Prep Softball- Two of the five champions have already been crowed for the 2024 Iowa High School Softball State Tournaments with the final three to be determined today, now seems as good as time as any to talk about the All-District Teams for the season.
Class 1A
The Southeast district named junior Emily Ross from Holy Trinity Catholic, senior Ada Boysen of Wapello, and Lilly Barre and Payton Brun of Highland to the team.
Emily Ross had a fantastic season at the plate with a 0.519 batting average to go along with a 0.581 on-base percentage and an 0.815 slugging. The junior slugged two home runs to go along with 10 doubles and 19 RBIs, which all led the Crusaders.
Wapello ended up a game short of the state tournament, losing 2-1 in extras to Sigourney—the team attempting to upset Martensdale-St Marys in the championship game tonight. A big reason for their success was the pitching prominence of Ada Boysen.
The senior started 28 games this season, achieving a 19-9 record with a 1.45 ERA to go along with 321 strikeouts, while keeping a WHIP of 0.77 from the circle. Boysen also hit for an average of 0.406 with eight triples, three home runs, 39 RBIs, and took 17 bases—all best on the team.
Highland’s season also came to an end against Sigourney in a close 2-1 final. Payton Brun batted 0.458 in her senior campaign with two home runs and 29 RBIs. The Huskies will be excited to have junior Lilly Barre return with her three triples, two home runs 16 RBIs, to go along with her 0.366 batting average and 0.521 on-base percentage.
Class 2A
Van Buren County’s Ashlynn Huff was the lone sophomore to make the Southeast All-District squad and Lily Coil of Columbus also made the team.
Huff hit an otherworldly 0.512 batting average with a 0.589 on-base percentage. She led the Warriors with 32 runs and tallied 13 RBIs of her own.
Coil played in nine less games but made her mark with a slash line of 0.623/0.706/0.887 leading her to finish second on the team in RBIs with 21, while tying for the team lead in doubles with 10 and leading the team in triples with two. She also stole 15 bases.
Additionally, the junior also posted a 2.95 ERA with 59 strikeouts in her 10 appearances.
Class 3A
There was plenty of local talent represented in the Southeast All-District team with seven local players making the squad.
For Central Lee, senior Shanna Buford and sophomore Kenna Sandoval claimed a spot. This slugging duo got the Hawks into the top 15 and were a game away from punching their ticket to the state tournament.
Sandoval led the team with a slash line of 0.588/0.634/1.021 while crushing seven home runs, 19 doubles, one triple, and 44 RBIs. Buford led the team with 20 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, and 51 RBIs. The senior hit 0.518 with a 1.000 slugging percentage.
Mediapolis’ Payton Harris, an 8th grader, made the team. Despite just being an 8th grader, Harris led the team with a 0.541 batting average and a 1.016 slugging percentage. Harris clobbered four home runs, three triples, and 11 doubles for 18 RBIs.
Bella and Leighton Salazar helped Washington finish with one of their best records in school history, earning them a spot on the team. Last year’s CO-SEC Player of the Year, Leighton, turned in another stellar year with a team leading slash line of 0.524/0.592/0.651. The sophomore also tabbed 10 doubles with 29 RBIs. She was also a kleptomaniac on the base path with 36 steals.
Bella was the ace for the squad with a 13-8 record, totaling 100 strikeouts for a 2.67 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. She also finished second on the team with 37 RBIs.
Lastly, seniors Logan Kelley and Lauren Krieger for West Burlington/Notre Dame claimed a spot for the Falcons. Kelley provided the power to this Falcon squad with seven home runs and 42 RBIs to go along with her 20 doubles and two triples. Her 0.481 average, 0.553 on-base percentage, and 0.906 slugging percentage all led the team.
Kelley will also be playing for the White Team tomorrow at the Waukee Softball Complex for the 2024 All-Star showcase.
Krieger ranked second on the team in just about every offensive category with 13 steals, a 0.462 average, and 0.548 on-base percentage. The senior also slapped seven doubles and two home runs to the tune of 21 RBIs.
Class 4A
Lastly, Burlington’s Saydee Plummer, the SEC Player of the Year, earned a spot on the Southeast All-District team. The senior led the team from the circle and at the plate. Plummer posted a 15-2 record with 178 strikeouts and an ERA and WHIP of 0.78 and 0.58, respectively.
Plummer also batted 0.413 for the season with an on-base percentage of 0.518. She belted three home runs and tabbed 16 RBIs.