Bentonville’s Sanders, Wyman Secure Top Honors as Farmington’s Shirey Wins Coach of the Year
Ryann Sanders, a senior at Bentonville, has been named the All-NWADG Softball Player of the Year. This recognition follows her outstanding performance in the Class 6A state championship game where she threw a four-hit shutout against Springdale Har-Ber, leading her team to a 1-0 victory. Sanders has had a remarkable career, winning the same award as a sophomore in 2022 and as a freshman in 2021 when Bentonville also secured state championships. She finished her senior year with an impressive 22-3 record and a 0.81 earned run average. Sanders will continue her softball career at Louisville.
Freshman Kylee Wyman, also from Bentonville, has been honored as the All-NWADG Softball Newcomer of the Year. Wyman took on a significant role when the projected starting shortstop was injured before the season. She responded with a phenomenal season, boasting a .466 batting average, five home runs, and 36 RBI while batting leadoff for the Tigers. Wyman drove in the only run in the championship game with a sacrifice fly. Her remarkable performance at the start of her high school career shows great promise for the future.
Jason Shirey, the coach of Farmington, earned the title of All-NWADG Softball Coach of the Year. He led Farmington to a 23-5 record and a state championship in Class 4A. Under Shirey’s guidance, the Cardinals swept to the title after finishing third in conference play. The team defeated Pea Ridge 6-5 in the championship game at Shock Stadium in Conway. Shirey’s ability to motivate his team and bring out their best performance has earned him this well-deserved recognition.
The All-NWADG Softball Team includes notable players from various schools. Dahana Tuomala and Kyleigh Kelly from Rogers, Anniston Reith and Cyara Dotts from Springdale Har-Ber, Reese Shirey and Morgan Uher from Farmington, Amber Turner and Stephanie Crittendon from Bentonville, Joclyn Strickland from Rogers Heritage, and Olivia Thornton from Bentonville West. Each of these players demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed significantly to their teams’ success throughout the season.
- Dahana Tuomala, a junior from Rogers, batted .464 and had a .505 on-base percentage for the team that won the 6A-West Conference championship.
- Kyleigh Kelly, a junior from Rogers, had a batting average of .414 with an on-base percentage of .528.
- Anniston Reith, a junior from Springdale Har-Ber, was a power-hitting infielder for the state runners-up in Class 6A, batting .440 with 37 hits, 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, and 23 runs scored.
- Cyara Dotts, a freshman from Springdale Har-Ber, went 19-7 with a 1.90 ERA in the circle and struck out 194 batters in 149 1/3 innings.
- Reese Shirey, a senior from Farmington, compiled a .533 batting average that included 49 hits and 40 runs scored. She signed to play basketball at Northeastern Oklahoma State.
- Morgan Uher, a junior from Farmington, batted .484 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 38 RBI while scoring 30 runs for the Class 4A state champions.
- Amber Turner, a senior from Bentonville, was a defensive standout in the outfield, batting .400 with 40 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 23 RBI for the Class 6A state champions.
- Joclyn Strickland, a sophomore from Rogers Heritage, batted .396 with 40 hits, seven home runs, and 40 RBI. She also won 13 games as a pitcher.
- Stephanie Crittendon, a junior from Bentonville West, was a defensive standout behind the plate, batting .451 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 33 RBI.
- Olivia Thornton, a senior from Bentonville West, was a defensive standout in center field, moving to the outfield after playing shortstop previously.
Farmington’s Reese Shirey, who signed to play basketball at Northeastern Oklahoma State, was a standout center fielder and leadoff batter for the Class 4A state champions, compiling a .533 batting average that included 49 hits and 40 runs scored. Morgan Uher, a junior from Farmington, batted .484 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 38 RBI while scoring 30 runs for the Class 4A state champions.
