Prep Softball- The 2026 Iowa High School Softball season is in the books and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA) released their All-State Teams for all five classes. Talent was abundant in southeast Iowa with KILJ’s local schools having 12 players earn a nomination.
Class 1A
Holy Trinity Catholic tallied a program-record 23 victories this past season on their way to their first conference title. Helping the Crusaders get there was Sydney Jarvis and Alivia Holmes.
For the second consecutive season, Jarvis earned a 2nd Team nod, as she led the team with a slash line of 0.573/0.663/0.920 and led the conference in doubles with 17. In the circle, she went 19-5 with 133 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA.
Holmes’ 0.440 batting average and team-leading 19 stolen bases grabbed her an Honorable Mention. She also slapped eight doubles, one triple, and one home run for 20 RBIs.
Class 2A
Senior Madelyn Thomas of West Burlington/Notre Dame finished her high school career with a 2nd Team All-State honor. Thomas swatted seven home runs for 31 RBIs, leading to a 0.767 slugging percentage.
Ashlynn Huff, an underrated member of Van Buren County’s squad for the past five season, turned in her third All-State performance. Huff is a two-time 2nd Team All-State member with the Warrior being named to the 3rd Team this year. Huff led the team with 20 RBIs on a 0.389 batting average.
Class 3A
In a crowded Class 3A list, five local players made the All-State team. One of the most decorated players in Washington program history, Leighton Salazar took home her fourth All-State honor and her second 1st Team nod for her career. Salazar batted o.435 and was a big reason for Washington’s late season turnaround, winning 14 of their final 18 contests.
The 2nd Team was heavily populated with Fairfield’s Leah Helmick, Payton Harris of Mediapolis, and the Southeast Iowa Super Conference-South (SEISC-S) Player of the Year Kenna Sandoval for Central Lee all finding a spot.
Helmick climbed up from 3rd Team last year behind an SEC leading home run count, RBI tally, and slash line all while posting a 2.70 ERA and 15-11 record from the circle.
Mediapolis’ Harris now has two All-State nominations after earning 3rd Team honors last year. Harris led the south division with a 1.68 ERA and clouted 16 home runs for the 12th best slugging percentage in the state at 1.149.
For the third straight season, Sandoval found a spot on the All-State Team with her second 2nd Team nomination after making the 1st Team last year. Sandoval produced an absurd stat line of 0.510/0.603/0.960 for 12 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, and 38 RBIs. The Hawk will continue her softball career at Iowa Western next season.
Lastly, Colbie Greiner of Washington claimed a spot on the All-State 3rd Team. The junior led the Southeast Conference (SEC) in doubles with 12, finished third in the conference in slugging percentage, hit the second most home runs, and collected the second most RBIs. She also led the SEC with 167 strikeouts from the circle and won 13 games
Class 4A
Burlington herded three Grayhounds onto the All-State teams with SEC Player of the Year Kylee Hill being the headliner with a 1st Team nomination. Her slash line of 0.420/0.480/0.761 led to the third best OPS in the conference. Add in 10 doubles, one triple, and six home runs for 33 RBIs.
Additionally, she bolstered the Grayhounds with a conference leading 1.54 ERA with the second best 150 strikeouts to boot. She collected 14 wins in 109 innings of work and allowed an opponent batting average of just 0.136.
Claiming spots on the 2nd Team were Ava Fawcett and Ava Brandenburg. Fawcett smacked nine RBIs of her own with a 0.412 batting average. Brandenburg’s 0.471 batting average finished second in the conference, as did her 11 doubles.