Slowik gets top softball honor

Lakewood Ranch High shortstop Rachel Slowik was named Defensive Player of The Year while joining teammate Corey Hanewich as a first team selections on the Miracle Sports Class 4A All-State team.

Braden River freshman pitcher Courtney Mirabella was a second team selection while Lakewood Ranch junior pitcher Brittany Kilduff was named to the third team. Miracle Sports is a group of 15 current and former high school and college softball coaches.

The FIU bound Slowik led the Lady Mustangs with a .429 batting average and tied for the team lead with 36 RBIs. Hanewich, who has signed with national power Stanford, batted over .400 every season and finished her career with a .442 average.

Mirabella led the Pirates with a 9-3 record and was the only Manatee County player to hit the century mark with 100 Ks in 84 innings and a 1.24 ERA. Kilduff led Lakewoood Ranch with a 1.85 ERA and struck out 96 in 102 innings with six shutouts and a 12-3 record.