BATTLE CREEK -- The B.O.B. is ready for spring sports.
The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on baseball and softball fields throughout the area.
Each week, throughout the spring, we are going to ask, "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in baseball and softball among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Tuesday with polls closing at noon.
Next up are the catchers for the city/area softball teams:
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Coley Burkhardt
School: Coldwater
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Coley Burkhardt is a glue piece for an undefeated Coldwater team that is ranked in the state. The senior was an all-conference selection and all-area pick a year ago. -
Brooke Carden
School: Marshall
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A four-year starter on varsity, the last two seasons as a catcher. She is a senior captain and controls the running game from her position. Brooke Carden hit .529 a year ago. For her career, she has nearly 200 hits and 150 RBIs and was all-conference, all-district a year ago. -
Kyla Etheridge
School: St. Philip/Climax-Scotts
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: An all-district pick for the St. Philip/Climax-Scotts co-op team a year ago, she is a standout defensive catcher and is improving at the plate, batting .273 this season. -
Allyson Govier
School: Harper Creek
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Growing as a defensive catcher, Allyson Govier has a .925 fielding percentage and has recorded 32 putouts so far this year. She as an all-conference honorable mention selection a year ago. -
Ellie Luma
School: Gull Lake
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Handles the pitching staff well and is a captain as a junior, Ellie Luma is one of the best leadoff hitters in the area as she can put down a bunt or show off her power. She is hitting .488 with 17 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. -
Lani Miller
School: Homer
Class: Junior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A two-time all-conference and two-time all-district selection, Lani Miller is an offensive-minded catcher with a .568 career batting average with 18 career home runs and 65 career runs scored. -
Katelynn Roe
School: Athens
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A senior captain, Katelynn Roe fills whatever need that Athens has. As a catcher, she helps slow down the running game with three runners caught stealing. She is batting .400 on the year. -
Claire VanDis
School: Lakeview
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A four-year starter, Claire VanDis is already a three-time all-city and all-conference selection. Last season, she hit .486 with 24 RBI and 26 runs scored and had a .944 fielding percentage. She holds the school record for doubles in a career. -
Lydia Wells
School: Bronson
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: Playing her fourth season behind the plate, Lydia Wells has been all-league every season for Bronson and is a two-time all-state pick. She is currently hitting .568. She will play for Madonna University in college. -
Ellie Williams
School: Union City
Class: Senior
Why she is the best catcher in the city/area: A two-year starter, only started playing catcher as a freshman and has blossomed. Ellie Williams is hitting .600 and has thrown out eight runners trying to steal.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.