Softball diamonds around Aurora had no shortage of talent in the 2024 season, which saw 20 players make all-league first teams — plus two that won league player of the year nods — while 19 others made the second team and a number of others were honorable mention.
Because of that, the 2024 Aurora Sentinel All-Aurora Softball Team —which is picked by the Sentinel in conjunction with nominations and balloting from city coaches — is simply loaded.
— Find the full 2024 Aurora Sentinel All-Aurora Softball Team, here
Cherokee Trail captured the Centennial League championship and went on a postseason run that ended in the Class 5A state championship game, which it dropped to classification newcomer Riverdale Ridge. Led by Centennial League Coach of the Year Caley Mitchell, the Cougars featured an excellent blend of experience in key places and young up-and-comers who will keep the future bright.
The sophomore class, in particular, was outstanding for Cherokee Trail. A pair of All-Aurora first team picks came from it in Sydney Cobb and Emma Rice, who were both contributors in a variety of ways and both were part of a contingent of six All-Centennial League first team picks for Cherokee Trail.
Rice tied for the most wins on the mound of any local pitchers with 12 — against just two losses — compiled a 3.24 ERA and struck out 96 batters in just 75 2/3 innings, while she finished second among Aurora hitters with 11 home runs to go with 38 RBI and a sparkling .565 batting average as she was picked to the Colorado High School Activities Association’s All-State 1st team.
Cobb was a second team all-state pick after an outstanding season that saw the left-handed swinger hit .505 with six home runs and drive in an Aurora area-best 46 runs, while she won nine of her 10 decisions on the mound and struck out more than one batter in each of her 66 2/3 innings on the mound.
Grandview had the area’s most complete player in junior Sasha Kennedy, an irresistible force who dictated a lot for her Wolves.
Kennedy won the Centennial League’s Player of the Year award and made the All-State first team in the wake of a season in which she hit .588 with area bests in hits (57, including 14 for extra bases) and stolen bases (53), while she also scored 42 runs and homered three times (including twice in Grandview’s 5A state tournament win over Chatfield).
The Wolves had a handful of All-Centennial League first team picks as well, including one of the area’s stalwarts on the mound in Kamaya Soniea-Harris. The senior right-hander racked up 12 wins to tie Rice for Aurora area honors, while her 2.61 ERA was more impressive because she pitched 110 innings (which was 30-plus more than the next best pitcher in the city) and she registered a city-best 118 strikeouts.
Eaglecrest had the area’s top catcher in senior Kaitlyn Hendrian, who was strong behind the plate and provided all the leadership the Raptors could need. The All-Centennial League first team pick also packed plenty of pop, as she tied the Eaglecrest program single season home run record of newly inducted school Hall of Famer Kailey Wilson with 12, which ranked her fifth in 5A. Hendrian also ranked third in the league with 40 and she hit .457.
Vista PEAK Prep got a new head coach in John Waller and took a step forward as it not only won the first league championship in program history (as it defeated Denver South in a memorable regular season finale that needed extra innings to decide), but qualified for the regional postseason for the first time as well.
The Bison were driven by a number of versatile talents, including junior Amara Herrera, who was the 5A/4A City League Player of the Year.
Herrera had the area’s highest batting average for players with more than 50 official at-bats at .589, a total that came on 53 base hits, including 18 for extra bases, while she also drove in 23 runs. Herrera had an outstanding .630 on base percentage and scored 47 runs (one behind teammate Jaya Gray for the team and City League lead), while on the mound, she went 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA.
Senior Nayely Duran fills the All-Aurora spot at designated hitter, though she also was a stalwart behind the plate for the Bison. Duran came through with several of the most key hits on the season for Vista PEAK Prep on her way to a .518 batting average as well as 45 RBI, which put her one off Cobb’s pace among city players and was second-most in the City League.
Overland played an independent schedule this season, so there were no all-league accolades to be had, but sophomore Michaela Halton would have been in line for plenty for coach Omar Garcia’s squad.
For a Trailblazers team that went 12-5, Halton had a .619 batting average, had a handful of home runs and drove in 27 runs, while she also picked up six wins on the mound plus a save.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
