Several Panthers selected to all-Hawkeye 10 softball

Sara Keeler and Gracie Hagle were selected to the first team for the Panthers, both unanimously.

Keeler finished her senior campaign as one of the top hitters in the state, finishing 2020 with an average of .613 (seventh best as of Tuesday). She hit two homers, drove in 18 runs and hit 11 doubles (tied for the conference lead). She also hit three triples, tying for second in the conference

It’s the second straight year of unanimously being selected to the Hawkeye 10’s all-conference first team for the Des Moines Area commit. Hagle, who was selected to the first team last season, made the team unanimously in her sophomore season for the first time.

In the three-hole for Creston’s line up, Hagle hit .403 with eight doubles and 20 RBIs. She had 25 hits and five walks for an on-base percentage of .456.

Second team

Peyton Rice and Morgan Driskell were selected to the second team for Creston.

As the primary backstop for Creston, Rice batted .297. The slap hitter had 19 hits, 18 of them singles, and four walks. She had 10 stolen bases on 11 tries and threw out three batters trying to steal. Rice was an honorable mention last summer.

Driskell was a powerful bat nestled in a strong Creston lineup, hitting .357. She had two homers, four doubles and 14 RBIs in 18 games and has been selected to her first all-conference team.

Honorable mention

Nevaeh Randall and Halle Evans were selected as honorable mentions for the Panthers.

Randall, reprising her role as an honorable mention selection from last season, turned on the power switch in the back end of the season, finishing with four homers to lead the team. She had 23 RBIs, also a team-high, and six walks. She was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases and hit .309.

Evans, the team’s primary second baseman, hit .305 with three doubles. She had 18 hits, scored three times, and tied for the lowest amount of strikeouts among regulars in the Creston lineup with four.

First Team

Olivia Engler, Atlantic, Pitcher, Jr.*; Madison Botos, Atlantic, Center Field, Jr.*; Alyssa Derby, Atlantic, Catcher, Jr.*; Emily Brouse, Harlan, Pitcher, Jr.*; Madison Schumacher, Harlan, Catcher, Jr.; Julia Schechinger, Harlan, Outfield, Jr.; Sara Keeler, Creston, First Base, Sr.*; Gracie Hagle, Creston, Shortstop, So.*; Kelly Embray, Glenwood, Center Field, Jr.; Braden Liddick, Glenwood, First Base, Sr.; Haley Bach, Lewis Central, Shortstop, Jr.*; Nichole Gilbert, Shenandoah, Shortstop, Sr.*; Kenzie Schon, Kuemper Catholic, First Base, So.; Kennedy Marten, Denison-Schleswig, Right Field, Jr.; Chloe Johnson, Red Oak, Catcher, Sr.*; Hallee Fine, Clarinda, Catcher, Sr.

Second Team

Tianna Kasperbauer, Harlan, So.; Kate Heithoff, Harlan, So.; Coryl Matheny, Glenwood, So.; Taylor Elam, Lewis Central, Jr.; Shelby; Hatcher, St. Albert, Sr.; Bella Dingus, St. Alber, Sr.; Hannah Slater, Denison-Schleswig, So.; Kyndal Kells, Red Oak, Sr.; Peyton Rice, Creston, Jr.; Morgan Driskell, Creston, So.; Delanie Voshell, Shenandoah, Jr.; Kennedy Goergen, Atlantic, Jr.; McKenzie Waters, Atlantic, Sr.; Reagan Pellett, Atlantic, Sr.; Allana Arkfeld, Denison-Schleswig, Sr.; Taryn Bertini, Glenwood, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Courtnee Griffin, Shenandoah, Jr.; Lainey Sheffield, St. Albert, So.; Hailey Ostrander, Kuemper Catholic, So.; Alexa McCunn, Red Oak, Jr.; Maddie Howard, Lewis Central, Jr.; Bradlie Wilmes, Clarinda, Sr.; Nevaeh Randall, Creston, Fr.; Halle Evans, Creston, So.; Macee Blank, Shenandoah, Jr.; Caroline Pellett, Atlantic, Jr.; Jordan Heese, Harlan, So.; Kyndal Hilgenberg, Kuemper Catholic, Jr.; Lexi Johnson, Red Oak, So.; Kira Langenfeld, Kuemper Catholic, Jr.; Alexis Narmi, St. Albert, 8th; Megan Gittens, Lewis Central, So.; Hayllee Sell, Glenwood, Sr.