Central Pennsylvania softball hitters, pitchers and fielders alike made selecting this team a wonderfully difficult decision.
After reviewing season totals and taking in suggestions from the various PennLive reporters who covered softball this season, we spent several hours paring our list down to these 30 players.
They comprise a "team" not compiled by position, but by who we felt the best 30 players in the area were in the 2014 season. Congratulations to them and all the local players on a thrilling season.
Here are your 2014 PennLive softball all-stars …
2014 PENNLIVE FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
AVA BOTTIGLIA, freshman, Lower Dauphin
* The freshman ace pitched a no-hitter in the quarterfinals of the PIAA-AAAA tournament, highlighting a 16-3 season in which she pitched 127 2/3 innings with a 1.48 ERA and 178 strikeouts.
* Her play in the pitchers circle led the Falcons to the state championship game, where they lost to Souderton 8-3.
MADISON CHRISTIANSEN, sophomore, Red Land
* Patriots’ slugger had quite the regular season for the Patriots, walloping seven home runs, belting seven doubles and four triples and batting a robust .522 for Red Land, which finished seventh in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth race.
* Christiansen cranked out 35 hits, scored 22 runs and knocked in 29 runs during the regular season for the Patriots.
* Christiansen made our up-and-coming all-star list last spring. This year she broke through with a breakout season.
REILLY GEARHART, sophomore, Manheim Township
* Blue Streaks’ standout was outstanding in the pitching circle and at shortstop for the L-L League Section 1 champs and state-playoff qualifiers, who went to the state playoffs after finishing third in the District 3-AAAA tourney.
* At the plate, Gearhart hit at a .547 clip — 41-for-75 — and she scored 31 runs and knocked in 10 for the Streaks.
* In the pitching circle, Gearhart went 10-2 with a glittering 0.76 ERA in the regular season. She allowed just nine runs and 47 hits in 82 2/3 innings. Gearhart also piled up 140 strikeouts.
VANESSA HOFFMAN, senior, Susquenita
* Sparkplug and catalyst at the top of the order for the District 3-AA champ Blackhawks, who made a spirited run to the PIAA state semifinals.
* Hoffman, a Pfeiffer recruit, set the table, hitting .517 during the regular with an eye-popping 51 runs scored, plus 45 hits and 29 RBI.
* She ended up with 33 stolen bases, and was a key cog for a Blackhawks’ squad that won the first district title and went to the state playoffs for the first time in program history.
* Hoffman was a first-team Big 15 team pick last year.
AMANDA KNAUB, sophomore, Trinity
* Knaub led area hitters with a .662 batting average or at least two hits in an average game. She tallied 47 RBI in 65 at-bats.
* Knaub also had 43 hits and scored 33 runs.
* Her home run in the first round of the District 3-AA helped Trinity past Bishop McDevitt before the Shamrocks bowed out in the quarterfinals.
TAYLOR KROW, junior, Cumberland Valley
* The Eagles’ leadoff hitter paced the Eagles to a District 3-AAAA crown with .608 batting average, good for second in the area.
* Krow also cranked out 33 runs and 48 hits.
* She featured with two triples in Cumberland Valley’s walk-off win against Warwick in the District 3 tournament opener.
SHELBY LYTER, senior, Mifflin County
* What a dynamite season in the pitching circle for the Huskies’ ace hurler. Lyter went 12-4 and pitched to a miniscule 0.85 ERA.
* She allowed 13 runs and 61 hits in 107 1/3 innings for Mifflin County, which won 13 games in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth and reached the District 6-AAAA finals.
* Lyter also had 141 punch-outs during the regular season, and she was a second-team Big 15 pick last spring.
HALLE MARION, junior, Middletown
* Marion scored 34 runs and had 40 hits.
* She batted in a further and 27 runs with a .556 batting average.
* Her exploits at the plate and in the field helped Middletown to the District 3-AAA tournament, where the Blue Raiders fell to Kenard-Dale, 1-0 in the first round.
TARYN MILLER, sophomore, James Buchanan
* Rockets’ ace was tough to hit in the circle. Miller fashioned a 13-5 record and she pitched to a superb 0.79 ERA, allowing 13 runs and 59 hits in 115 innings in the regular season for JB.
* Rockets went 8-4 in division play and were in the middle of the Mid-Penn Colonial race, and JB won a game in the District 3-AAA playoffs.
* Miller, who was an up-and-comer all-star pick last spring, struck out 136 hitters this season.
MORGAN NEWELL, senior, Shippensburg
* Newell pitched Shippensburg to a District 3-AAA title with a 17-3 season in which she logged 146 2/3 innings.
* Her 1.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts only added to her performance at the plate.
* There, she batted second, chipping in 18 RBI and 29 hits.
MARLO ROADCAP, junior, Millersburg
* The Millersburg southpaw threw 110 1/3 innings with a 1.33 ERA.
* She went 12-4 and recorded 166 strikeouts.
* Roadcap’s bat also contributed to the Indians’ run to the District 3-A finals.
* She scored 12 runs and batted in 23 while chipping in 25 hits.
JOELLE SNYDER, freshman, Line Mountain
* A fantastic spring in the batter’s box for Snyder, who hit an eye-popping .603 — 44-for-73 — with 22 RBI for the Eagles.
* Snyder continually hit the cover off the ball for Line Mountain, which went .500 in the Tri-Valley League.
* Five home runs and six triples accounted for just a quarter of Snyder’s 44 hits.
RACHAEL STERNER, senior, Susquenita
* Blackhawks’ standout was a dual threat for Susquenita, dominating in the pitching circle and at the plate during the team’s ride to the District 3-AA title and to the state semifinals.
* In the pitching circle, Sterner, a Mansfield University recruit, went 8-1 with a fine 1.17 ERA during the regular season, allowing nine runs in 54 innings.
* At the plate, she roped nine doubles, three triples and three home runs for the Mid-Penn Capital champs.
* Sterner was a third-team Big 15 pick last spring.
AMBER TURPIN, senior, Susquenita
* Another one of the Blackhawks leaders, Turpin was steady as a rock at shortstop, and she delivered big hit after big hit from the middle of Susquenita’s lineup.
* Turpin hit at a .462 clip — 36-for-78— during the regular season, with 25 runs and a whopping 40 RBI.
* She also picked up five victories in the pitching circle for the Blackhawks, who had a special season.
JORDAN WEAVER, sophomore, Lampeter-Strasburg
* Sensational breakout season for the Pioneers’ fire-baller, who went 10-1 with a lights-out 0.89 ERA during the regular season for L-S. That includes a perfect game. * Weaver allowed 11 runs and just 21 hits in 87 innings, and she had 188 strikeouts, leading the Pioneers to the L-L Section 3 title and to the league championship.
2014 PENNLIVE SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
* Lexus Allen, senior, Harrisburg — Cougars’ ace won seven games, pitched to a 2.26 ERA and had 163 strikeouts for Harrisburg.
* Morgan Cox, junior, Halifax — Helped the Wildcats win the District 3-A crown, hitting .409 with 33 RBI and three homers.
* Katie Gelsinger, junior, Greencastle-Antrim — Hit .442 with 22 ribbies for the Blue Devils.
* Jennifer Hanshaw, freshman, Cumberland Valley — Went 5-1 with a nifty 1.08 ERA for the District 3-AAAA champions.
* Tara Harmon, sophomore, Chambersburg — The Trojans’ third-sacker was dynamite in the clutch, batting .397 with a whopping 40 RBI — plus 11 doubles and three homers — for Chambersburg.
* Allison Hartman, junior, Susquehanna Township — Picked up eight wins and pitched to a fine 1.04 ERA in 121 innings for the Indians.
* Haley Hirn, senior, Annville-Cleona — Little Dutchmen’s catcher hit at a spiffy .547 clip with 33 RBI and 17 doubles.
* Chelsea Konyar, senior, Halifax — Batted .453 with a team-best 43 RBI, helping Wildcats win District 3-A title.
* Kortnee Kreider, senior, Solanco — Golden Mares’ ace went 13-6 with a 1.28 ERA and 95 punch-outs for the District 3-AAAA semifinalists.
* Sophie Leaman, senior, Donegal — Indians’ vet hurler went 16-4 with a 1.99 ERA and 89 whiffs for L-L League and District 3-AAA runners-up.
* Jessica Moore, senior, Cumberland Valley — Went 13-4 with a 2.53 ERA and 75 strikeouts for the District 3-AAAA champs.
* Madyson Popalis, junior, Hempfield — Hit at a healthy .561 clip — 32-for-57 — with 28 RBI, and also chipped in with right arm, going 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA.
* Lacy Smith, junior, Manheim Township — Blue Streaks’ dual threat batted .470 with 27 RBI and went 7-1 with 1.42 ERA in the pitching circle.
* Kaylee Stoner, sophomore, Lower Dauphin — Gritty SS, catalyst and leader for PIAA-AAAA state runners-up.
* Kora Zeigler, junior, Susquenita — Blackhawks’ backstop hit .449 with 34 RBI, 10 doubles and six triples during the regular season for the eventual district champs.