Two Vinton County players earn all-Southeast District softball honors

Fourteen players from Jackson, Wellston, Oak Hill and Vinton County earned spots on the 2026 All-Southeast District softball teams, a sign that the area’s high school programs are still producing enough depth to draw attention beyond their own dugouts. Jackson, Wellston and Oak Hill each placed four players on the list, while Vinton County added two, giving the county another postseason marker to build on heading into next spring.

For Vinton County, the recognition went to Kolbie Fri and Kalia Alder, both named to the Division IV second team. Their selection matters because these district honors are voted on by coaches across the Southeast District, which means Fri and Alder were judged against players from across the region, not just their own conference. In a season that already ended with both players earning all-Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division recognition, the district nods gave the Lady Vikings another sign that their top end is rising.

Jackson also had a strong showing in Division IV, with Maddie Wright, Serenity Taylor and Lillie Eberts landing on the first team and KJ Worsham receiving honorable mention. At the top of the district’s individual honors, South Point’s Kota Copley was selected in Division IV, Wheelersburg’s Ava Estep won Division V honors, Fairfield’s Rilee Quickle was recognized in Division VI and Notre Dame’s Ava Rush took the Division VII honor. Those awards underline how competitive the Southeast District remained across every division.

The local numbers point to more than one good season. Earlier in June, Vinton County placed four players on the all-TVC Ohio team, with Fri, Natalie Zinn, Layla Tucker and Alder all recognized after the Lady Vikings finished tied with Athens for third in the final conference standings. Vinton County and Wellston also combined for 21 total baseball and softball representatives on the All-Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division squads, a broader signal that both programs were productive throughout the spring.

That run of postseason recognition comes during a noticeable climb for Vinton County softball. When Amy Jewett took over as varsity coach in March 2025, the program was coming off a 6-11 season and a 5-5 conference mark. The 2026 honors suggest the roster has grown more competitive, and that the pipeline from youth and junior varsity levels into the high school program is giving the Lady Vikings a stronger base for next season.