The reputation of one of the most notable Lady Wave softball teams in years remains in tact despite a loss in the state tournament as Fallon players were named to the All-State and All-Northern Division I-A teams.
Junior pitcher Kayla Buckmaster and senior catcher and home-run record holder Megan McCormick were named to the All-State first team. Fallon seniors Kalyn Huckaby and Izzy Thomas, along with sophomore pitcher Faith Cornmesser, were also named to the second team.
McCormick was also named top catcher in the All-Northern DI-A first team along with Huckaby from the Wave’s infield, Thomas representing the outfield, and Buckmaster and Cornmesser as pitchers.
Fallon sophomore Caitlyn Welch and senior Miranda Ford were named to the infield of the All-Northern second team along with senior center fielder Paige Thorn. Both seniors Courtney Cross and Alicia Baze received honorable mention.
Prospects were looking up for Fallon during the nailbiter in the state tournament when the Lady Wave came back after the loss to the Spring Valley Grizzlies to defeat perennial rival Fernley 7-2 in the second game before ultimately falling to the Boulder City Eagles in a last-inning comeback, 6-5.
Despite the close losses to infield errors on several cold nights in Sparks, Fallon coach Tammie Shemenski said the win against Fernley was strong riding the momentum into the game against Boulder City.
“Losses are always difficult and goodbyes are never easy,” Shemenski said. “That Friday evening ended painfully but the ladies left it on the field. They gave it all they had. We did not bring home a championship, but they are all champions. John Short always told those girls to “play like champions,” and I believe they did. It’s the way you bounce back and learn from painful losses that builds who you are as a player and a team.”
A lot of goodbyes were said that evening to the cast of Wave seniors including McCormick, Ford, Cross, Huckaby, Thorn, Baze, Thomas and Nicole Mariezcurrenara — a team Shemenski said will always have a special place in her and assistant coach Dean Schulz’ hearts.
“Through the good times and challenging ones we always came together as a team,” Shemenski said. “Coach Shultz and I stuck to our word on what we expected from these ladies — all of them — and kept to the character and integrity of our team through the last game. We will miss every one of our seniors and what each one of them brought to this program on and off the field. I know they will each be successful in where and what they choose to accomplish.”
There is optimism for the 2017 Lady Wave softball team since talent such as Buckmaster, Welch and Cornmesser — along with Stacy Kalt, Katlyn Hunter and Hannah Frank — will have another crack to reclaim Fallon’s state title.
“We will have a young team next year, but also have experienced players,” Shemenski added. “I’m looking forward to the great things we will accomplish. We are strong and the program will continue to be strong. The upcoming talent combined with the talent that is already there will continue the standard that this program has always had. I look forward to next year; it can’t get here soon enough, and we are ready to take on every challenge and can’t wait to see the accomplishments these ladies will reach.”