average).

“Osceola County was stacked with outstanding freshmen and sophomores this past year and to tell you the truth there are a lot more young, talented players arriving next year,” Whobrey noted. “Girls softball has exploded in popularity in the last couple of years and more athletes are gravitating to the sport.”

OBC tournament champion Harmony had four players named. Joining pitcher Green (10-11,116 Ks, .483 batting average) and Allen from the Lady Longhorns was sophomore slugger Emerson Alsan (.436 BA, 9 Home Runs, 1.604 OPS) and senior captain Natalie Booth (.286, 1.000 fielding percentage), In addition to Felblinger, St. Cloud placed two others in senior shortstop Brooke Scott (.424 BA), and junior Kacey Pagan (.319). Rounding out the ONG All-County team were Tohopekaliga senior Angie Castro (.449 BA); Poinciana’s Alondra Lozada (.444 BA, 18 RBI) and Corymar Gotay (.500, 36 runs, 36 RBI); and Liberty senior Yasmin Elaraj, who led the county with a .661 batting average to go with four home runs and 35 RBI.

Osceola’s Miranda Watford, who guided the Lady Kowboys to a district title while starting five freshmen and two sophomores, is our pick for Coach of the Year; while Faith Ferrer is our Freshman of the Year.

All-County Softball
Player of the Year: Addison Felblinger, Soph., St. Cloud
Freshman of the Year: Faith Ferrer, Osceola
Coach of the Year: Miranda Watford, Osceola

All-County Team:

Jade Allen, Fr., INF/OF, Harmony
Emerson Aslan, So., INF/DP, Harmony
Natalie Booth, Sr., OF, Harmony
Angie Castro, Sr., INF/P, Tohopekaliga
Tenley Dawson, Fr., OF, Osceola
Yasmin Elaraj, Sr., INF, Liberty
Addison Felblinger, So., P, St. Cloud
Destiny Ferrer, Fr., INF/OF, Osceola
Faith Ferrer, Fr., C, Osceola
Corymar Gotay, INF, Sr., Poinciana
Lindsay Green, Jr., P, Harmony
Alondra Lozada, Jr., C, Poinciana
Alexis Miranda, Sr., P, Osceola
Kacey Pagan, Jr., OF, St. Cloud
Yeidy Rosa, Fr., INF, Osceola
Gaby Santiago, Fr., P/INF, Tohopekaliga
Brooke Scott , Sr., INF, St. Cloud