Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Jeff Koenig 

Assistant coaches: Molly Nicholson, Peyton Koenig

Last season: 20-21

Returning starters: Cary Koenig, Fr., C/3B; Ella Cook, Fr., P/1B; Ayana Lindsey, Fr., P/SS; Sydney Fellows, Soph., UTIL; Brooke Bormann, Soph., INF; Brianna Bentler, Soph., OF; Alexa Fredericks, Soph., OF; Jayden Young, Soph., C/3B.

Other returning letterwinners: Keli Potter, Soph., UTIL; Brenna Gordon, Soph., OF.

Newcomers to watch: Libby Frantz, 8th, OF; Makayla Ribble, 8th, P/UTIL

Headliner: Ayana Lindsey led a trio of eighth-graders that stepped into leading roles for City High last season. Lindsey hit .320 and led City High with 40 runs and 34 stolen bases and also posted an 11-11 record and 4.87 ERA in team-high 133 2/3 innings.

Keep an eye on: Another freshman coming off a strong debut season Carey Koenig hit .345 with 14 doubles and 26 RBI while handling the catching duties for the Little Hawks.

Circle the date: May 26 at Pleasant Valley. Upstart City High gets an early season measuring stick with a doubleheader against the top-ranked and defending state champion Spartans.

Breakdown: Expectations are as high as they have been in years at City High with eight starters returning from a team that won 20 games a year ago.

The top four hitters from last year’s team return for City High which opens the season ranked No. 13 in Class 5A.

Ella Cook (.341 BA, 6 HR) rounds out a strong group of freshmen that made big contributions last year as eighth-graders.

Sophomore Brooke Bormann is back after leading City High with a .367 batting average last season while sophomore Sydney Fellows (.322 BA) and junior Alexa Fredericks (6 HR, 23 RBI) also return after strong seasons a year ago.

Lindsey and Cook (4-4, 7.93) will handle the pitching duties for City High.

West High

Coach: Barb Lynn (1st season)

Assistant coaches: Dawn Cooksley, Skylar Hop, Dani Carter, Tristan Sievers

Last season: 25-16

Returning starters: Brooke Goodman, Sr., SS; Cynthia Hull, Fr., DH; Kylie Heisdorffer, Sr., P; Eva Burbidge, Soph., OF

Other returning letterwinners: Kyra Stoll, Sr., OF; Grace Schneider, Soph.; Jaclyn Bakken, Jr.; Abigail Arens, Sr.; Kiahna Hill, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Ryleigh Mulcahey, Jr., OF/P

Headliner: Senior shortstop Brooke Goodman will be a steady force for the Women of Troy both in the field and the lineup after earning honorable mention all-conference honors a year ago.

Goodman hit .330 and scored 20 runs a season ago.

Keep an eye on: Senior pitcher Kylie Heisdorffer was solid last season while leading West High in innings pitched and will look to take a step forward this summer as leader of the staff.

Circle the date: June 5 vs. City High. West High hosts the annual cross-town showdown with rival City High.

Breakdown: Four starters return for head coach Barb Lynn who takes back over the West High program.

West High won 25 games a year ago and has nine players back with experience from that squad.

Goodman (.330, 23 RBI) returns to lead the offense while Heisdorffer is back to headline the Women of Troy pitching staff after posting a 13-8 record with a 2.15 ERA in 124 innings last season.

Cynthia Hull hit .333 with four home runs and 29 RBI a year ago as an eighth-grader and will look to provide pop in the middle of the West High order.

Sophomore outfield Eva Burbidge also returns after getting some experience a year ago.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Matthew Trosky (2nd season)

Assistant coaches: Blake Wilson, Earl Berg, Eden Campbell, Jamie Henze, Maddy Beckler

Last season: 14-26

Returning starters: Raina Henze, Soph., P/OF; Peyton Grafft, Fr., P/UTIL; Katie Pitlick, Jr., 1B/DP; Ainsley Schrock, Soph., C/DP/1B; Lydia Banwart, Jr., C/OF; Karsyn Stratton, Soph., SS/OF; Danielle Wnek, Sr., 3B/2B; Abby Crow, Jr., 3B/2B/UTIL

Newcomers to watch: Grace Bedford, Fr., P/OF; Gabbi Bedford, Fr., INF/UTIL; Allison Rummelhart, Soph., OF/UTIL

Headliner: Sophomore Karsyn Stratton was a first-team all-WAMAC West Division pick a year ago when she hit .410 with 10 doubles and seven home runs.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Ainsley Schrock had a huge freshman season slugging 11 home runs and driving in 44 runs while hitting .411.

Circle the date: June 18 at Independence. Clippers hit the road for a key WAMAC doubleheader with 4A third-ranked Independence.

Breakdown: The Clippers appear poised to take a big step in year two under head coach Matthew Trosky after going 14-26 last season.

Eight starters return including the Clippers’ top two pitchers and two players in Stratton and Schrock that both hit over .400.

Sophomore Raina Henze (7-12, 3.57 ERA) and freshman Peyton Grafft (6-8, 5.95 ERA) both return in the circle where Clear Creek Amana expects to be much improved this season.

Stratton and Schrock will lead a CCA lineup that also returns junior Katie Pitlick (13 RBI), senior Danielle Wnek (20 RBI) and junior Lydia Banwart.  

Regina

Coach: Jake Koolbeck (1st season)

Assistant coaches: Alyssa Olson, Courtnee Hahn, Madi Miller

Last season: 30-11 (Class 2A State Champion)

Returning starters: Emily Bonnett, Sr., SS/3B; Taylor O’Connor, Sr., 3B/INF; Katie Bracken, Jr., P/1B; Jess Hunter, Jr., CF; Lauren Marth, Jr., 2B/INF; Maeve Dunne, Jr., C; Carrigan O’Connor, Jr., OF; Paisley Gardner, Sr., P

Other returning letterwinners: Mary Graff, Jr., OF; Nola Murhammer, Soph., C; Elly Gahan, Soph., 1B

Newcomers to watch: Annie Gahan, Fr., INF; Suzy Lobodiak, Jr., P

Headliner: Junior Katie Bracken was a first-team all-state pick a year ago after batting .351 with five home runs and a team-high 33 RBI while posting a 10-4 record with a 2.06 ERA in the circle.

Keep an eye on: Senior Emily Bonnett is coming off an all-state season in which she hit .329 with 27 runs and 20 RBI as a junior

Circle the date: June 25 vs. Durant. The River Valley Conference South Division title should be on the line when top-ranked Durant comes to Regina for a double header.

Breakdown: First-year head coach Jake Koolbeck takes over for Jon Prottsman who retired after leading Regina to the Class 2A state title last July.

Regina must replace all-state pitcher Sarah Lehman but returns plenty of talent to make another run toward the 2A title under Koolbeck.

Bracken will take over the top spot in the pitching rotation after fanning 135 and walking 19 in 98 2/3 innings last season.

Bonnett and junior Jess Hunter (.323 BA, 23 RBI) will lead the Regina offense along with senior Taylor O’Connor (.309, 21 runs).

West Branch

Coach: Shannon Reisinger (1st season)

Assistant coaches: Mary Madsen, Bailey Lukavsky

Last season: 15-24

Returning starters: Hannah Tisinger, Sr., P; Courtney Jarrett, Jr., OF; Taylor Thein, Soph., OF; Kaiya Luneckas, Soph., P; Mackenzie Heise, Soph., OF; Nicki Henson, Fr., INF/OF; Maddy Hatfield, Fr., C/3B; Chloe Pence, Fr., C/3B; Lexie Peak, Fr., SS/2B;

Other returning letterwinners: Annika Olson, Sr., OF; Taylor Tisinger, Sr., DH; Bailey Donohoe, Fr., DH.

Headliner: Sophomore Taylor Thein was an honorable mention all-state pick a year ago after hitting .444 with four home runs and 36 RBI.

Keep an eye on: Nicki Henson was a breakthrough star as an eighth-grader, earning third-team all-state honors after a debut season in which she hit .527, scored 41 runs and stole 33 bases.

Circle the date: June 28 vs. Regina. Bears have a chance to gain momentum heading into the postseason when they host rival and defending 2A champion Regina in the regular season finale.

Breakdown: First-year head coach Shannon Reisinger has a talented group of young talent to work with as the top six returning hitters from last year’s team were eighth-graders or freshmen.

Freshmen Chloe Pence (.291), Lexie Peak (.280) and Maddy Hatfield (.261) all return following solid debut seasons.

Sophomore Kaiya Luneckas and senior Hanna Tisinger return in the circle after pitching all but three innings for the Bears last season.

Luneckas went 11-13 with a 4.74 ERA with 157 strikeouts in 121 innings a year ago while Tisinger posted a 5-8 record with a 3.36 ERA in 102 innings.