PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles’ Zoe Smithson and Lily Halberg were one-two in the batting order, in nearly every statistical category offensively for the Roughriders and came up 1A and 1B in the balloting for the Peninsula Daily News’ All-Peninsula softball MVP.
Smithson was a first-team all-league selection as a freshman in 2019, lost out on her sophomore season due to the pandemic and claimed back-to-back Olympic League MVP honors as a junior and senior.
With nobody attempting to run on Smithson’s cannon of an arm behind home plate, the senior slugger ended the season hitting over .500 with 10 home runs and 30-plus RBIs.
“A very coachable athlete who is kind to her teammates and passionate about the game of softball,” Port Angeles head coach Randy Steinman said. “This is a year-round sport for her, and she’s put the time in. She’s a right-handed thrower but a left-handed hitter … None of those awards were given.”
Smithson signed to continue her playing career at Pacific Lutheran University this fall.
“She’s worked hard in every aspect of the game, and it wasn’t like she approached them, PLU approached her; they saw her playing and approached her,” Steinman said when she signed. “And it will be a great fit for her there, a great school and college atmosphere.”
Halberg made the leap this season to first-team All-Olympic League. She broke Natalie Steinman’s team record for home runs in a season with 13 entering state tournament play. She hit a team-high .582 in the regular season and led the squad in RBIs with 35 despite missing three games to injury.
She was quickly moved up in the batting order to No. 2 behind Smithson this season.
“Just the way she was producing, it was an easy decision,” Steinman said. “She kept getting better and better as the year went on. After the first games in Anacortes, she hit an inside-the-park-homer and a triple and hasn’t stopped. She’s just unbelievably strong and can pound the ball over the fence. Her homers aren’t just over the fence, they are bombs.”
Halberg is expected to return to anchor the outfield for the Riders in 2023.
2022 All-Peninsula softball team
• MVP’s: Lily Halberg, jr., Port Angeles, and Zoe Smithson, sr., Port Angeles: One-two punch atop Roughriders’ stout offensive attack. Halberg patrolled right field and Smithson commanded the Port Angeles pitching staff behind the plate at catcher.
• Elizabeth Soto, soph., Forks: Spartans shortstop snagged only first-team All-Pacific League choice for third-in-state Forks.
• Peyton Rudd, sr., Port Angeles: Second baseman was first-team All-Olympic League pick and capped brilliant career with a game-winning home run at state tournament.
• Teagan Clark, sr., Port Angeles: Roughriders’ primary pitcher shined, earning first-team All-Olympic League honors.
• Lily Fili, sr., Sequim: Wolves center fielder made plenty of big plays to earn first-team All-Olympic League selection.
• Kyra Neel, jr., Forks: Spartans backstop was a second-team All-Pacific League choice.
• Heidi Leitz, fr., Port Angeles: Made the leap to varsity softball look easy. Second-team All-Olympic League outfielder will be a big part of Riders’ plans going forward.
• Natalie Robinson, soph., Port Angeles: Moved to shortstop, kept hitting bombs and flashing her glove. First-team All-Olympic Leaguer.
• Kadie Wood, jr., Forks: Second-baseman selected second-team All-Pacific League.
• Taylor Worthington, jr., Port Angeles: Held down the hot corner for Riders at third base and packed plenty of power at the plate. Second-team All-Olympic League.
• Addie Smith, sr., Sequim: First-team All-Olympic League pick shined at second base and at bat for Wolves.
• Taylee Rome, soph., Sequim: Wore a lot of hats for Wolves due to injuries. Second-team All-Olympic League pick.
• Keira Johnson, soph., Forks: Center fielder earned second-team All-Pacific League honors.
• Chloe Gaydeski, 8th grade, Forks: Pitched the Spartans to third place at state and district as an eighth-grader. Honorable mention all league.
• Grace Gooding, 8th grade, Forks: Utility player earned honorable mention as an eighth-grader.
• Hannah Bates, sr., Sequim: Injury cut short a solid season for the first-team All-Olympic League pick at shortstop.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Port Angeles catcher Zoe Smithson, left, tags out North Kitsap’s Alison Dovorak at home plate on Thursday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Lily Halberg bats in the first inning as Bremerton catcher Attianna Cabato waits for the delivery from pitcher Brooke Baker on Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
