The Marlboro softball team had its best season since the Dukes won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B championship in 2016.

They blitzed through the regular season, won their second straight Section 9 Class B championship, won a regional title and advanced to the NYSPHSAA semifinals where their season ended at the hands of Section 4 Chenango Valley.

That success was rewarded handsomely by the New York State Sports Writers and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports with four all-state selections including a first teamer.

Ava Del Salto led the way for the Dukes in the circle. Del Salto, a senior, served as the Dukes’ primary pitcher, battling through a sore shoulder through much of the latter half of the season. She also added power hitting to her game in her senior season and became entrenched as the Dukes’ fifth hitter and one of their leading run producers.

Shortstop Kasey Conn, the Dukes’ power-hitting shortstop was named to the all-state second team. Conn has been a force as the Dukes’ No. 3 hitter for several seasons. She provided a power bat, speed and athleticism at shortstop.

Conn, also a senior will continue her softball career at the University at Albany. Del Salto will take her game to St. Thomas Aquinas College.

The Dukes’ remaining two selections will be around for at least the next season, but right fielder Kalista Birkenstock, who just finished her sophomore season, was named to the all-state third team.

She has been Marlboro’s leadoff hitter for at least the past two seasons. A slap hitter, she excels at poking the ball over the heads of opposing infielders, gets on base, and wreaks havoc for opposing defenses. Her speed helped the Dukes manufacture first-inning runs to get early leads.

She is also a skilled defender in right field, able to go back on the ball. She also took away many apparent base hits by charging the ball and gunning down runners at first base.

Junior Ella Leduc, Marlboro’s No. 2 hitter was named to the all-state fifth team. She hit right behind Birkenstock, and if she got on base, it was no secret that Leduc was going to drop down a bunt. She still did it successfully.

That doesn’t mean she wasn’t able to get her hits in non-bunting situations. She also was the Dukes’ third baseman.