Softball
Honorable Mention
Ashlynn Tigges- Glidden Ralston- Sophomore
Tigges had another strong season at the plate, batting .412 with 5 doubles, while driving in 24-runs, a team high. Her ability to get on base, her on-base-percentage was .467 helped her score 17 runs, 3rd on the team. Tigges stole 4 of 5 bases.
Makenna Steiger- East Sac- Sophomore
Steiger had a strong year for the Raiders, helping them make a nice run in the postseason. She finished the year batting .365 with 3 doubles, adding 12 runs scored while tying for 4th in RBI. Makenna ended the year with a .426 on-base-percentage. Her fielding percentage was .976.
Jayci Graeve- South Central Calhoun- Sophomore
Graeve had a strong year behind the plate and at the plate. She had just 1 error at catcher, finishing with a .984 fielding percentage. Graeve batted .360 with 18 singles, scoring 11 times, 2nd on the team. She was perfect in stolen bases.
Olivia Toms- South Central Calhoun- Junior
Olivia Toms was second on the Titans in batting this season, hitting .391 with 3 doubles. She tied for 5th on the team in runs scored and tied for 3rd in walks. Toms tied with Jayci Graeve for the team lead in steals. Olivia had good range at shortstop, displaying her athleticism.
Lacie Davis- Coon Rapids Bayard- Senior
Davis came on strong late in the season, helping the Crusaders play their best softball over the final few weeks of the season. She finished the year tied for the team lead in triples and tied for 3rd in doubles. Davis was 3rd in RBI and in runs scored. Lacie was flawless defensively, not having an error in the outfield.
Elizabeth Lloyd- Glidden Ralston- Junior
Lloyd had another strong year at the plate, batting .295 with 4 doubles and a home run. Her 17 RBI tied for 2nd on the team. She was strong behind the plate as well, working well with Vanessa Koehler. She threw out 3 base runners this season.
Kassidy Wenck- Glidden Ralston- Freshman
Wenck finished the year batting, .292, with 12 RBI, ranking 4th on the team. Kassidy used her speed to hit 3 doubles, a triple and score 16 times, 4th on the team. She was perfect in stolen bases with 12, 3rd on the team.
Jaelyn Subbert- Glidden Ralston- 8th Grade
Subbert exploded onto the scene this season batting .452 to lead the team. She doubled 5 times and scored 13-runs. Her slugging percentage was .532 while her on-base percentage was .507. Subbert stole 7 bases and did a nice job playing several positions on defense.
Alikxa McGinn- IKM-Manning- Sophomore
McGinn had a really strong year at the plate as a sophomore, batting .358 with a team high 12 RBI. She tied for the team lead with 4 doubles adding a triple and a home run. She tied for 3rd on the team with 16-runs scored. She added 18 stolen bases.
Grace Carroll- IKM-Manning Freshman
Carroll put together a strong close to her season, batting .296 with 4 doubles, a triple and a home run. She tied for 3rd on the team with 16-runs scored and tied for 5th in RBI. Carroll ended the year 11-11 in stolen bases.
3rd Team
1st Base- Breeley Clayburg- Coon Rapids Bayard- Junior
Clayburg was solid again this season, batting .309 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI, 2nd on the team. She scored 13 times, 4th on the team. Her .456 slugging percentage was 2nd on the team. Her fielding percentage was .984.
2nd Base- Anna Stangl- IKM-Manning- Freshman
Stangl put together a strong season at the plate as a freshman. She batted .286, adding 4 doubles and tripling twice. Her 13 RBI were a team high and her 20-runs scored were also a team high. Stangl was second on the team with walks with 14, two behind Karlee Arp. Anna was strong on the basepaths, leading the Wolves with 20 stolen bases.
3rd Base- Tiela Janssen- Glidden Ralston- Junior
Janssen had a strong year moving between the outfield and 3rd base. She finished 4th on the team with a .379 batting average, collecting 15 RBI, 4th on the team and scoring 19 runs, 2nd on the team. Janssen added 13 stolen bases and had 2 errors on defense.
Shortstop- Kylee Hartl- Audubon- Senior
The senior wrapped up a strong career with a solid final season. She batted .303 with 5 doubles and 2 home runs, finishing with a .447 slugging percentage. She was 3rd on the Wheelers in runs scored with 19 and was 4th with 10 walks. Hartl went 5-5 on stolen bases.
Catcher- Emma Stream- Greene County (Paton Churdan)- Senior
Stream is an outstanding catcher and had a terrific season, playing a position that is loaded in this area with 6 really strong catchers. She hit .310 this season with 9 doubles, finishing with 31 RBI. Stream only struck out 6 times in 87 plate appearances. Her biggest strength could be behind the plate, finishing with a .997 fielding percentage.
Outfield- Allison Ostrander- Kuemper- Junior
Ostrander is one of the top defensive outfielders in the area, using her ability to read the ball off the bat, to track down balls all over the outfield. Her .966 fielding percentage is evidence of her ability. Allison was also strong on the bases with 22 stolen bases. She batted .261 with 22-runs scored and 12 RBI.
Outfield- Mary Bontrager- East Sac- Senior
The senior wrapped up a terrific career, finishing the season with a .410 batting average. Her Head Coach Steve Nuetzman says she may be the best bunter he’s ever coached, since she usually places them where she needs them. She scored 15 runs and tripled once. Bontrager had a team high 15 stolen bases. Her speed helps her make plays in the outfield.
Outfield- Mattie Nielsen- Audubon- Junior
Nielsen is one of those players that opposing coaches game plan around. She can hurt you with her bat, legs and glove. She batted .298 this season with a double, 6 triples and 4 home runs. Her 26 runs scored were a team high while finishing 2nd in RBI with 19. Nielsen is equally as good in center field, able to make plays all over the outfield.
DP- Jordan Porsch- Audubon- Junior
Porsch, like Emma Stream, is an outstanding catcher and is really good with her bat. She plays with an aggressive style that can sometimes run her into tough situations, she usually figures out how to get out of it. Porsch hit .349 with 10 doubles, a triple and a home run. She finished with 16 RBI and scored 23 runs. Her arm strength helped her throw out 8 base stealers.
Pitcher- Myli Schaefer- Kuemper- Freshman
Schaefer gives Kuemper a strong pitcher to build around over the next few seasons. She is equally adept with her bat. She finished this season 11-15 but had a 3.94 ERA, struck out 147 in 161 ⅔ innings pitched. The freshman batted .283 and drove in 19-runs, helped out by 3 doubles.
2nd Team
1st Base- Keira Hammen- South Central Calhoun- Senior
Hammen ended a terrific career for the Titans with another strong season. She hit .429 this season, tops on the team. She also led the team in home runs, RBI, nearly twice as many as anyone else and runs scored, while finishing tied for 2nd in doubles. Her slugging percentage was .690 and her on-base-percentage finished at .547. Keira had a .971 fielding percentage.
2nd Base- Melinda Schaefer- Kuemper- Junior
The Junior continues to give the Knights a force near the top of the order and at 2nd base. She batted .331 this season with 20 RBI and 37 runs scored, ranking her 3rd and 2nd on the team respectively. She was perfect 11 for 11 in stolen bases. Schaefer is just as good defensively with a .933 fielding percentage.
3rd Base- Makalei Kofron- Carroll- Senior
Kofron had an outstanding senior season at the plate and defensively. She hit .379 this season, not struggling early in the season after a strong golf season. She added 7 doubles and a pair of home runs while scoring 21-runs and driving in 15 RBI. Her slugging percentage was .529. Makalei was a threat on the basepaths, stealing 16 bases. Defensively she was tough against bunters and showed good range and a strong arm.
Shortstop- Jen Aschinger- East Sac- Junior
Aschinger led the Raiders in RBI (7 more than the next most) while having the 4th best batting average at .345. Though she was aggressive at the plate, she only struck out 6 times and doubled twice. Her on-base-percentage was .415. Jen tied for the team lead in walks. Aschinger was perfect running the bases with 6 stolen bases.
Catcher- Malia Clayburg- Coon Rapids Bayard- Freshman
Defenses feared Clayburg getting on base because a single or walk usually meant she would be on 3rd base a short time later. Clayburg was a key in the Crusaders run late in the season, hitting .369 with team highs, 19 RBI and 6 doubles. Malia was 2nd on the team with 18-runs scored. She led the team in stolen bases by 12 more than anyone. She was strong on defense with a .942 fielding percentage.
Outfield- Kloee Jones- Carroll- Junior
Jones used her speed to slap her way on base, then stole bases to get in scoring position. She finished with a team high 24 stolen bases while batting .402. Her 19-runs scored was 3rd on the team. She wasn’t needed to hit for power, but still finished with a pair of doubles. Kloee was a strong left fielder, finishing with 4 errors.
Outfield- Averi Burke- Carroll- Junior
Burke played anywhere the Tigers needed her to play. The outfield, infield or pitcher. She played well in all positions, having her best moments in the outfield. Averi hit .347, with 8 doubles and a triple. She drove in 17-runs and scored 14 times. Her slugging percentage ended the year at .529. Burke added 13 stolen bases. She spent part of her season in the circle, going 8-9 with 39 strikeouts in 104 innings.
Outfield- Jamie Hausman- Ar-We-Va- Senior
Hausman saved her best season with her best game, to her senior year. She batted .447 with a pair of triples and a team leading 16-runs scored. She tied for the team lead in RBI as well. Her slugging percentage finished at .553 and her on-base-percentage was .527. Jamie has always been a strong defender, finishing this season with a .944 fielding percentage.
DH- Emma Kuhlmann- Carroll- Sophomore
Kuhlmann became a force for the Tigers this season, having a strong season at the plate in the toughest league in the State. She finished the year batting .384 with 4 doubles and 3 home runs, helping her collect 13 RBI and score 12 times. Emma was strong on base with 13 stolen bases. She had just 8 errors and a .970 fielding percentage.
Pitcher- Anna Hart- Coon Rapids Bayard- Freshman
Hart was really good in the circle this season, finishing with a .2.23 ERA, allowing only 44 earned runs in 138 ⅓ innings. Anna struck out 166, helping her to hold opponents to a .165 batting average. Hart was just as good at the plate, batting .321 with 5 doubles and 2 triples. She scored a team high 21-runs.
Pitcher- Maci Gustavson- East Sac- Senior
Maci was a workhorse for the Raiders, ending the season 7-11 with a 3.30 ERA, allowing 46 earned runs. She struck out 69 in 97 ⅔ innings pitched. Gustavson was even better at the plate, batting .418, tied for the team lead. She doubled 6 times with a triple and a home run, helping her slug at a .618 clip. She only struck out 7 times, finding a way to always make contact at the plate.
1st Team
1st Base- Kali Irlmeier- Audubon- Senior
Irlmeier helped the Wheelers program have a very strong season, finishing 4th in the Western Iowa Conference. She hit .362 this season with a team high 22 RBI. Kali had 11 doubles, adding a home run, finishing with a .538 slugging percentage. Her 17-runs scored were 4th best on the team. Irlmeier battled an injury this season, limiting her time in the circle, finishing with 11 ⅓ innings pitched, going 1-1. She struck out 16 batters. Irlmeier was strong at 1st base, finishing with a .975 fielding percentage.
2nd Base- Ava Gross- Carroll- Senior
Gross has steadily been one of the best all-around softball players in the area and plays with a great desire to win. She hit .314 against some of the top pitching in the state, adding a team high 27 RBI with a team high 4 home runs. She scored 23-runs which also led the Tigers. Her 15 walks helped her have a .416 on-base-percentage. Gross has always been good on the bases, stealing 20 bases in 24 attempts. She helped the Tigers dominate teams outside the Raccoon River Conference.
3rd Base- Kaylie Diercksen- Kuemper- Junior
Diercksen was fantastic this season, her first playing 3rd base. She made a ton of tough plays, saving a few games for the Knights. Kaylie showed her athleticism on bunt coverage situations. As good as she was on defense, her offense may have been more impressive. She ended the season batting .364 with 9 doubles, a triple and 3 home runs, helping her drive in 42-runs and score 32 more. She added a .529 slugging percentage.
Shortstop- Maggie Ragaller- Ar-We-Va- Senior
Ragaller competes hard every moment she is on the field. That competitive nature helped her bats .404 this season with 3 doubles and 3 triples. She tied for the team lead in RBI and was 2nd on the team in runs scored. Maggie was perfect in stolen base attempts. Her athletic ability helped her cover a lot of ground at shortstop, finishing with a .890 fielding percentage.
Catcher- Parker Adams- Carroll- Junior
Adams is not a secret anymore. Last year she broke on the scene, putting together a great season. She added to that this season, though opposing teams game planned against her. She batted .408 with 6 doubles, a triple and a home run. Her 18 RBI ranked 2nd on the team. Parker led the Tigers with 40 hits. Her slugging percentage was .520 and her on-base-percentage was .525. Adams nearly doubled her strikeout total with her walks and hit-by-pitches. Adams is about as elite of a defensive catcher as you will find, throwing out 15 basesteals with only 1 error this season.
Outfield- Alexis Diercksen- Kuemper- Senior
Diercksen was strong on defense all season, ending the year with a .982 fielding percentage with 1 error. She came on strong at the plate as the season went on. Alexis hit .263 with 5 doubles, a triple and a home run. Her 19 RBI tied her for 4th on the team, though she hit behind two strong RBI players. She also scored 23-runs and was 2nd on the team with 12 walks. Alexis stole 15 of 15 bases.
Outfield- Emersyn Mack- East Sac- Senior
Mack has always hit the ball well and that continued in her senior season. She finished as one of the best hitters in the Twin Lakes Conference, batting .418. She doubled 6 times and was tied for 2nd on the Raiders in RBI. Her 20-runs scored led the team and her .507 slugging percentage was 2nd on the team. Mack only struck out 6 times in 67 plate appearances. Emersyn was 7 for 7 in stolen bases.
DP- Ellie Sibbel- Kuemper- Junior
Sibbel has grown into a terrific all-around softball player, swinging a good bat and becoming a strong presence behind the plate. Ellie batted .396 this season 2nd on the team while placing 2nd in RBI with 35. She had 7 doubles and drove 3 pitches out of the park. Her slugging percentage ended at .541 and had a .435 on-base-percentage. Sibbel threw out 6 runners attempting to steal. She had a .965 fielding percentage.
Pitcher- Vanessa Koehler- Glidden Ralston- Senior
Koehler got better every season, growing into one of the best athletes in the area. She finished her softball career at Glidden with a great season in the circle and at the plate. Vanessa went 14-7 this season with a 2.67 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 123 ⅓ innings. She allowed just 47 earned runs and walked only 49 batters. Offensively she batted .403 with 3 doubles, 7 triples and 2 home runs. Her 17 RBI was 2nd on the team while her 31-runs scored led the team. Vanessa was 16 of 16 in stolen bases.
Pitcher- Alexis Obermeier- Audubon- Junior
Obermeier may have been the most consistent pitcher this season, finishing with 15 wins and a 2.23 ERA. She struck out 212 batters with only 28 walks, holding opponents to a .196 batting average. Obermeier became a workhorse, throwing 150 ⅔ innings. She was just as important on offense, batting .311 with 4 home runs, tying for the team lead. Her 6 doubles ranked 3rd on the Wheelers. She finished with a .554 slugging percentage. Alexis did a nice job fielding her position as well.
1st Team Outfield and Player of the Year
Kaci Peter- Kuemper- Junior
What a season for Kaci Peter. She played with an aggression that most don’t, diving all over the field and making tons of plays, all while being banged up. Peter was a force at the plate, on the base-paths and in the outfield. She hit .408 this season with 44-runs scored. As a bunter, she was still able to hit a double, a pair of triples and a home run. Peter’s on-base- percentage was .453. As good as she was at the plate, her tenacity on the base-paths may have been better, stealing 29 of 31 bases. Peter never gave up on a play in the field, oftentimes making plays most weren’t able to.
Coach of the Year
Eric Borkowski- Audubon
Eric has built a very solid program in Audubon, able to handle graduations and just keep moving forward. The Wheelers went 16-9 this season, barely losing to a ranked Exira-EHK team on the road in the playoffs in a matchup that should have been played much later in the postseason. Audubon was 10-6 in the Western Iowa Conference, finishing in 4th place but a game out of 3rd. The Wheelers finished with a .273 batting average, hitting 12-home runs. He was able to adjust when one of his two ace pitchers was unable to throw after the early part of the season and the team didn’t miss a beat, moving players around to get them in their best position to succeed.
