Kinzie Cleland Tuscola softball MVP; all-CIC baseball, softball teams released
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By Mike Monahan
TUSCOLA – The Tuscola softball team, one that finished 10-17 overall and 1-8 in the Central Illinois Conference, had the teams’ most valuable player, Kenzie Clelland, a junior, be named a unanimous first team all-CIC player.
The all-conference baseball and softball teams were released recently and on the baseball side nine of the 10 players on the first team, including Tuscola’s Connor Musgrave and Jon Pettry, both juniors, were on the squad for the 18-15 Warriors that finished 5-5 in the conference, good for third place.
The other special awards at the Tuscola softball awards night last Thursday were batting average: Cleland; Warrior Spirit-Alaina Smith; and Most improved Ava Whitson. Letter winners for the season were Bayleigh Taylor, Bella Whishard, Kinzie Cleland, Smith, Sawyer Cleland, Whitson, Brynlee Riing, Addie Presson, Kenzie Stockton and Lidia Manzella.
Softball
Kenzie Cleland led the Lady Warriors with a .396 batting average. She also led in doubles (8). She did not make an error in 29 chances. Cleland also led the squad in the pitcher’s circle as she had a 3.66 earned run average with 24 appearances, in a team-leading 105 ⅓ innings. She had 109 strikeouts and just 20 walks.
Making the second team for Tuscola was Smith. There were 10 members on the second team. Earning one of the seven honorable mention spots were Tuscola’s Taylor and Wishard.
Tuscola had a total of four players selected to the first, second or honorable mention team, while conference champions, Meridian, had five. Central A&M had five as well, while Warrensburg-Latham had six and finished third. Clinton and Shelbyville had three each.
Of the 27 15 are seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen selected.
Baseball
Musgrave led the Warriors in batting average at .385. He also led in runs batted in with 36, doubles (11) and home runs (5) along with 12 stolen bases. On the mound he had a 2.24 earned run average. He pitched 34 ⅓ innings and had 41 strikeouts and just 14 walks (team low). He was 4-1.
Pettry hit .322 (third on the team) and he led the Warriors in lowest earned run average at 1.90. He went 6-5 (six wins tied for first) and allowed just 16 earned runs in 59 innings. He had 56 strikeouts.
Shelbyville had five on the first, second or honorable mention, while Clinton, the conference champions, had four and Tuscola had five as did Meridian. Central A&M had three, while Warrensburg-Latham had five.
2026 All-
Central Illinois Conference
softball team
First team
Riley Hazelwonder, so., Central A&M*; Callie Robertson, jr., Central A&M; Hadley Humble, jr., Clinton*; Ashley Schelling, sr., Meridian*; Julia Meisenhelter, sr., Meridian; Shelby Renfro, sr., Meridian*; Alex Jokisch, sr., Shelbyville*; Kenzie Cleland, jr. Tuscola*; Kelsey Oakley, jr., Warrensburg-Latham; Emma Coble, sr., Warrensburg-Latham
*-unanimous selection
Second team
Brooklyn Jackson, jr., Central A&M; Kylie Snearly, sr., Central A&M; Avery Smith, sr., Clinton; Katleyn Clapp, sr., Meridian; Morgan Knierim, so., Meridian; Kenzie Jones, sr., Shelbyville; Jasmine Wildman, sr., Shelbyville; Alaina Smith, sr. Tuscola; Megan Hardin, fr., Warrensburg-Latham; Brooklyn Burton, sr., Warrensburg-Latham
Honorable mention
Wesleigh Cochran, fr., Central A&M; Kayla McPeak, jr., Central A&M; Riley Fentress, sr., Clinton; Bayleigh Taylor, sr., Tuscola; Bella Wishard, so., Tuscola; Audree Denton, sr., Warrensburg-Latham; Bella Ground, fr., Warrensburg-Lahtam
2026 All-
Central Illinois Conference
baseball team
First team
Austin Ulmer, Shelbyville*; Rylan Murphy, jr., Shelbyville*; Ryan Pine, Clinton*; Connor Musgrave, jr., Tuscola*; Jon Pettry, jr., Tuscola*; Ted Jones, sr., Meridian*; Marshall Minott, Central A&M*; Nathan Southern, Warrensburg-Latham*; Trenton Bridges, Warrensburg-Latham*; Eastyn McKenzie, Warrensburg-Latham
*-unanimous selection
Second team
Josh Bass, Clinton; Preston Curtis, Clinton; Evan Englehardt, jr., Tuscola; Cooper Lyons, sr., Tuscola; Will Stirrett, jr., Shelbyville; Collin Jones,jr., Shelbyville; Jack Manning, Clinton; Grady Stock, jr., Meridian; Brody Brown, Warrensburg-Latham; Stone Stith, Clinton
Honorable mention
Brewer Wakeland, so, Shelbyville; Brock Wilson, Clinton; Kingston Wheeler, jr., Tuscola; Dan Enlow, sr., Meridian; Brody Britton, so., Meridian; Jayden Doty, jr.,
Meridian; Zachary Snow, Central A&M; Heath Preston, Warrensburg-Latham