Historic season celebrated

One of the best teams in Creston softball history was celebrated at the team’s awards banquet Tuesday night at Mario’s Sports Bar & Grill.

The Panthers were Hawkeye Ten Conference champions with a 20-0 record and finished 32-7 overall, tied for the most wins in program history since the 40-game limit was imposed. Creston was ranked 12th in Class 4A in the final rankings by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Head coach Dave Hartman said the record was accomplished in a challenging schedule that included 18 opponents that were either state-ranked or Class 5A programs. The Panthers reached the Class 4A regional final, falling to Dallas Center-Grimes, 8-2.

School records set

This year’s team set school records for home runs (52), batting average (.380), slugging percentage (0.653) and OPS (on base plus slugging percentage - 1.107).

In hitting the 52 homers, eight different players had two or more during the season, led by junior second baseman Avery Staver with 14. That ranks second all-time in Creston behind Nevaeh Randall’s 21 in 2023. Senior Jersey Foote hit 12 homers in 2024 to rank third.

Four players from this year’s roster now rank in the top 10 for career home runs in Creston — 2. Jersey Foote (32), 3. Ava Adamson (25), 5. Avery Staver (21 plus 2 at East Union) and 10. (tied) Jaycee Hanson (7).

Staver and Adamson batted .466 and .460, respectively, to rank as the ninth and 10th best averages for one season. Adamson hit above .400 for four straight seasons. Her 53 hits this season is tied for seventh in program history. Staver’s 46 runs scored is tied for fourth. Foote’s season of 36 RBIs is tied for sixth all-time.

“This has to be considered the best offensive team in Creston softball,” Hartman said. “We also pitched well. Taryn finished with 255 strikeouts this season, which ranks only behind the five seasons of Madison (Frain) Peterson, who just went into the Softball Hall of Fame.”

Fredrickson ranks second to Frain with 681 career strikeouts. She had a 27-4 record this season with a 1.62 ERA. Opponents batted just .160 against her.

Fredrickson received the team MVP award in presentations led by Hartman and assistant Gracie Hagle. Gold glove awards went to shortstop Mila Kuhns and center fielder Jersey Foote. Avery Staver received the Silver Slugger award. (See other awards below.)

This year’s seniors were part of teams that had a combined record of 151-21 over the past five seasons, including three conference championships. This was the only team to go 20-0 in Hawkeye Ten play. (Creston’s 2010 team won the league at 18-0.)

Hartman said he was also proud of the team’s academic performance with a 3.686 team grade point average, which qualifies for the IGHSAU Distinguished Academic Performance Award.

Coach resigns

Hartman also announced his resignation as head softball coach after three seasons. He had been social studies teacher, head girls basketball coach and athletic director at Orient-Macksburg, which closed at the end of the school year.

Hartman has taken a teaching job in the South Tama school district and has accepted an offer to be head softball coach at Marshalltown Community College.

“It truly was a pleasure to coach these girls for three years,” Hartman said. “I’m very proud of them. This summer was of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve had in 38 years of coaching. I spent a lot of time watching teams at the state tournament and I’m telling you, our kids can play. We stacked up well with the state teams.”

TEAM AWARDS

Letterwinners

(Years lettered)

Seniors — Taryn Fredrickson (5), Jersey Foote (5), Mila Kuhns (4), Ava Adamson (4), Sasha Wurster (3), Evy Marlin (2).

Juniors — Jaycee Hanson (3), Avery Staver (2), Sidney Staver (2).

Sophomores — Sidney McDonald (3), Kennedy Strider (3).

Freshmen — Cora Smith (2), Jensan Tussey (2), Ricci Johnston (2), Rohyn Randall (1).

Eighth grade — Haileigh Lundy (1), Payton Veitz (1), Daphne Hoepker (1), Bentleigh Collier (1).

Participation awards — Jocelyn Martwick, Aubrey Kramer.

Hawkeye Ten Academic All-Conference (3.5-4.0 GPA) — Mila Kuhns, Ava Adamson, Sasha Wurster, Taryn Fredrickson, Jersey Foote.

Coaches’ Appreciation Awards — Ricci Johnson, Daphne Hoepker, Rohwyn Randall.

Rookie of the Year — Cora Smith.

Most improved player — Jaycee Hanson.

Double R (Resilient, Relentless) — Evy Marlin.

Guts award — Sidney Staver.

Hustle award — Sidney McDonald.

Golf Glove award — Mila Kuhns, Jersey Foote.

Silver Slugger award — Avery Staver.

Hit of the year — Jensan Tussey.

Defensive play of the year — Sasha Wurster.

Top step teammate award — Kennedy Strider.

Leadership award — Ava Adamson.

Team MVP — Taryn Fredrickson.

Hawkeye Ten all-conference — First team: Ava Adamson, Taryn Fredrickson, Avery Staver. Second team: Evy Marlin, Jersey Foote. Honorable mention: Jaycee Hanson.

All-district — Ava Adamson.

All-state — Ava Adamson, second team; Taryn Fredrickson, third team.