Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The high school softball season is underway.

Monday marked the opening day for competition for teams across the state and all seven teams in the Your Prep Sports area will play their opening games of the season this week.

Before the action really heats up this week Your Prep Sports takes a look at some area players to keep an eye on this season.

Lianna Hull

Senior, City High

A North Texas signee, Hull will look to put the finishing touches on what has already been an outstanding prep career with another stellar season.

Hull has been among the most productive players in Class 5A over the past four seasons posting four consecutive seasons with a batting average of .450 or higher.

A career .499 hitter, Hull earned first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division honors and second team 5A all-state honors last season after ranking eighth in 5A with a .489 average.

Hull led City High with 30 runs and had 14 extra-base hits including two home runs and drove in 12 runs while posting a .545 on-base and .716 slugging percentage.

Ellie Tague

Freshman, Liberty High

Tague emerged as one of the top young pitchers in the state last season in an impressive debut season posting an 11-3 record while leading Liberty High in innings pitched.

In her first season of varsity action Tague posted a 3.03 ERA and struck out 46 in a team-high 106 1/3 innings pitched on her way to earning second team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division honors.

Tague allowed just 22 walks and posted a 1.41 WHIP last season.

Addie Miller

Senior, Solon

A four-year starter Miller has been a big-time run producer in the middle of the Solon lineup since her freshman season.

Miller is coming off a stellar junior season in which she batted .398 and led the Spartans in extra-base hits (18), home runs (6), RBI (34), slugging percentage (.661) and OPS (1.161).

The senior catcher/outfielder scored 30 runs and posted a .500 on-base percentage while earning first-team all-WAMAC East Division and third-team Class 3A all-state honors.

A career .378 hitter, Miller enters her final prep season with 47 career-extra base hits, including 16 home runs and 87 RBI.

Lily Nibaur

Sophomore, Regina 

Nibaur made an immediate impact in her varsity debut season last fall emerging as a top of the rotation starter for perennial power Regina.

The right-handed throwing Nibaur went 10-7 with a 2.22 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in a team-high 113 1/3 innings pitched last season while striking out 112.

A River Valley Conference first-team all-South Division pick, Nibaur allowed opposing hitters to bat just .183 against her last season.

Nibaur also batted .326 with five doubles and led Regina with 30 RBI during her impressive freshman season.

Molly Carlson

Junior, City High 

A four-year starter, Carlson is coming off an outstanding sophomore season in which she earned first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Valley Division honors after leading the Little Hawks in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and walks.

Carlson batted .364 with 21 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs and 40 RBI during her breakthrough sophomore season.

The talented catcher drew a team-high 19 walks and posted a .457 on-base and .736 slugging percentage to go with 26 runs scored.

Avy Lindsey

Senior, City High 

Another multi-year returning starter for City High Lindsey has been a regular in the Little Hawk lineup since her eighth grade season.

Lindsey is coming off a strong junior season that saw her earn third-team Class 3A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association after posting 20 extra-base hits including seven home runs.

The senior infielder batted .286 with 12 doubles, 25 runs scored and 26 RBI a year ago and posted a .580 slugging percentage and .926 OPS.

Ava Tague

Junior, Liberty High

Tague emerged as one of the top hitters in the state last season during a breakout season in which she ranked in the top-15 in 5A in batting average, slugging percentage and doubles.

A first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division pick, Tague batted .467 with a whopping 27 extra-base hits among her 42 hits on the season.

Tague scored 23 runs, drove in 39 runs while posting a .811 slugging percentage and a 1.311 OPS.

Savannah Mathias

Freshman, West High

Mathias made an immediate splash in her eighth-grade season last summer leading West High in six offensive categories on her way to earning second team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Valley Division honors.

The freshman shortstop hit a team-leading .368 last season and also led the Trojans in on-base percentage (.415), hits (32), runs (12) walks (7) and stolen bases (12).

With a year of experience under her belt look for Mathias to take a big step forward this summer in her second varsity season.

Lanie Meyer

Senior, Liberty High

A key run producer in the middle of a potent Liberty High lineup Meyer is coming off the best season of her career last summer.

Meyer slugged 12 home runs and batted .363 last season on her way to earning first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division honors.

The senior first baseball had 21 extra-base hits, scored 24 runs and drove in a team-high 41 runs last season while posting a .814 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.239.

Izzy Frees

Senior, Solon

A four-year starter, Frees is coming off the best season of her career last season while helping Solon reach the Class 3A state tournament.

Frees hit a career-high .393 with 16 extra-base hits and drove in 19 runs and stole 18 bases on her way to earning first team all-WAMAC East Division and third team Class 3A all-state honors.

The senior shortstop led Solon in hits (53), runs (34) and doubles (13) last season.

Kyla Schulte

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

An up-and-coming star in the state, Schulte followed up an impressive freshman season with an outstanding sophomore campaign last summer in which she was a unanimous all-WAMAC West Division selection and second-team Class 4A all-state pick by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Schulte led Clear Creek Amana in batting average (.439), RBI (59), doubles (17), extra-base hits (21) and slugging percentage (.675) while helping the Clippers to a 25-13 record and a spot in a Class 4A regional final.

Kelsey Kaut

Junior, Liberty High

A three-year starter, Kaut is coming off the best season of her career last summer when she batted .403 on her way to earning first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-Mississippi Division honors.

Kaut scored 37 runs and tied for the team lead with 16 stolen bases last season posting a .458 on-base percentage and a .887 OPS.

The speedy centerfielder drove in 13 runs and had a pair of extra-base hits last season.

Elizabeth Timmerman

Junior, Clear Creek Amana 

One of the top two-way players in Class 4A Timmerman is coming off a strong sophomore season that saw her earn WAMAC West Division second team honors.

Timmerman batted .314 with 22 runs scored and 22 RBI last season and led the Clippers with 12 stolen bases.

The junior standout also posted a 13-5 record and a 2.15 ERA in the circle and struck out 82 in a team-high 91 innings.

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