The Nodaway Valley/OM softball team boasts four Pride of Iowa all-conference honorees to celebrate as the season has now closed.
The Wolverines won five games this year. Emma Boswell, Izzy Eisbach, Mattie Thompson and Taylor Laughery are the all-conference honorees.
NV/OM was sixth in the POI with a 5-9 record. They look to get a bump from these honors as they look to next year, because they only lose one senior in Carter Osborne and have a talented freshman class coming in next season.
“Getting on the POI list with the talent in the conference, we are fortunate we had four in,” NV/OM co-head coach Ryan Zenor said. “They earned the respect from other schools. I know we were 5-13 this year, but we opened a lot of eyes this year and teams knew they couldn’t take us lightly.”
Emma Boswell made first team as an infielder while second team members are Thompson as an outfielder and Izzy Eisbach as a first teamer. On honorable mention is infielder Taylor Laughery.
Boswell and Thompson were first-time Wolverines, coming from Orient-Macksburg.
Boswell was the team’s leading batter with a .395 average, 17 hits, four home runs and 14 RBIs. She had an on-base percentage of .509.
Thompson batted .239 with 13 hits, 11 RBIs and six stolen bases.
Eisbach parlayed a sizzling second half of the season into a unanimous second team selection, batting .333 in 15 games with 14 hits and 11 RBIs.
Coaches felt Laughery had the numbers to warrant an all-conference nod a year ago, but she received that honor this year. She was the team’s second-best batter with 16 hits and a batting average of .302.
The Wolverines additionally will bring back their starting pitcher next year in Ella Boswell, as well as outfielder Lea Stonebraker. Boswell logged 93 innings in the circle with 62 strikeouts. Stonebraker hit north of .400 the first half of the season before finishing .295 with an on-base percentage of .380, making 13 hits, nine RBIs and four doubles.
NV/OM graduates one senior in their starting catcher, Carter Osborne. She was a first time Wolverine, coming from Orient-Macksburg, and batted .150 through 16 games with six hits and three runs driven in.
“That kid was tough as nails for us. She was a leader and teammate for us, and always positive,” Zenor said of Osborne. “She brought that hype to the practices and games. Her toughness is unreal.”
The numbers are looking higher next year and the program is looking at the reality of playing a full schedule after three years being at or near 20 games. The most a school can play during the regular season is 40 in a span of 24 days.
Pride of Iowa Conference All-Conference Softball
First Team
Pitcher - Izzie Moore (Wayne) Sr.***, Lexi Clendenen (SE Warren) Jr., Abby Hughes (MTSM) Sr.
Catcher - Allie Jo Fortune (Wayne) Sr.***; Jaycee Neer (SE Warren) Sr.
Infield - Ava Whitney (Wayne) Sr. ***; Ellie Baker (MTSM) Sr., Emma Boswell (Nodaway Valley) Jr., Sadie Cox (Lenox) Sr., Ella Whitney (Wayne) So., Glorious Fridley (SE Warren) Jr.
Outfield - Zoey Reed (Lenox) Sr., Laney Harvey (Wayne) Sr., Emily Hughes (MTSM) Sr.
*** - Unanimous Selection
Second Team
Pitcher - Reese Reed (Lenox) Fr., Mac German (MTSM) Jr.
Catcher - Breya Nickle (Mount Ayr) Sr., Piper Brokaw (Lenox) Jr., Soiyer Smith (Central Decatur) So.
Infield - Brystal Peck (Wayne) So., Karson Oberender (MTSM) Jr., Kiara Wallace (SE Warren) Jr., Kayli Shade (East Union) Jr.
Outfield - Hallie Ingram (Wayne) Sr., Aunie Berger (MTSM) Sr., Mattie Thompson (Nodaway Valley) Fr., Lola Shriver (SE Warren) Jr.
Utility - Izzy Eisbach (Nodaway Valley) Jr., Aubrey Schreck (Central Decatur) Fr., Keely Wasteney (Mount Ayr) So.
Honorable Mention
Central Decatur - Addy Schreck Sr., East Union - Tristin Lear Jr., Lenox - Izzy Curtis Sr., Martensdale-St. Mary’s - Ella Cassady 8th grade, Mount Ayr - Kensie Barnes Jr., Nodaway Valley - Taylor Laughery Fr., SE Warren - Belle Ewing So., Wayne - Carsyn Anderson So.