Historical season celebrated

One of the most successful seasons in school history was celebrated at the Creston softball team’s postseason banquet on Wednesday.

The gathering of players and coaches at Willy’s Bar and Grill included several awards and announcements in connection to the seventh Hawkeye Ten Conference championship in coach Mike McCabe’s tenure and a 25-5 overall record, an .833 winning percentage. (See story on McCabe’s retirement in Friday’s News Advertiser.)

Creston went 19-1 for a three-game cushion in winning the league title, including 18 consecutive wins. The Panthers finished the regular season on a 15-game winning streak, which was halted by conference rival Glenwood in a 5-3 regional semifinal loss.

Along the way, Creston set team records for home runs in a season (33) and highest team batting average (.365). This year’s team ranks second all-time in RBIs in a season (211), second for doubles in a season (63), third in runs scored in a season (260) and fifth in total hits in a season (308).

“Some other teams maybe had higher numbers in some things, but I reminded the girls that back then teams played 40 to 50 games a season,” McCabe said. “I told them the 2022 team would go down as one of the really good ones of Creston times. Offensively, especially, I’d be hard--pressed to find a better offensive team in our conference since I’ve been around. In the Varsity Bound era (beginning in 2008) they are the best offensive team we’ve had here in Creston, no doubt about it.”

Creston had four of the Hawkeye Ten’s top five batting averages in conference games, led by third baseman Halle Evans in first (.521), along with center fielder Jersey Foote (.507), Gracie Hagle (.500) and Nevaeh Randall (.486).

Both varsity pitchers return in 2023 as junior Keely Coen had a 13-2 record and freshman Taryn Fredrickson finished 12-3. Both had just over 90 innings pitched.

Regional upset

Ranked ninth in the preseason in Class 4A by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Panthers remained in the top 10 throughout the season. After defeating Glenwood twice during the regular season, the Panthers were tripped up by the Rams in regional play. Indianola represented the region at state after beating Glenwood 12-2 in the final.

“I guess it’s just a case of being softball,” McCabe said. “We hit some shots right at people. They kind of bunched their hits together and their pitcher did a nice job. It happens.”

Senior shortstop Gracie Hagle and junior third baseman Nevaeh Randall shared the award as co-most valuable players as voted on by the players. Both were named all-district and all-state players in 2022, with Hagle on the Class 4A second all-state team and Randall on the third team.

Randall had one of the best offensive seasons in school history, batting .456 with 10 home runs, 12 doubles and a team-leading 43 runs batted in. She has 26 career homers, already surpassing previous record-holder Haylee LaMasters (22) with a season remaining.

Four seniors

Hagle was also all-state in 2020 on the Class 3A second team and on the Class 4A third team in 2021. This year she batted .422 with 39 runs scored, 30 RBIs, one home run and 10 doubles. She was also strong in the field at shortstop with a .874 fielding percentage and 51 assists.

Hagle was one of four seniors praised by McCabe during the banquet.

“She’s up there with the greats of Creston history,” the Panther coach said. “She was a five-time, first-team all-conference player. Gracie really matured as a player and a person and became a quiet leader for us. I really think her best ball is ahead of her and I expect her to do a great job at Grand View.”

Other seniors honored were right fielder Morgan Driskell, first baseman Halle Evans and catcher Anna Mikkelsen.

“Morgan really came on for us in her last two years,” McCabe said. “The thing that epitomizes her is her uncanny ability to give us two-out hits. She was money hitting behind Nevaeh and drove in 33 runs. Halle was the leading hitter in conference games this year. She found her way on base a lot and did a nice job at first base for us.”

Mikkelsen received the E. Wayne Cooley “You Can” Award. Named after the former executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the award is presented to players who show elements of good character (such as trustworthiness, respect and citizenship) that Cooley felt were important in athletics.

“Anna was a kid who had to wait for her opportunity,” McCabe said. “Her senior year she got the opportunity to play and was a good contributor for us behind the plate. She ended up spitting time with (freshman) Ava Adamson. She did a nice job of bringing a young player along and she had the right mindset and attitude about it. I thought she was a good choice for that award.”

Creston’s team earned the Distinguished in Academic Achievement Award from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union with an overall team GPA of 3.916, one of the highest by a team in school history.

The list of letterwinners and award winners:

Letterwinners

(Letters won)

Seniors — Gracie Hagle (5), Morgan Driskell (4), Halle Evans (4), Anna Mikkelsen (1).

Juniors — Jacy Kralik (2), Caitlin Bruce (2), Doryn Paup (2), Daile Keeler (2), Nevaeh Randall (4), Keely Coen (4).

Sophomores — Sophie Hagle (2).

Freshmen — Ava Adamson (1), Jersey Foote (2), Mila Kuhns (1), Taryn Fredrickson (2).

All-District 4A West — Gracie Hagle, Nevaeh Randall.

All-state Class 4A — Gracie Hagle, second team; Nevaeh Randall, third team.

Team awards

Spirit Award — Morgan Driskell (varsity) and Sasha Wurster (JV).

Hustle Award — Gracie Hagle (varsity) and Doryn Paup (JV).

Most Improved — Sophie Hagle (varsity) and Sasha Wurster (JV).

Most Valuable Player — Gracie Hagle and Nevaeh Randall (varsity) and Daile Keeler (JV).

E Wayne Cooley “You Can” Award — Anna Mikkelsen.

IGHSAU Distinguished Academic Achievement — Team GPA of 3.916.