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Illinois Valley

Players from Hall, Princeton named ICA 2A All-State Softball Team

Princeton’s Avah Oertel, Keely Lawson, Caroline Keutzer; Hall’s Caroline Morris, Bernie Larsen earn all-state honors; four L-P players named in 3A

Princeton's Keely Lawson (from left), second team, Caroline Keutzer, third team, and Avah Oertel, first team, were. named to the Illinois Coaches Association Class 2A State Softball team.

Three members of Princeton’s regional finalist softball team were named to the 2026 Illinois Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Softball Team, it was announced Monday afternoon.

Two Hall players were named to the third team.

Junior infielder Avah Oertel was named to the ICA first team. An unanimous Three Rivers East All-Conference selection, Oertel batted .607 average with 17 homers, 59 RBIs, 55 runs scored, 19 doubles and four triples.

Senior outfielder Keely Lawson, who was also unanimously selected Three Rivers East All-Conference, was named to the ICA second team. She belted 13 homers with 45 RBIs and 10 doubles with a .442 average and 48 runs.

Senior outfielder Caroline Keutzer was named to the ICA third team. She batted .402 with 40 runs scored and an area-best 34 stolen bases and was named first-team Three Rivers All-Conference.

Hall junior Caroline Morris and freshman Bernie Larsen were both named to the third team. Larsen, a Three Rivers East First Team selection, led the Red Devils in batting (.483), homers (4), RBIs (26) and runs (26). Morris, a second-team Three Rivers East pick, batted .417, collecting her 100th career hit.

LaSalle-Peru placed four players on the 3A All-State Team. Taylor Vescogni made first team, Makenzie Chamberlain and Anna Riva was named second team and Karmen Piano was third team,

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986, covering Bureau County and IL Valley Sports. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a regular contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals Magazine. He is a member of the IBCA and Illinois Valley Hall of Fames. He is one of 4 sportswriters from his tiny hometown Atlanta, IL