Gaylord's Aubrey Jones wins GHT Softball Player of the Year, headlines All-Area team

GAYLORD ― The Gaylord area was home to some of the best softball players in the state during the 2024 season.

It was yet another softball season to remember on area softball diamonds, complete with another state championship, dominant performances week after week and, fittingly, a whole host of postseason accolades for those who made it possible.

We've touched on everything from the Miss Softball award down to all-conference honors ; now, it's time to reveal the Gaylord Herald Times all-area team for the 2024 season:

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aubrey Jones, SS/P, Junior, Gaylord

There isn't much to be said that hasn't already been said about Gaylord junior Aubrey Jones.

Jones, an Oklahoma State commit in the Class of 2025, put together one of the best seasons in not just Michigan softball, but high school softball in general; her 26 home runs and 84 RBI led the nation according to MaxPreps, while she went 15-0 in the circle with 122 strikeouts. She helped Gaylord tie the MHSAA record for home runs in a season with 72 while helping the Blue Devils reach the mountaintop for the second consecutive season.

Gatorade POY: Gaylord's Aubrey Jones wins Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year

Miss Softball: Gaylord's Jayden Jones wins MHSSCA Miss Softball award as top position player

First team

Pitcher: Jayden Marlatt, Johannesburg-Lewiston

Perhaps the most dominant player in the Division 4 ranks, the future Ferris State Bulldog put up some incredible numbers in her final season as a JoBurg Cardinal; she had a .629 batting average with 11 home runs and 59 runs batted in while going 15-3 in the circle with 198 strikeouts and a 1.521 earned-run average.

Catcher: Taylor Moeggenberg, Gaylord

Gaylord's leader behind the plate wrapped up her Gaylord career with all-state honors again as one of the top hitting catchers in the state, finishing 2024 with a .358 batting average, 13 home runs and 54 RBI.

Infield: Kennedy Wangler, Gaylord

Wangler, a Ferris State commit in the Class of 2025, maybe had the most under-the-radar season of any of the GHS players, hitting .472 with 60 hits, 16 doubles, two triples and seven home runs.

Infield: Alexis Shepherd, Gaylord

The most consistent player at the plate and in the field in the GHS lineup, the University of Toledo signee wrapped her GHS career hitting .400 with 14 doubles, four home runs, 73 runs scored and 54 RBI.

Infield: Jayden Jones, Gaylord

Jayden Jones, a senior, Virginia Tech signee and older sister of POY winner Aubrey Jones, won Miss Softball for position players in 2024 after leading the team with a .496 batting average, 65 hits, 18 doubles and 6 triples. She also hit 14 home runs, bringing her career total 48, tied for the sixth most in MHSAA history.

Infield: Nora Bethuy, Gaylord

Bethuy, just a sophomore, became an integral piece in the Gaylord lineup after an injury to senior Avery Parker during the basketball season. She was an everyday starter at third base while making multiple starts in the circle as the third option behind the Jones sisters.

Outfield: Braleigh Miller, Gaylord

Miller, a Ferris State signee and an all-state honorable mention, hit .478 with 64 total hits and 64 runs scored while leading the team with 25 stolen bases.

Outfield: Cassie Tallman, Johannesburg-Lewiston

Tallman, a first-team All-Ski Valley honoree as well, had a .422 batting average and was second on the team with 47 runs scored in her final softball season.

Outfield: Addison Wangler, Gaylord

Another somewhat overlooked player in the Gaylord lineup, the Ferris State signee thrived in the outfield this season, making multiple outstanding defensive plays throughout the season while settling into the seventh spot in the batting order. She was also the team's backup catcher, headed to college to play behind the plate.

Second team

Chloe Ferguson, P, JoBurg

Reagan Sides, C, JoBurg

Shyla Rahn, INF, JoBurg

Brittney Fox, INF, JoBurg

Mady Peppin, INF, JoBurg

Kaylee Jeffers, INF, Gaylord St. Mary

Jaeden Briley, OF, JoBurg

Neela Lawes, OF, JoBurg

Hali Lenartowicz, OF, Gaylord

Honorable Mention

Emery Blust, GSM; Omanii Switalski, GSM; Payton Glasby, GSM; Maya Dodd, GSM; Jenna Sircely, GHS; Makayla Kozlowski, GHS; Lily Crane, JoBurg; Ashlynn Burke, JoBurg

Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord's Aubrey Jones wins GHT Softball Player of the Year, headlines All-Area team