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East Troy’s O’Connell rockets to top

It’s one more time around for “The Rocket” from East Troy High School.

That’s what people call Amber O’Connell, the Trojans’ hard-throwing senior catcher. Now, they also can her call a two-time Player of the Year in Southern Lakes softball.

O’Connell, who plans to be a walk-on with the softball program at Purdue University, has repeated as the coaches’ choice for No. 1 player in the conference after batting .500 this season.

As in the past, however, batting just begins to tell the story of O’Connell’s prowess as a dynamic player. Mostly, people talk about her strong arm.

“It’s a rocket, and it’s been that way ever since she was a freshman,’’ retiring East Troy coach Dan Parr said.

Typical of past seasons, O’Connell threw out 10 runners attempting to steal or on pick-offs at first base this spring.

“Her throw to first base was a lot quicker and with even more confidence this year,’’ Parr said of the third-time first-team all-conference selection. “And that was a big thing.’’

So was O’Connell’s ability to hit, even though it seemingly was a little disappointing for her at times.

“Almost everybody we played knew her, and they wouldn’t throw anything for her to hit,’’ Parr said. “And that was frustrating for her.’’

Even so, O’Connell collected hits in half of her official at-bats.

But the most telling thing may have been O’Connell’s persistence to play through pain.

“She fractured a bone in her throwing hand the last conference game and still played a couple regional games,’’ Parr said. “But she’s a tough player who just likes to play, and East Troy will really miss her next year.’’

Meanwhile, Fort Atkinson and Milton didn’t miss a beat this season in their roles as perennial Southern Lakes title contenders. The Blackhawks went 11-1 to edge out the Red Hawks (10-2) for the championship, and the two dominate the all-conference selections with three first-team players apiece.

Senior infielder Megan Jacobson, a .486 hitter, is a first-team repeater and unanimous selection for Fort Atkinson. The Black Hawks also have sophomore pitcher Emile Bakken (10-1, .333) and sophomore outfielder Cassidy Lyons, a .489 hitter, on the first team.

Alli Schultz, last year’s all-conference pitcher, has repeated on the first team in making it as a utility player with a 9-2 pitching record and .333 batting average for Milton. Taylor Jones, a junior outfielder with a .408 average, and junior infielder Whitney Sockness, a .368 hitter, are unanimous selections for the Red Hawks.

The other first-team picks are East Troy sophomore infielder Jessica Martin, a .442 hitter; Jefferson senior infielder Melanie Schloesser, who had a .395 average; and Delavan-Darien junior outfielder Rose Schutt, a .361 hitter.