Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The softball postseason is here.

Opening round games in Classes 1A and 2A start the postseason action on Monday with the three largest classes getting underway on Thursday.

Every team is competing for a spot at the state softball tournament scheduled from July 22-26 at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Last week Your Prep Sports took a look at a few things to watch regarding area teams as the postseason got underway.

Today we look at seven area players that will play key roles for their team during the regional tournaments.

Alyse Klinkkammer

On a roster filled with underclassmen senior Alyse Klinkkammer has been the rock for a West Branch team that enters the postseason playing its best softball of the season.

Klinkkammer is hitting a team-high .480 and lead the Bears in runs (22), doubles (11), slugging (.590) and on-base percentage (.532) and is second on the team with 14 RBI.

West Branch (10-20) has won seven of its last 13 games entering its Class 2A, Region 8 opener on Monday against Columbus (7-21) and Klinkkammer is a big reason why.

The senior third baseman has a hit in 10 of the last 13 games and is batting .523 during that stretch.

Klinkkammer is also 4-2 with a 3.90 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings in the circle.

Avery Kies

If Regina is to a reach the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season to chase a third straight Class 2A title senior leadoff hitter Avery Kies will undoubtedly be a big part of that run.

Kies is batting a team-high .495 from her spot atop the Regina order but her impact goes much deeper.

The senior centerfielder is stellar defensively, leads the Regals with 26 stolen bases and is second on the team with 33 runs scored.

Kies has been dynamic in the leadoff spot posting a team-leading .545 on-base percentage while also leading the Regals with a .586 slugging percentage while posting seven extra-base hits.

A three-year starter with plenty of playoff experience look for a big postseason from Kies starting when sixth-ranked Regina hosts the Woodward-Granger (10-12)/Colfax-Mingo (2-17) winner in a Class 2A, Region 4 quarterfinal on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Addie Miller

Solon has showed flashes of being able to compete with anyone this season with wins over 3A top-ranked Benton Community, fourth-ranked Mount Vernon and most recently 5A Nol 10 Southeast Polk.

If Solon (15-23) is going to make a run in a 3A, Region 6 bracket that includes No. 11 West Liberty and Mount Vernon expect junior Addie Miller to be at the center of the production.

Miller is hitting a team-high .385 and leads the Spartans in extra-base hits (14), RBI (25) and walks (14) while posting a .480 on-base and .606 slugging percentage.

The junior catcher and outfielder has shown the ability to come up with big hits and should be in for a big postseason.

Kyla Schulte

Few players are likely to play a larger role in their teams postseason run than Clear Creek Amana sophomore Schulte who has emerged as one of the top two-way players in Class 4A.

No. 12 Clear Creek Amana (23-12) will host the Charles City (23-4) and Decorah (9-17) winner in the 4A, Region 7 semifinals on Saturday with a potential matchup with eighth-ranked Western Dubuque (28-6) looming in the final.

Regardless of who the Clippers face Schulte will be in the middle of the action.

Schulte is 2-5 with a 4.70 ERA in the circle striking out 26 in 53 2/3 innings as part of a three-pitcher Clipper rotation that has yielded strong results this season.

However, Schulte has been at her best at the plate where she is hitting a team-high .439 and leads the Clippers with 16 doubles, 20 extra-base hits, four home runs and 56 RBI.

Molly Carlson

City High enters the postseason a dangerous team due to it’s ability to change the game with a single swing ranking eighth in 5A with 24 home run.

The dangerous hitter in a Little Hawk lineup with pop is surging sophomore catcher Molly Carlson.

Carlson is hitting .364 with nine home runs among her team-best 19 extra-base hits.

The sophomore slugger leads City High in doubles (10), RBI (37), walks (19), and slugging percentage (.737) and is a candidate to go deep at any time.

City High (14-21) hosts Mississippi Valley Conference rival Waterloo West (9-20) in a Class 5A, Region 7 quarterfinal on Thursday and with a win would travel to eighth-ranked Ankeny (19-19).

Savannah Mathias

West High (3-31) has made strides in season one under head coach Megan Carlo increasing its win total from a year ago before its postseason opener on Thursday at Marshalltown (13-23) in a Class 5A, Region 4 quarterfinal.

One of the biggest bright spots for West High has been eighth-grade shortstop Savannah Mathias.

Mathias is hitting a team-best .361 and leads the Trojans in runs (11), hits (30), walks (6), stolen bases (11), on-base percentage (.404) and slugging percentage (.361).

As a first year player Mathias can gain some valuable postseason experience as West High hopes to extend its season past it’s playoff opener.

Mischa Reiners

There is a long list of possible players to watch for ninth-ranked Liberty High (22-11) which hosts Davenport North (17-17) in a 5A, Region 8 semifinal on Saturday.

The Lightning have seven players hitting over .300, have four players with at least two home runs and four with at least 25.

On top of that eighth-grader pitcher Ellie Tague has been fantastic posting a 10-3 record and a 2.88 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings.

There are a number of candidates but keep an eye on senior catcher Mischa Reiners during the postseason.

A five-year starter Reiners has been pivotal in the ascension of the Liberty High program and has put together an incredible senior season hitting .416 with 14 extra-base hits and 35 RBI and 34 runs scored.

With a young pitcher making her postseason debut Reiner’s experience behind the plate will be key as Liberty High attempts to make the first state tournament appearance in program history.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.