Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The softball regular season is officially in the books and the postseason is here.

While the three smallest classes opened postseason play yesterday a few schools around the state finished off the regular season portion of their schedule.

Going forward it is all win and advance as regional play continues today for Classes 1A and 2A with 4A and 5A getting into the postseason swing on Thursday.

Before the postseason gets fully underway Your Prep Sports looks back at some of the best performances, moments, players and games from the 2021 regular season.

Best individual offensive performance: Camryn Keith against Dyersville Beckman. Forget about being the best performance of the season what the Solon junior first baseman did in the opening game of a doubleheader against the Blazers was one of the most impressive feats in history. Keith hit home runs in four consecutive at bats, in four straight innings finishing with nine RBI and five runs scored in an 18-3 win.

Best individual offensive performance part II: Nicki Henson against Mid-Prairie. The Bears’ leading hitter for the past five seasons, Henson was at her best in the second game of a doubleheader against the Golden Hawks going 6-for-6 with four runs, an RBI and a stolen base in a 14-13 West Branch win.

Best individual pitching performance: Ella Cook against Cedar Rapids Prairie. Cook had several performances worthy of this award including a 21-strikeout effort against eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy and a four-hitter in a win over No. 6 Waukee. However, the award winner for Cook was a one-hit, 13-strikeout, eight-inning gem in a 2-0 win at No. 13 Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Best individual pitching performance part II: Kara Maiers against City High. Maiers came out of the gate clicking on all cylinders firing a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a 2-1 season-opening win over a City High lineup that ranks among the best in the state.

Best individual all-around performance: Emma Nibaur against West Liberty. Nibaur did it all while helping Regina complete a doubleheader sweep of ninth-ranked West Liberty. The junior tossed a three-hitter in the circle and also went 3-for-3 with a double and two home runs while driving in three runs in a 4-1 win.

Biggest upset: West Branch over West Liberty. Maddy Hatfield and Nicki Henson each had three hits and the Bears scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning to stun eighth-ranked West Liberty 5-4 in the opening game of an RVC doubleheader.

Best game: Clear Creek Amana against Williamsburg. What else would you expect between a couple of long-time conference rivals than a one-run game that comes down to the wire? Ashley Webb tossed a three-hit shutout and Reece Stockman scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on an Olivia Miller bunt as the Clippers edged third-ranked Williamsburg 1-0.

Most improved player: West High junior Maddie Caylor. The jump in production for Caylor ranks among the best in the state as the junior doubled her batting average from her first two varsity seasons. A career .175 hitter with 35 strikeouts and 21 RBI in her first two seasons combined Caylor hit .350 with two home runs and 21 RBI this season while striking out just three times.

Biggest hit: Regina senior Annie Gahan. Regina led rival Solon 1-0 when Gahan came up with perhaps her biggest and longest hit of the season, a grand slam to straight away center field in Solon that propelled Regina to a 10-2 win over the 3A No. 11 Spartans.

Most versatile: Liberty High sophomore Kennedy Daugherty. When injuries to a couple of key players forced changes in the Lightning lineup Daugherty did whatever was needed playing infield and outfield, pitching and hitting at a high level all season. Daugherty hit .392 with a team-high 16 doubles and 33 RBI and went 5-2 with a 4.20 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings after stepping into the rotation midway through the season.

Most fun to watch: City High senior Ayana Lindsey. There may not be a more well-rounded player in the state than Lindsey which makes the versatile City High senior one of the most exciting players to watch. Lindsey has the ability to make jaw dropping defensive plays from any position on the diamond, possess a rare combination of speed (49 stolen bases) and power (4 home runs) and owns a 1.62 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 104 innings.

Most persistent player: Liberty High senior Raquel Trolliet. A starter since her freshman season Trolliet was a .252 career hitter before this season and hadn’t hit over .268 in a single season. The senior shortstop stuck with it and her persistence paid off as Trolliet has raised her average nearly .100 points from last season hitting a career-high .337 with two home runs and 20 RBI.

Breakthrough player of the year: Clear Creek Amana junior Bailey Olerich. After a solid sophomore season Olerich made the jump to an elite level performer as a junior hitting a team-high .473 and leading the Clippers in hits (52) and stolen bases (33) while scoring 31 runs and driving in 15 from her leadoff spot.

Coach of the year: A case could be made for nearly every coach in the Your Prep Sports area for this award but for the second consecutive season the nod goes to the Clear Creek Amana co-head coaching tandem of Jodie Scheetz and Ken Thimmesch. A year after leading the Clippers to their first winning season since 2015 the duo directed Clear Creek Amana to a 27-8 record, a number eight ranking and a top seed in a 4A regional.

Most consistent player: Solon sophomore Hilary Wilson. Few players across the state were better or more consistent at the plate and in the field than the Solon sophomore shortstop this season. Wilson hit safely in 32 of 36 games, had hitting streaks of 11 and 14 games and had 25 multi-hit games while batting .575 with seven home runs and 44 RBI.

Unsung hero: West High senior Rylee Goodfellow. Catchers have a tendency to be overlooked but Goodfellow has been too good to ignore as the senior leader for the Trojans hitting .357 with a team-high 12 doubles and 24 RBI while serving as the glue in the West High lineup.

Breakout star: Regina sophomore Courtney Kessler. Following a strong start to her prep career two years ago as an eighth grader Kessler made the jump to a standout this season hitting a state-leading .660 with 11 extra-base hits, two home runs and a team-high 22 RBI.

Rookie of the year: City High eighth grader Lianna Hull. In her first season of varsity action Hull has looked nothing like a newcomer leading the Little Hawks with a .518 batting average while ranking second on the team in runs (47) and stolen bases (23) and third in RBI (28).

Newcomer of the year: Liberty High freshman Haley Schroeder. Schroeder made the most of her first full-time season in the Liberty High lineup hitting .341 while leading the Lightning with three home runs, 16 walks, 12 stolen bases and ranking third on the team with 24 RBI.

Silver slugger: West Branch senior Nicki Henson. One of the most productive and consistent hitters in West Branch history Henson has put together the best season of her career as a senior. The senior centerfield ranks sixth in the state hitting .600 (57-for-95) and leads the Bears in runs (34) and stolen bases (28).

Gold glover: City High senior Carey Koenig. The conversation around Koenig will always start with offensive production, and with good reason as the senior catcher has eight home runs and 50 RBI. However, there is no understating what Koenig means to City High behind the plate where she is one of the best in the state and can shut down opposing running games.

Cy Young: Clear Creek Amana sophomore Ashley Webb. In her first season as a varsity starter Webb emerged as one of the best pitchers in Class 4A posting a 17-5 record with a 1.12 ERA and .72 WHIP in 150 2/3 innings. Webb ranked third in 4A in wins and fourth in ERA while striking out 158 and walking just 13.

Most valuable player: City High senior Ella Cook. Overshadowed at times in past seasons by all-state teammates Cook has closed her career with a massive senior season. The versatile Cook is hitting a career-high .452 and leads the Little Hawks with eight home runs and 56 RBI. Cook has been perhaps even more valuable in the circle where she is 16-3 with a 1.40 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings.

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