Randall enjoys all-star event

JOHNSTON — Creston all-state shortstop Nevaeh Randall extended her high school softball season in the Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s all-star games held Saturday at the Johnston softball field at Johnston Middle School.

Randall led the state in home runs among all classifications this season with 21, just four shy of the state record. Her power was on display in the event’s home run derby, which she led after one round with four homers in 10 swings.

Randall cooled off a little in the finals with one additional homer, while Maddy McDowell of state runner-up North Scott added four homers in the finals to her preliminary performance of three to earn the title with seven total home runs.

Randall batted fourth and started at third base in the Blue Team’s opening game, a 13-7 win over the White team. In that game she popped out to second base in the first inning and doubled to right center to drive in a run in the fourth. Her RBI single to right center in the fifth gave her team a 10-3 lead.

With so many team members being primarily shortstops or third basemen, Randall was shifted to left field late in the game and her catch of a flyball ended the White Team’s sixth inning.

The Blue Team’s second game was an 8-1 loss to the Red Team. Randall was called out on strikes in the second inning and hit a hard one-hopper to shortstop for a groundout while playing a portion of the game at shortstop.

“We kind of played where our primary position was in high school, or they asked if we could play anywhere else so everyone could get in,” Randall said. “I’d never played outfield before, so I was a little nervous on the flyball.”

Coaches of Randall’s team were Katie Gravert of Pella and Tia Stiles of Southeast Polk, where Creston softball coach Dave Hartman used to coach baseball with fellow Creston grad Scott Belger.

“Coach (Stiles) said she’s coached and taught with coach Hartman,” Randall said. “I loved it. I loved the girls and the coaches were extremely nice. It was an awesome experience.”

Randall said all of the players and coaches met briefly early in the day to divide into teams and visit Blank Children’s Hospital before lunch and a brief practice.

Randall, daughter of Cassie and Adam Randall, will move in at Grand View University in Des Moines in about a month to begin classes and workouts with the softball team. Former Panther teammate Gracie Hagle will be a sophomore teammate on the Vikings squad.

Randall ended her career with a school-record 47 home runs and 178 RBIs. This year she batted .444 with 21 home runs, 47 RBIs, 53 runs scored, four doubles and 21 walks while striking out just 16 times in 108 at-bats. She batted .456 last year with 10 home runs.

Randall is the sixth Creston player to be selected for the all-star series since 2012. Others were Katlin Briley and Madison Frain in 2012, Haylee LaMasters in 2015, Taylor Briley in 2016 and Sara Keeler in 2020. (The 2020 game wasn’t held due to COVID restrictions, but selections were announced.)

Josie McCuddin of Interstate 35 and Rylee Dunkin of Twin Cedars were members of the White Team.

During the awards presentations between games, Jennifer Devine of Winterset was named IGCA Assistant Coach of the Year. District coach of the year honors went to Emily Wood of Martensdale-St. Marys, 1A Southeast; Jody Rossell of Griswold, 1A Southwest; James Flaws of Van Meter, 2A Southwest; and Rick Dillinger of North Polk, 4A West. Carlisle coach Jim Flaws and North Polk coach Rick Dillinger were recognized for reaching 1,200 career wins. Bob Bunting of Lisbon reached the 1,300-win milestone.