Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Opening day of the high school softball season is here.

The season officially gets underway on Monday with teams across the state opening play all with the goal of qualifying for the state tournament that is schedule for July 17-21 at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Before the games get rolling on Monday we take a look at nine Your Prep Sports area players to watch this season.

Hilary Wilson

Senior, Solon

One of the best hitters in the state and most decorated players in Solon program history Wilson will look to put an exclamation point on what has been a stellar prep career.

A five-year starter in the Spartan infield, Wilson is a four-time all-state selection and career .467 hitter and enters her senior season with 238 career hits, 21 home runs, 157 RBI and 176 runs scored.

The senior shortstop was a third-team Class 4A all-state selection by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association last season when she hit .382 with four home runs and led Solon in runs (30), on-base (.457) and slugging percentage (.582).

Mischa Reiners

Junior, Liberty High

Reiners continued to establish herself as one of the best players in the state last season earning first-team all-state honors for the first time from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Already a three-year starter, Reiners hit .418 with 22 extra-base hits a year ago driving in 30 runs and posting a 1.111 OPS.

Reiners had 14 doubles and five home runs last season as a sophomore, scored 45 runs and walked 12 times while striking out only eight.

In addition to her production at the plate Reiners is one of the top defensive catchers in Class 5A.

Reese Stockman

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

A starter since her eighth-grade season Stockman had the best season of her career last summer as a sophomore when she earned third-team all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Stockman batted .364 last season and drove in a team-high 39 runs while also leading the Clippers in both walks (24) and on-base percentage (.508).

The junior shortstop scored 33 runs and had nine extra-base hits last season including a home run while posting a .475 slugging percentage.

Lianna Hull

Sophomore, City High

A starter two years ago as an eighth grader the breakthrough for Hull came last season when she ranked in the top-three in 5A in hits runs and batting average while earning second-team all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Hull was a major force at the top of the Little Hawk lineup last season collecting 75 hits and scoring 56 runs while batting .536 from her leadoff spot.

The sophomore shortstop stole a team-high 31 bases last season when she had six extra-base hits and 10 RBI and a 1.167 OPS.

Courtney Kessler

Senior, Regina

A leader from her spot behind the plate Kessler helped the Regals cap an impressive postseason run with a Class 2A state title last season.

An all-state selection each of the past two seasons, Kessler earned second team all-state honors in 2A last season after hitting .424 with 12 extra-base hits and a team-high 31 RBI.

Kessler scored 27 runs, drew a team-high 15 walks and led the regals in on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.576) but may be more valuable for her work behind the plate.

Lanie Meyer

Sophomore, West Branch

Meyer built on a strong eighth-grade season with a breakthrough freshman campaign last season on her way to earning honorable mention all-state honors in Class 2A from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

The freshman first baseman led West Branch in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage during her break out season last summer.

Meyer hit .417 with 12 doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI posting an impressive .792 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.286.

Tamiah Teran

Senior, West High

A starter as an eighth grader, Teran is coming off the best season of her career last summer as a junior when she posted career-highs in batting average, hits and runs.

Teran hit .307 with a team-high 10 doubles last season driving in 15 runs and scoring 22 runs.

The junior outfielder stole seven bases and posted a .374 on-base percentage and .426 slugging percentage.

Kennedy Daugherty

Senior, Liberty High

A regular in the Liberty High lineup since her freshman season Daugherty emerged as one of the best two-way players in the state last season on her way to earning second team Class 5A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Daugherty hit .314 with a team-high 25 extra-base hits including a team-leading nine home runs last season, driving in 41 runs and scoring 34 runs.

In the circle Daugherty went 12-7 with a 2.54 ERA while striking out 90 in 129 2/3 innings.

Avy Lindsey

Sophomore, City High

Another starter since her eighth-grade season for the Little Hawks, Lindsey had her own breakout season a year ago on her way to earning third-team Class 5A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Lindsey provided the pop in the order behind Hull, posting 15 extra-base hits including three home runs and leading City High with 43 RBI.

A sophomore second baseman, Lindsey hit .409 last season, scored 39  runs and posted a .591 slugging percentage.

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