Top stars, best performances in Iowa high school softball (July 3-9)

Some of the top performances last week in Iowa prep softball

By Barry Poe 

Here are some stars from last week’s high school softball games across Iowa.

If you know of a top performance we should include, please email nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Sydney Morris, Ankeny Centennial

The senior catcher had three hits and drove in two runs as the Class 5A top-ranked Jaguars beat Class 4A No. 4 Norwalk 5-1 to end the regular season. Centennial took a 31-5 record into tournament play.

Peyton Driscoll, Williamsburg

The senior had 10 strikeouts and gave up one hit as the Class 3A No. 1-ranked Raiders opened regional play with a 12-0 shutout of Union in four innings. Driscoll notched her 15th win of the season and has struck out 149.

Rylee Riesberg, Ankeny

The senior outfielder had a homer, double and three RBIs, leading the 5A second-ranked Hawks to a 12-2 victory over West Delaware.

Kennedy Borud, Southeast Polk

The sophomore designated hitter knocked in seven runs as the 5A fourth-ranked Rams downed 4A second-ranked Carlisle 16-6 in a regular season finale. Borud was 3-for-4 with two home runs and a single.

Becca Hegg, Muscatine

The senior third baseman had a single, triple and three RBIs as the 5A No. 7 Muskies completed a sweep of 4A No. 2 Davenport Assumption with an 11-1 win in the second game of a doubleheader to end the regular season. Muscatine won the opener2-0 behind Maura Chalupa, who struck out 10 in a six-hit shutout.

Macy Blomgren, Van Meter

The senior not only pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 12, but also had three hits (including a homer) and drove in five runs for the Bulldogs in a 10-0 win over ACGC in a Class 2A regional opener.

Ellie Flanagan, North Linn

The senior picked up her 23rd pitching win of the season as the Lynx topped Edgewood-Colesburg 10-3 in a 1A regional semifinal. Flanagan pitched a no-hitter, striking out 11, in a 9-0 first-round triumph over Turkey Valley.

Zadie Wadle, Norwalk

The senior blanked 5A third-ranked Waukee Northwest on five hits, striking out nine, in a regular-season finale. Norwalk, ranked fourth in 4A, completed a sweep with a 10-5 win in the nightcap.

Ruth Tauber, Dubuque Wahlert

The freshman centerfielder had a single, double, triple and three RBIs, helping the No. 3 Golden Eagles to a 13-1 win over North Fayette in a 3A regional quarterfinal.

Abby Pate, Central Springs

The senior homered and drove in three as the 2A third-ranked Panthers rolled to a 12-0 victory over Emmetsburg in a regional semifinal. Cooper Klaahsen struck out nine and gave up just one hit in the four-inning contest.

Jaycee Neer, Southeast Warren

The sophomore second baseman had a single, two doubles and two RBIs as the 1A third-ranked Warhawks strolled past a 25-win Murray squad 11-1 in a regional semifinal.

Anna Eastin, West Des Moines Valley

The junior pitched a shutout, holding Sioux City North to three hits, and also hit a two-run homer for Valley, which blanked the Stars 10-0 in a 5A regional opener. Eastin posted her 15th pitching win of the season and hit her fifth home run.

Macee Reiling, Dallas Center-Grimes

The junior shortstop had two hits, including one of three Mustang homers, leading DC-G past Oskaloosa 12-0 in a regular season finale. The Mustangs then opened 4A regional play with an 11-1 victory over Carroll.

Madison Dunlavy, Davis County

Dunlavy, a senior first baseman, drove in six runs as the Mustangs opened 3A regionals with a 10-6 win over Clarke. Dunlavy had two singles and a home run. Davis County then advanced to a regional final with a 7-1 victory over Centerville.

Peyton Robinson, Lisbon

The junior shorstop had a double and triple, knocking in three runs for the Lions in a 13-0 Class 1A regional win over Clayton Ridge. Ryleigh Algood didn’t allow a hit and struck out five of the eight batters she faced in the three-inning contest.

Mia Walker, Newell-Fonda

The senior dialed a one-hitter and had a single, doubleand triple at the plate, leading the Mustangs past Glidden-Ralston 10-0 in a 1A regional semifinal. Walker struck out seven while posting her 18th win of the season.

Katelyn Kiefer, Pleasant Valley

The senior had three hits and drove in four runs, leading the Spartans past Davenport North 14-1. Pleasant Valley won the second game of the doubleheader 11-2 to close the regular season and passed its first 5A regional test, 4-3, over Dubuque Senior.

Kiley Kindelspire, Indianola

The Indians’ leadoff hitter had a single, double and homer, driving in three in a 13-3 victory over Ottumwa to close the regular season. Indianola opened 4A regional play with an 11-2 win over Glenwood.

Rylee Yager, Estherville-Lincoln Central

The sophomore struck out 17 batters and allowed just one hit as the Midgets blanked Spirit Lake 6-0 in a 3A regional semifinal. No. 5 EL-C hosts No. 10 West Lyon in a regional final.

Shailey Dixson, Interstate 35

The sophomore was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and the Roadrunners downed Pleasantville 8-3 in a 2A regional quarterfinal. Interstate 35 then beat Mount Ayr 12-1 to reach a regional final.

Courtney Kessler, Iowa City Regina

Kessler hit a walk-off two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving defending 2A state champion Regina a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Cardinal. The Regals play Eddyville EBF for a return trip to the state tournament.

Emily Koranda, Linn-Mar

The sophomore pitched a one-hit, no-walk shutout as Linn-Mar beat Cedar Rapids Prairie 2-0 in a 5A regional semifinal. Koranda (14-5) allowed only four baserunners and the Lions advanced to a regional final against Pleasant Valley.

Morgan Kriener, South Winneshiek

The senior third baseman was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs as the Hawks got by Wapsie Valley 5-4 in a 2A regional semifinal. South Winneshiek scored two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to advance toa regional final against Lisbon.

Randi Childress, West Lyon

The senior catcher was 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored as the Wildcats topped Sioux Center 11-1 in a 3A regional semifinal. No. 10 West Lyon meets fifth-ranked Estherville-Lincoln Central for a berth in the state tournament.

Marina Cronin, Remsen St. Mary’s

The junior struck out 14 and pitched a one-hitter in the Hawks’ 6-0 1A regional semifinal win over Trinity Christian. St. Mary’s has shut out its last five opponents.