2026 Sports in Kansas 2-1A Softball Player/Pitcher of the Year: Bella Ascanio, St. Mary’s Colgan, Jr. In softball, where elite pitchers impact nearly every game, it isn’t uncommon for the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors to go to the same athlete. That was certainly the case in 2026. Bella Ascanio was one of the most dominant two-way players in Kansas, leading St. Mary’s Colgan to a 27-3 record and the Class 2-1A state championship. The Panthers’ only losses came against Arkansas 6A state champion Bentonville, Kansas 4A state champion Fort Scott and a Missouri opponent. At the plate, Ascanio hit .471 with a .574 on-base percentage and a 1.597 OPS. She collected 41 hits, including 14 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs, while driving in 44 runs and scoring 36 more. She also drew 20 walks and struck out just 14 times all season. In the circle, Ascanio was even more dominant. She threw all 185.2 innings for Colgan, posting a 1.02 ERA with 299 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .157 batting average. She was the constant force behind one of the state’s best teams regardless of classification. The award comes after four straight seasons in which McLouth standout and Division I signee Dani Lee claimed the honor, who just completed her freshman season at Liberty. Ascanio now adds her name to that elite company and enters her senior season as one of the premier players in Kansas. Colgan’s championship run was also led by first-year head coach Cassie Rhuems, who captured her first state title with the Panthers after previously winning five state championships at Frontenac. The title gives Rhuems six state championships overall and her third consecutive state crown as a head coach. And the scary thing for the rest of Class 2-1A? Virtually everyone returns. That includes sophomore Callie Lundy, who finished runner-up in the Sports in Kansas Player of the Year voting after another outstanding season along with multiple other all state picks. With Ascanio, Lundy and a loaded championship roster all returning, the Panthers will enter 2027 as one of the favorites to repeat. #sportsinkansas