Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Regina earned a huge team prize on Tuesday when it secured a trip to the state tournament on with a thrilling 11-inning win in the regional final.

On Wednesday the Regals added some individual awards.

Regina had five players earn all-conference honors when the River Valley Conference released its postseason awards.

Sophomore Courtney Kessler was selected to the 17-member RVC Elite team that honors the top players from both the North and South Divisions.

Seniors Abby Clark and Annie Gahan and junior Emma Nibaur were all named to the South Division team while senior Baylee O’Connor earned honorable mention honors.

Kessler was an elite team utility selection after hitting a state-best .661 and leading Regina with three triples, three home runs and 27 RBI.

A senior shortstop, Gahan was named to the South Division squad after hitting .382 with a team-best 16 extra-base hits including 11 doubles and three home runs and 24 RBI.

Clark was an outfield pick on the South Division team after hitting .225 with two home runs and 11 RBI and leading the Regals with 10 walks.

Nibaur was selected as to the South Division team as a pitcher as she led Regina with a 16-7 record and 1.98 ERA striking out 136 in 148 1/3 innings.

West Branch had three players earn all-conference honors as senior Nicki Henson joined Kessler on the Elite Team, senior Maddy Hatfield was named to the South Division team and sophomore pitcher Hannah Schiele earned honorable mention honors.

Henson led Regina in hits for the fifth consecutive season on her way to Elite Team honors, hitting .570 with 39 runs, 11 RBI and 32 stolen bases.

Hatfield hit .368 with 11 doubles, three home runs and a team-high 33 RBI.

2021 River Valley All-Conference Softball

Elite Team

P: Mila Johnson, Sr., Wilton; Emily Watters, Soph., Anamosa; Sailor Hall, Jr., West Liberty. INF: Taylor Drayfahl, Soph., Wilton; Pearson Hall, 8^th, West Liberty; Devin Simon, Soph., Cascade; Alexis Ehlers, Sr., Northeast. OF: Chloe Wells, Sr., Wilton; Grace Lubben, Sr., Anamosa; Neveah Hildebrandt, Sr., Northeast; Nicki Henson, Sr., West Branch. C: Finley Hall, Soph., West Liberty; Brynnlin Kroymann, Jr., Northeast. UTIL: Peyton Souhrada, Jr., Wilton; Payton Ganzer, Jr., Wilton; Courtney Kessler, Soph., Regina; Emma Kiergaard, 8^th, Northeast.

South Division Team

P: Emma Nibaur, Jr., Regina; Janey Gingerich, Sr., West Liberty. INF: Annie Gahan, Sr., Regina; Alexis Walker, Sr., Wilton; Ally Happ, Jr., Durant; Isabel Morrison, Sr., West Liberty. OF: Brooklyn Buysse, Soph., West Liberty; Abby Clark, Sr., Regina; Abbey Rhoades, Sr., Durant; Shannon Head, Jr., Durant; Myah Lugar, Sr., Mid-Prairie. C: Hayley Madlock, Soph., Wilton; Hannah Sellers, Fr., Mid-Prairie. UTIL: Grace Madlock, Soph., Wilton; Madelyn Wade, Jr., Wilton; Halle Collier, Sr., Durant; Maddy Hatfield, Sr., West Branch; Dakota Mitchell, 8^th, Mid-Prairie

South division coach of the year – Chad Libby, West Liberty

North Division Team

P: Mady Meeker, Jr., Anamosa; Danica Eberhart, Jr., Northeast. INF: Dilynn Van Meter, Fr., Anamosa; Shannon Morris, Sr., Cascade; Valerie Spooner, Sr., Northeast; Alyssa Hefflefinger, Soph., North Cedar. OF: Claudia Noonan, Fr., Cascade; Jeorgia Neumann, 8^th, Northeast; Reese Cox, Sr., Monticello; Jamie Robertson, Jr., Camanche. C: Lexi Bright, Sr., Anamosa; Tori McDonald, Sr., Monticello. UTIL: Joslin Banowetz, Soph., Anamosa; Sam Frasher, Sr., Cascade; Leah Mangelsen, 8^th, Northeast; Jaelyn Aitchison, Soph., Monticello; Kendall Smith, Jr., North Cedar

North Division coaches of the year – Brad Holub, Anamosa; Travis Eversmeyer, Northeast

Honorable Mention

Kylie Struck, Soph., West Liberty; Hannah Schiele, Soph., West Branch; Baylee O’Connor, Sr., Regina; Emily Coss, Jr., Wilton; Kennedy Jehle, Fr., Durant; Katelyn Schneider, Jr., Mid-Prairie; Madison Meier, Fr., Tipton; Carly Meier, Sr., North Cedar; Abigail Beal, Jr., Camanche; Mallory Steiner, Jr., Monticello; Julia Ludwig, Sr., Cascade; Morgan Meyer, Jr., Bellevue; Delaney Frater, Sr., Anamosa; Haleigh Banowetz, Fr., Northeast

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