Sommer, Opiola are players of the year

Katie Sommer of Linn-Mar and Adara Opiola of Iowa City West have been named Mississippi Valley Conference divisional softball players of the year.

The all-MVC teams were released Tuesday.

A senior who transferred from Dubuque Senior after an all-state season last year, Sommer led the state in runs scored with 64 and was second in the state in hitting at .617. She stole 57 bases. She was the Valley Division player of the year.

Opiola, a sophomore, hit .514 with 45 runs, 49 RBIs, 12 doubles and eight home runs and was honored in the Mississippi Division.

Nikki Price (Cedar Rapids Xavier) and Justin Lutjen (Iowa City West) were divisional coaches of the year.

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

First Team

Pitchers - Alyssa Olson, jr., C.R. Jefferson; Jessie Harder, soph., Iowa City West; Catcher - Maddie Hansen, jr., C.R. Jefferson; Infield - Adara Opiola, soph., Iowa City West; Sydney Tigges, soph., Dubuque Senior; Ashley Hamilton, fr., C.R. Kennedy; Erin Kuba, soph., C.R. Jefferson; Outfield - Bryn Hanrahan, fr., Iowa City High; Taleah Smith, fr., Iowa City West; Tianna Drahn, soph., C.R. Kennedy; Utility - Madi Miller, jr., Iowa City West; A.J. Medinger, sr., Dubuque Senior.

Player of the year - Opiola. Coach of the year - Justin Lutjen, Iowa City West.

Second Team

Pitchers - Alissa Good, jr., C.R. Jefferson; Laynie Whitehead, jr., Iowa City West; Catcher - Peyton Koenig, sr., Iowa City High; Infield - Avery Guy, fr., C.R. Jefferson; Grace Tafolla, jr., Iowa City West; Hope Koerperich, sr., Dubuque Hempstead; Jessie Westhoff, soph., Dubuque Senior; Outfield - Hannah Towns, jr., C.R. Jefferson; Madeline Crist, jr., C.R. Kennedy; Jess Brown, jr., Dubuque Hempstead; Utility - Paige Timmerman, soph., C.R. Kennedy; Ashley Kubik, sr., Waterloo East.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION

First Team

Pitchers - Erin Drahozal, jr., C.R. Xavier; Maddy Ryan, jr., Linn-Mar; Catcher - Natalie Rumer, sr. C.R. Prairie; Infield - Katie Sommer, sr., Linn-Mar; Gabi Carter, jr., C.R. Prairie; Hayley Deutmeyer, sr., C.R. Xavier; Maddy Nilles, jr., Dubuque Wahlert; Outfield - Courtney Colston, sr., C.R. Xavier; Halle Lueck, sr., C.R. Prairie; Elison Ollinger, fr., Linn-Mar; Utility - Jaclyn Spencer, soph., Waterloo West; Bria Lenten, sr., C.R. Washington.

Player of the year - Sommer. Coach of the year - Nikki Price, C.R. Xavier

Second Team

Pitchers - Natalie Halvorson, fr., C.R. Prairie; Payton Bruner, soph., C.R. Washington; Catcher - Steph Wehr, soph., C.R. Xavier; Infield - Kelsey Aikey, soph., Cedar Falls; Kristie Sommer, sr., Linn-Mar; Jessi Puk, fr., C.R. Washington; Mallory Jones, jr., C.R. Prairie; Outfield - Cassy Herkelman, sr., Cedar Falls; Alyssa Aikey, sr., Cedar Falls; Kristin Wahlert, soph., C.R. Prairie; Utility - Emily Oler, fr., C.R. Washington; Christina Lincoln, fr., Linn-Mar.

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