The 2026 Your Prep Sports Area Softball Team
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The 2026 softball season came to a close last month as state championships were earned at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.
Now it is time to honor some of the top players in the state.
The annual Your Prep Sports area team recognizes some of the top area players for their performance on the diamond this season.
The 10th edition of the Your Prep Sports all-area softball team features all-conference, all-district and all-state players as well as college recruits and school record holders.
This year’s 24-member team has 14 repeat selections highlighted by four players that are four-time all-area selections.
Clear Creek Amana seniors Elizabeth Timmerman and Kyla Schulte, City High senior Molly Carlson and Liberty High senior Kelsey Kaut are all appearing on the Your Prep Sports all-area team for the fourth consecutive season.
Liberty High sophomore Ellie Tague, Liberty High senior Ava Tague and Regina junior Lily Nibaur are all three-time all-area selections.
Schulte is the captain of the 2026 Your Prep Sports all-area team after an incredible season in which she led the state in both home runs and RBI while leading Clear Creek Amana to its first state tournament appearance since 2021.
Schulte batted .505 with 24 home runs, 40 extra-base hits, 76 RBI and 62 runs scored and had a .620 on-base percentage, a 1.306 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.926.
2026 Your Prep Sports Area Softball Team
P – Kynlee McElvain, 8th, Clear Creek Amana – In her first varsity season McElvain wasted no time making an impact while establishing herself as one of the top younger hurlers in the state. The right-hander went 14-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit just .169 against her this season. McElvain was a first-team all-WAMAC West Division selection after striking out 126 batters in a team-high 115 1/3 innings.
P – Lily Nibaur, Jr., Regina – One of the top two-way players in Class 2A Nibaur was dominant in the circle while helping Regina return to the state tournament for the first time since 2023. Nibaur went 21-9 with a 2.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while holding opponents to a .128 batting average and struck out 172 in a team-high 190 innings. A first team Class 2A all-state selection by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Nibaur also batted .476 with 40 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, 17 RBI and an OPS of 1.115.
P – Ellie Tague, Soph., Liberty High – Tague continued to build on her impressive career resume with a third consecutive season with an ERA of 3.25 or better in more than 100 innings of work. The sophomore right-hander earned second team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honors after going 12-10 with a 3.25 ERA and 1.39 WHIP while striking out a career-best 129 in a career-high 127 innings.
C – Aubrey Robertson, Soph., Liberty High – In her second varsity season Robertson emerged as one of the better young backstops in Class 5A. Robertson batted a career-high .333 with 13 extra-base hits and a team-high 32 RBI while posting an OPS of .852 on her way to earning second team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honors.
C – Molly Carlson, Sr., City High – Among the top overall players and best catchers in the state, Carlson capped an incredible career with a stellar senior season that saw her earn first team Class 5A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. A career .383 hitter, Carlson batted a career-best .500 this season with 18 extra-base hits, five home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs, 32 walks and an OPS of 1.415. A Northern Iowa recruit, Carlson closed her five-year career with 211 hits, 37 home runs and 169 RBI.
C – Karly Shelton, Soph., West Branch – Shelton had the best season of her career as a sophomore earning second team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors. Shelton batted a team-leading .380 and led the Bears in both runs (26) and stolen bases (18) while adding eight extra-base hits, eight RBI and 16 walks. Shelton had a .490 on-base percentage and an OPS of .983.
C – Chloe Rogers, Sr., Regina – The play of Rogers behind the plate was a key component in Regina orchestrating a turnaround season in which the Regals went from 8-15 last season to a 23-12 record and a spot at the 2A state tournament this summer. An excellent defensive catcher, Rogers threw out nine of 19 attempted base stealers this season on her way to earning first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors. Rogers batted .283 with seven extra-base hits, two home runs, and 19 RBI.
INF – Alice Freemole, Soph., Liberty High – Freemole took a big step forward in her second season in the Liberty High lineup ranking third on the team in batting average and second in RBI on her way to earning Mississippi Valley Conference second team all-division honors. The sophomore shortstop batted .376 with nine extra-base hits, 29 runs, 31 RBI and posted an .859 OPS.
INF – Keegan Kleppe, Jr., Regina – Kleppe exploded in her first season in a Regina uniform earning first team Class 2A all-state honors after helping the Regals to a 23-12 record and a state tournament berth. The junior shortstop batted a team-high .485 with 13 extra-base hits, 36 runs, 21 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Kleppe drew 14 walks, had a .559 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.233.
INF – Ava Tague, Sr., Liberty High – A stalwart in the infield and at the plate for the Lightning over the past four seasons Tague was at her best as a senior earning second team Class 5A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. An Augustana recruit, Tague batted .436 as a senior and led Liberty High in runs (36), extra-base hits (20), home runs (5), walks (14), on-base percentage (.509), slugging percentage (.743) and OPS (1.251).
INF – Eve Vitense, Soph., City High – It was a big-time breakout season for Vitense who emerged as one of the top young shortstops in Class 5A. Vitense batted .393 with eight home runs, 36 runs scored and 38 RBI on her way to earning first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honors. A stellar defensive shortstop, Vitense owned a .450 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.119.
INF – Brenna Williams, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – A stalwart in the Clipper lineup since her eighth-grade season Williams capped a stellar career with a strong senior season in which she earned honorable mention all-WAMAC West Division honors. Williams batted .359 with 10 doubles, 23 RBI and 50 runs scored while drawing a team-high 34 walks and posting a .513 on-base percentage and .957 OPS.
INF – Liv Nelson, Soph, Solon – Already a three-year starter, Nelson cemented her status as one of the top shortstops in Class 4A this season earning second team all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Nelson batted .304 with 21 RBI and led Solon in hits (35), runs (31), doubles (12), extra-base hits (15), home runs (3), slugging percentage (.487) and OPS (.861) and added 11 stolen bases.
INF – Lexi Gaffey, 8th, Regina – Gaffey made an immediate impact in her first season of varsity action leading Regina in extra-base hits and RBI while helping the Regals reach to the 2A state tournament. A second team all-River Valley Conference South Division selection, Gaffey batted .396 with 16 extra-base hits, a home run, 30 RBI and 24 runs while posting a 1.044 OPS.
INF – Lizzie Pasbrig, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – After an injury hampered Pasbrig last season the senior first baseman bounced back in a big way this summer helping the Clippers return to the Class 4A state tournament. A Luther College recruit, Pasbrig hit .355 with 13 extra base hits, two home runs, 33 RBI and 23 runs while drawing 25 walks and posting a .470 on-base percentage and .962 OPS.
INF – Eliza Mitchell, Jr., City High – A four-year starter Mitchell continued to produce at a high level earning second team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honors after batting .303 with 15 extra-base hits. Mitchell scored 32 runs, drove in 24 runs, stole 11 bases and had an OPS of .834 and owned a .952 fielding percentage while helping City High to a 16-23 record.
OF – Maeve Obermueller, Jr., City High – Another veteran in the City High lineup, Obermueller put together the best season of her career on her way to earning third team Class 5A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. The junior center fielder batted .390 with 15 extra-base hits, seven triples, two home runs, 36 runs scored and 30 RBI. Obermueller had a .438 on-base percentage and a 1.049 OPS.
OF – Iyana Merino, Soph., City High – Merino followed up a strong debut season with an even better sophomore campaign as she continues to build a reputation as one of the top young hitters in Class 5A. A second team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division selection, Merino batted .373 with a team-high 23 extra-base hits, eight home runs and 45 RBI while posting a 1.134 OPS.
OF – Kelsey Kaut, Sr., Liberty High – One of the most productive players in program history Kaut capped a brilliant career with a fourth consecutive season with a batting average over .400. A DMACC recruit, Kaut batted a career-best .465 with 35 runs and 19 RBI on her way to being a unanimous first team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division pick and a third-team Class 5A all-state selection by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
*OF – Kyla Schulte, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – One of the top hitters in the state over the past several seasons Schulte put the finishing touches on a brilliant career with one of the best single seasons in program history. Schulte led the state in both home runs (24) and RBI (76) while helping Clear Creek Amana to a 31-13 record and its first state tournament appearance since 2021. The 24 home runs for Schulte matched the highest total in the state since Kendyl Lindaman of Ankeny hit 24 in 2013. A DMACC recruit, Schulte batted .505 with 62 runs scored, 40 extra-base hits and 32 walks. A first team Class 4A all-state selection by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Schulte posted a .620 on-base percentage, a 1.306 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.926.
OF – Aarianna Shaw, Jr., West High – A breakout season from Shaw was a big reason West High was able to increase its win total for the third consecutive season. Shaw earned honorable mention Mississippi Valley Conference all-division honors after leading West High in batting average (.414), hits (36), runs (24), stolen bases (11) while adding five RBI and posting an .859 OPS.
UTIL – Elizabeth Timmerman, Sr., Clear Creek Amana – A five-year varsity player and four-year starter Timmerman was an integral part of the most successful season in recent program history. Timmerman batted .385 with 28 runs, 13 extra-base hits, 13 stolen bases and 26 RBI while posting a 1.013 OPS. The two-way standout also went 12-4 in the circle with a 3.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while striking out 58 in 86 innings pitched on her way to earning second team Class 4A all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
UTIL – Lander Malloy, Soph., West Branch – A versatile player Malloy did it all for the Bears this season on her way to earning first team all-River Valley Conference South Division honors. Malloy batted .367 with 11 extra-base hits, 23 runs, 20 RBI and a .955 OPS. She also went 10-14 in the circle with a pair of saves while posting a 5.65 ERA and striking out 90 in a team-leading 126 1/3 innings pitched.
UTIL – Beckitt Kabela, Soph., Solon – A versatile piece of the puzzle for the Spartans, Kabela was a key part of the lineup and pitching staff leading the team in hits and RBI and ranking third on the team in innings pitched. Kabela batted .312 with five extra-base hits, 25 RBI and an OPS of .705 and also went 2-9 in the circle with a 4.27 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings pitched on her way to earning honorable mention all-WAMAC East Division honors.
*-Denotes Captain
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