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Participating in the playoffs isn’t a requirement for a player to be selected All-CIF in softball. Respect, however, is a must.

Canyon ace Kylee Magee proved that Monday with the announcement of the All-CIF teams from the Southern Section.

The Arizona State-bound senior was selected the CIF-SS Division 3 player of the year despite the Comanches missing the playoffs because they weren’t an automatic qualifier from the tough Crestview League and the absence of an at-large berth in the division.

Magee’s selection highlighted the announcement of three other CIF players of the year from Orange County schools. They were: Villa Park senior Sydney Somerndike (Division 1), Mission Viejo sophomore Sofia Elliott (Division 2) and Capistrano Valley Christian senior Natalie Gleason (Division 7).

Players were nominated by their coaches to the CIF-SS softball coaches advisory committee for All-CIF selection.

Magee posted a 23-5 record in the circle this season with a 0.82 ERA and 338 strikeouts in 169 innings.

She shared the Crestview League MVP award with Somerndike, batted .405 with 14 RBIs and had her No. 31 jersey retired by Canyon.

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Somerndike (14-1, 0.69 ERA) also earned respect from the committee. She was slowed by an ankle injury at the Carew Classic and returned late in the regular season before the Spartans lost in the second round of the playoffs to Orange Lutheran.

The Arizona-bound senior struck out 179 in 100 2/3 innings.

Elliott and the Grand Canyon-bound Gleason helped power their teams to CIF-SS titles and to the semifinals of the CIF SoCal regionals.

Click here to view the All-CIF teams.