We continue our look at the All-State Teams in softball from the 2017 season and today Class 2A gets the spotlight.
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont made a run to the state championship game and finished with a school record 32 wins. The Rockets were rewarded for their outstanding accomplishments with three First Team All-State players and the Coach of the Year.
Senior shortstop Haegen Boyer has been a major piece to the puzzle since her freshman year, and she was named to the First Team. Boyer hit .429 with an on-base percentage of .507. She was among the state leaders in all classes with 15 home runs and 59 RBI.
Boyer is joined on the First Team by fellow senior Claire Jager, who has been the starting catcher for the Rockets for four seasons. Jager had a great year at the plate, hitting .420 with a .507 on-base percentage. She also hit 3 home runs and drove in 34.
Jager had a great year behind the plate as well handling junior pitcher Randie Richmond, who was honored on the First Team. Richmond went 20-6 in the circle with an outstanding 1.16 ERA. Opponents only hit at a .206 clip against her in 2017. Richmond was also dangerous at the plate, as she hit .377 with 4 homers and 27 runs batted in.
Head Coach Tony Fenton had a lot to do with the success these players have enjoyed and he was rewarded for that by being named Class 2A Coach of the Year. 2017 was the second time in four years that EBF made it to the State Softball Tournament and Fenton guided the way with a very different group both times.
A team the Rockets eliminated from the tournament this year also has a duo of First Team All-Staters. Pella Christian had a phenomenal year, winning the large Little Hawkeye Conference outright on their way to a 32-6 overall record.
Their battery of senior pitcher Emma Schnell and senior catcher Elizabeth Van Manen led the way in all facets and were honored as First Team All-State players.
Schnell wrapped up a great career in the circle, finishing 2017 with a 23-5 record, a stellar 1.32 ERA, and a great opponent’s batting average of .168. She also struck out 213 batters in 186 innings while only issuing 22 walks. She also batted .384 with 4 homers and 27 RBI.
Van Manen was successful catching Schnell throughout her career, but really blossomed at the plate this year, leading the Eagles with a .409 average, 12 home runs, and 46 RBI.
There are no area players listed on the Second Team, but Pleasantville junior Andie Sowers made the Third Team. Sowers batted an unreal .490 with 2 homers and 27 RBI. She struck out only three times at the plate in 104 at bats in 2017.
The Class 2A Honorable Mention list is lengthy with players just missing the cut on the three All-State Teams, but a trio of area players were named there as well.
Pleasantville 8th grader Josie Sowers was the lone non-senior to make the list from the area after batting .425 in her first varsity season for the Trojans.
Senior Brooke Mitrisin has been a long time contributor to the Pella Christian softball team and she was named to the Honorable Mention list. She hit .351 with a .400 on-base percentage for the Eagles.
Finally, Pekin senior Kaylee Linder made the Honorable Mention list. Linder hit .484 for the Panthers while striking out only twice in 93 at bats. She also led the team on the basepaths, going 22 for 22 in stolen bases.
Tomorrow, we’ll wrap up our look at the All-State Softball Teams by unpacking the Class 1A list on the No Coast Network.
