Creston’s LaMasters part of two IGCA all-star victories

WAUKEE — The News Advertiser was well-represented at the Iowa Girls Coaches Association 31st annual Softball All-Star Classic Monday night at Waukee High School.

Longtime Murray coach Danny Jensen was inducted into the IGCA Softball Hall of Fame and received recognition for reaching the 700-victory mark during the 2015 season. Likewise, Creston coach Mike McCabe was presented a certificate for attaining 300 victories during the past season.

Jensen has been Murray’s coach for 35 years and McCabe just completed his 13th season by guiding the Panthers to a third-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament.

One of the stars of that team, senior pitcher Haylee LaMasters, played on the Red Team in the all-star series and was part of two victories. The played first base and pitched the final inning of a 2-0 victory over the White Team in the opener. Second baseman Kylah Schumacher of Martensdale-St. Marys played for the White Team.

Then, after the Blue edged the White, 2-1, LaMasters pitched three shutout innings and got the victory in a 2-1 win over the Blue Team. She was 0-for-1 at the plate with a groundout and walk, playing first base as Brooke Craig of Waterloo Columbus pitched the final two innings for the save.

Lynnville-Sully’s Madison Rasmusson, who beat Jensen’s Murray team in the regional finals, got the start in the second game and hurled two innings. For the night, each of the Red Team’s three pitchers had four total innings pitched. They mostly rotated at first base when playing in the game but not pitching.

Unassisted DP

Splitting time at first base and pitcher may have been a preview for what lies ahead for LaMasters at Southwestern Community College. She executed an unassisted double play in the first game, snagging a hard-hit liner before wheeling and tagging the runner trying to get back to first base.

“It was a hard-hit ball,” LaMasters said. “I just kind of reacted and saw the runner trying to get back. Everyone had good throws to first so that was nice.”

LaMasters struck out in her only plate appearance of the first game, which was shortened to five innings to get the schedule back on track after a one-hour rain delay. A tarp covered the field during two hard rain showers, and the Waukee grounds crew worked furiously to get the field ready for play at 5 p.m.

With only eight total runs scored in three games, pitching and defense dominated the all-star games Monday.

“It was kind of hard,” LaMasters said. “I struck out on a rise ball. I knew she was going to throw it and I went for it anyway. Some of these pitchers did throw faster than what I’m used to seeing. And I wasn’t sure what other pitches they threw. All the games were close without much scoring.”

LaMasters did her part in keeping the offenses quiet, yielding only three singles and gaining three strikeouts in her four innings pitched, without allowing a run.

“I just kind of pitched them like I usually do,” LaMasters said. “I tried to keep the ball outside and high, and outside, but it was also kind of hard not knowing how they usually hit the ball. It was different not having my regular catcher that I give signs with.”

Coaches of the Red squad were Peggy Hansen of Griswold and Dennis Baschke of Okoboji.

New friends

The players arrived Sunday for a practice and check-in at The Marriott on Jordan Creek Parkway. The players had meals together, had another practice Monday morning, spent time at the mall and returned for the games late in the afternoon.

Among the players LaMasters shared time with in the Red Team infield was ADM shortstop Mackenzie Sutton. ADM was the top-ranked team when it was upset by the Panthers, 4-3 in the regional finals. Sutton will be a teammate of Creston catcher Natalie Mostek at Des Moines Area Community College.

“Yeah, that was kind of awkward when somebody would ask, ‘Did you guys make it to state?’ And I’d have to say, yeah, we had to beat that team to get there!” LaMasters said. “But we got along fine. It was fun meeting new players and interacting with them and talking about where they’re going to college.”

The IGCA all-star games are designed only for graduated seniors.

Mustang honored

Joining Murray’s Jensen as a coach inducted in the Hall of Fame were Joy Gross of IKM-Manning and Chuck Skogerboe of Spirit Lake. Umpires inducted in the Hall of Fame Monday were Stan Siebke of Urbandale and Steve Moon of Denver. The IGCA Service Award went to Mark Bertsch of Newman Catholic.

Player inductees were Rachel Smith of Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton and Caitlyn Guldenfenning of Louisa-Muscatine.

Rick Dillinger of ADM was selected District Coach of the Year for Class 4A West.

Jensen has been Murray’s coach for 35 years, compiling a record of 723-439.

Under his direction, the Lady Mustangs have won 16 conference titles, had 24 winning seasons, four regional final appearances and a state tournament appearance in 2005, placing sixth. Murray went 37-0 in the regular season in 2000.

Jensen has coached 28 all-state players, including daughters Jennifer Jensen Rasmus, Jocelyn Jensen and Julianna Jensen Hartwell. His wife, Dorothy, has been scorekeeper for the team for all 35 seasons.

There was a lot of purple in the bleachers Monday night to support Jensen’s induction. Among them were fellow Murray coaches and administrators, former players and fans.

“It’s a humbling honor,” Jensen said afterward. “I’ve always said, if you live long enough, and you’re blessed with a lot of good kids, good things are going to happen to you. I saw seven or eight former players here tonight, I’ve had countless Facebook postings from former players. It’s all about the Murray program. It’s fun.”

Jensen and Creston’s McCabe were also introduced for reaching victory milestones prior to the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Among past inductees in the Softball Hall of Fame are coaches Mark Larsen of Mount Ayr and Randy Platt of Orient-Macksburg and Harlan. Umpire inductees include Jack Campbell of Blockton, Ralph Hibbs of Leon and Dick Legg of Griswold.