Monroe County was well-represented on this year’s Illinois Softball Coaches Association All-State Team, with three young women chosen as first team selections and three others on the third team.

In Class 2A, Gibault softball standout Lauren Prader was named first team all-state. She led the Hawks in hitting with a .529 average and had eight home runs, seven triples, 31 RBIs and 36 runs scored. Prader will play softball next season at Illinois State University.

In Class 3A, two Columbia softball players made first team all-state. The obvious choice was senior Brianna Weilbacher, who compiled a 29-2 record on the mound this spring  with a 0.57 ERA and four no-hitters among her 17 shutouts. Weilbacher, who will play softball for Iowa State, also hit .505 at the plate with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs.

The other first team all-state selection in Class 3A was Weilbacher’s battery mate, junior catcher Taryn Pena. She hit .477 with 46 runs scored, 10 doubles and 42 RBIs this spring. Pena did not strike out all season. She has verbally committed to play softball at Drake.

Others from this area to be selected all-state in Class 3A were Columbia junior Caitlyn Touchette and Waterloo juniors Kylie Albrecht and Kasey Bradley.

Touchette hit .434 with 41 runs scored, 11 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Albrecht hit .383 with 33 runs scored, 28 RBIs and nine stolen bases for the Bulldogs.

Bradley was 18-9 on the mound with a 1.85 ERA and 189 strikeouts for the Bulldogs, and was also a force at the plate with a .417 average and 28 RBIs.