St. Mary’s Colgan softball dominated league competition this past season with a 12-0 record and so it’s not any surprise the Panthers earned seven all-league selections and head coach Cassie Rhuems won coach of the year.
Bella Ascanio and Callie Lundy earned unanimous first-team selections and Kylee Kretchmar and Drew Dayton also received first team as the Panthers took four of the 11 first-team nods.
Addie Bettega and Kara Osborn both earned second team and Addie Morris honorable mention.
Rhuems coached Frontenac to at least part of six league titles (2012-13, 2021, 2023-25) and guided Colgan to a league title in her first season as Panther head coach. The Panthers last won the league in 2019 and they earned a share with Riverton in 2010.
The Panthers completed a 27-3 season with a 5-0 victory last Friday over Mission Valley in the Class 2-1A state championship at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.
State qualifier and league runner-up Frontenac got six selections: Gracen McLaren and Stevi Likely unanimous first team, Ace Ogle first team, Paige Unruh and Hadley Goodwin second team and Haydn Goodwin honorable mention.
The Raiders finished their first season under head coach Jess Murphy at 21-5 and they lost 4-2 in eight innings May 25 in the 3A state quarterfinals against Jefferson West.
Here’s the scary good thing about both Colgan and Frontenac softball: Neither team featured a single senior on their roster during the 2026 season.
Baxter Springs caught fire at exactly just the right time in the season and qualified for the 3A state tournament. The Lions’ 17-11 season ended with an 8-4 loss May 25 against Haven.
Jada Palmer was unanimous first team, Emily Schoon and Myka Adams both earned second team and Kierstan Burggraf got honorable mention.
Girard won one more game overall than last season despite losing one more game in league play, improving from 7-14 to 8-16.
Emilee Hanks and Jazmyn Kaufman received second team and Maddie Coester honorable mention.
ALL-CNC LEAGUE SOFTBALL
FIRST TEAM
Baxter Springs: Jada Palmer;
Columbus: Bentley Townsend;
Frontenac: Gracen McLaren, Stevi Likely, Ace Ogle;
Galena: Rylie Meyr;
Riverton: Kynlee King;
St. Mary’s Colgan: Bella Ascanio, Callie Lundy, Kylee Kretchmar, Drew Dayton
SECOND TEAM
Baxter Springs: Emily Schoon, Myka Adams;
Frontenac: Paige Unruh, Hadley Goodwin;
Galena: Makaila Matthews, Morgan Strong, Makenzy New;
Girard: Emilee Hanks, Jazmyn Kaufman;
St. Mary’s Colgan: Addie Bettega, Kara Osborn
HONORABLE MENTION
Baxter Springs: Kierstan Burggraf;
Columbus: Morgan Richards;
Frontenac: Haydn Goodwin;
Galena: Mady Boyes;
Girard: Maddie Coester;
Riverton: Avery Barnett;
St. Mary’s Colgan: Addie Morris
Coach of the Year: Cassie Rhuems, St. Mary’s Colgan
This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund
