By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
State tournament qualifiers Silver Lake, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Washburn Rural and Topeka High combined to earn 15 of 16 spots on the 2025 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County softball first team.
Silver Lake, the Class 3A runnerup for the second straight season, put four players on the first team, including Shawnee County player of the year Kendra Cook, while 5A state qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for six first-teamers and 6A state runnerup Washburn Rural and fellow 6A state qualifier Topeka High combined for five first-teamers.
Kendra Cook, Silver Lake
Topeka High freshman London Backman and Hayden freshman Blakely Walter were named the co-county newcomers of the year while Washburn Rural coach Joy Marie Galliart and Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton share the county coach of the year award for the second straight year.
London Backman, Topeka High
Blakely Walter, Hayden
Cook is joined on the All-Shawnee County first team by Eagle seniors Taylor Zordel and Kira Lowrey and junior Kailyn Hanni after Silver Lake recorded a 25-7 record.
Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake
Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
Seaman put seniors Kaelyn O'Rourke, Raegan McConnell and Anna McLaughlin and junior Aubrey Warren on the first team after the Vikings posted a 20-9 record, including a 3-2 17-inning loss to Maize South in the opening round of the 5A state tournament.
Kaelyn O'Rourke, Seaman
Raegan McConnell, Seaman
Anna McLaughlin, Seaman
Aubrey Warren, Seaman
Washburn Rural, which went 22-8 and advanced to the 6A championship game before dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West, put Centennial League player of the year Olivia Koch, a sophomore, on the all-county first team along with juniors Henley Rapp and Reagan Chapman.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Reagan Chapman, Washburn Rural
Henley Rapp, Washburn Rural
Shawnee Heights, which posted a 20-7 record and dropped a 3-2 decision to eventual 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the first round of the 5A state tournament, is represented by seniors Taylor Brees and Grace Proctor.
Taylor Brees, Shawnee Heights
Grace Proctor, Shawnee Heights
State qualifier Topeka High put Backman and senior Jo'Mhara Benning on the all-county first team while Hayden senior Keira Carswell rounds out the all-county squad.
Jo'Mhara Benning, Topeka High
Keira Carswell, Hayden
2025 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY SOFTBALL
First team
Name, school Class
London Backman, Topeka High Fr.
Jo'Mhara Benning, Topeka High Sr.
Keira Carswell, Hayden Sr.
Reagan Chapman, Washburn Rural Jr.
Taylor Brees, Shawnee Heights Sr.
Kendra Cook, Silver Lake Sr.
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake Jr.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural So.
Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake Sr.
Raegan McConnell, Seaman Sr.
Anna McLaughlin, Seaman Sr.
Kaelyn O'Rourke, Seaman Sr.
Grace Proctor, Shawnee Heights Sr.
Henley Rapp, Washburn Rural Jr.
Aubrey Warren, Seaman Jr.
Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake Sr.
Second team
Name, school Class
Addalyn Boleski, Washburn Rural Fr.
Falyn Clurman, Rossville Fr.
Layla Collins, Washburn Rural Sr.
Addison Cooper, Shawnee Heights Jr.
Campbell Dawson, Topeka High So.
Lydia Dreher, Seaman Fr.
Cianna Graves, Shawnee Heights Jr.
Shyanne Haehn, Rossville Sr.
Callie Jones, Topeka West Sr.
Carley McAllister, Hayden Fr.
Justice McBurney, Washburn Rural So.
Dayana Miller, Shawnee Heights Sr.
Madilyn Poole, Topeka High So.
Emily Peterson, Hayden Jr.
Brooke Springer, Rossville Jr.
Blakely Walter, Hayden Fr.
Honorable mention
Hayden: Lydia Dennis, jr.; Katie Mead, jr.; Maura Valdivia, so. Highland Park: Makayla Cadet, Da'Veaha Monroe-Drew, Asia Brooks, Myka Calhoun, Kaylie Barnes, Azaria Jones. Rossville: Nora Burdiek, so. Seaman: Kayleigh Neill, sr.; Avery Phelps, jr.; Addison Sibley, jr.; Natalee Simpson, so. Shawnee Heights: Shylee Harrington, jr. Silver Lake: Paige Heiman, jr.; Saylor Liggatt, fr.; Taylor Swygert, jt.; Savannah Wende, so. Topeka High: Adrianna Adame, fr.; Montgomerie Freel, sr. Topeka West: Christina Briggs, jr.; Addaline Hall, jr.; Isabelle Kutina, jr.; Mya Miller, fr.; Kendall Munoz, fr.; Jordyn White, fr. Washburn Rural: Josie Carlgren, jr.; Madi Davison, sr.; Avery Rupp, sr.; Salah Williams, sr.
Player of the year -- Kendra Cook, Silver Lake.
Co-newcomers of the year -- London Backman, Topeka High, and Blakely Walter, Hayden.
Co-coaches of the year -- Joy Marie Galliart, Washburn Rural, and Nick Hamilton, Silver Lake.
