Panthers recap tough softball season

“We played the toughest schedule in the history of Creston softball,” coach Dave Hartman said. “We won 20 games and only two of our losses came at the hands of unranked opponents or schools in our class.”

The Panthers held their end of season softball banquet Thursday where they recapped their season and recognized lone senior Sophie Hagle.

Creston finished second in the Hawkeye 10 this season with a 17-3 conference record. They were just behind Clarinda who had an 18-2 H10 record. The Panthers topped the Cardinals at home 10-2, but fell on the road in a narrow 8-7 matchup.

In the postseason, the Panthers were knocked out in round one by Indianola.

“As a team, we led the league batting average at .402, .457 on-base percentage, .654 slugging percentage, doubles, triples and home runs with 24,” Hartman said. “We were second in runs scored and posted the second fewest strikeouts in the conference as well.”

Outside of just conference play, the Panthers’ 32 home runs is third-best in program history. It was the fourth highest in Class 4A this season.

Off the field, the Panthers excelled in the classroom, earning distinguished academic honors with a cumulative team GPA of 3.67.

Accolades

Hagle was a four-year letterwinner starting every game at second base where she only committed three errors. Her defensive prowess earned her the Panthers’ gold glove award. “She also earned second-team all conference and was recognized as academic all conference as well,” Hartman said. “Her steady defense, gritty at bats, timely hitting and leadership will be sorely missed.”

Pitcher Taryn Fredrickson and catcher/infielder Ava Adamson each earned first-team all conference recognition.

“Taryn dominated the league as pitcher posting a 15-1 record,” Hartman said. “She led the league in wins, ERA of 1.66 and strikeouts by a wide margin. She was also one of the top hitters in the league recording 29 knocks which was sixth in league play.”

Lead-off hitter Adamson was a danger at the plate and on the bags. She also earned a spot on the all-district first team.

“Ava Adamson led the league in slugging percentage posting a whopping .973,” Hartman said. “She hit .575, good for second, and she was also second in hits with 42 and home runs with five. She was third in runs scored at 30. She also swiped 17 out of 17 bags for seventh in the H10.”

Earning second-team honors were outfielders Avery Staver and Jersey Foote.

“Avery was third in the league with five home runs and a .333 average in league play,” Hartman said. “Jersey led the league in home runs with eight, she was ninth in hits with 27, eighth in runs scored, third in RBI with 27, third in the league in slugging with .838 and hit .397.”

Record Book

Adamson’s historic season included 53 hits, placing her seventh for single-season hits. " Her 37 runs scored put her in 10th place. She smacked 12 doubles to move into ninth and legged out four triples for sixth,” Hartman said. “She hit eight bombs good for fifth overall and has climbed into fourth in career home runs with 17.”

Foote’s 12 homers is the second most in a single season, and she is also second in career home runs with 24. Jersey’s 36 RBIs is sixth best and her three triples are good for ninth best in Panther history.

Staver’s five home runs were good for seventh best, Fredrickson’s three places her ninth and Sasha Wurster cracks the top 10 with two home runs.

Fredrickson is also moving up the charts in career strikeouts with 426 and career wins with 45.

Awards

Gold Glove - Sophie Hagle, Jersey Foote

Silver Slugger - Ava Adamson

Hank Aaron (Most HR) - Jersey Foote

Cy Young (Pitcher of the year) - Taryn Fredricksen

Rookie of the Year - Kennedy Strider

Hit of the year - Avery Staver

Defensive Play of the Year - Avery Staver

Most Improved Player - Sidney Staver

Newcomer of the Year - Evy Marlin

Best teammate - Sasha Wurster

MVP - Taryn Fredricksen

Grit Award-Mila Kuhns

Coaches Appreciation Awards:

Sidney MacDonald

Zoey Vandevender

Ricci Johnston

Jaycee Hanson

Rickey Henderson (Stolen base leader) - Ava Adamson

Surgeon Swell - Evy Marlin

Letterwinners

Sophie Hagle

Ava Adamson

Sidney MacDonald

Jersey Foote

Sidney Staver

Jaycee Hanson

Evy Marlin

Zoey Vandevender

Mila Kuhns

Sasha Wurster

Cora Smith

Taryn Fredrickson

Kennedy Strider

Avery Staver

Braylee Pokorny

Jensan Tussey

Ricci Johnston