The Gazette’s 2020 preseason Super 10 softball rankings

The Iowa high school softball season was supposed to start practice Monday.

Instead, the coronavirus pandemic has everything delayed until June 1, or maybe longer. Or, perhaps, canceled.

But since everything is on for now, we'll proceed as such. We have not yet sent out preseason questionnaires to schools, so rosters are largely guesswork. We determined 'returning starters' by players that started their team's final game last season, or started at least half of their team's games.

With that said, here is the 2020 Gazette-area preseason Super 10:

1.

North Linn

2019: 42-4, 24-0 Tri-Rivers (1st); Class 2A state champion

2019: 42-4, 24-0 Tri-Rivers (1st); Class 2A state champion

Coach: Marv Porter Streak: Won 6 Previous: No. 1 Projected returning starters: P Abby Flanagan, sr., C Grace Flanagan, sr., 2B Ellie Flanagan, fr., 3B Natalie Gallery, sr., SS Jill Smith, soph., CF Hannah Bridgewater, sr., OF Kaitlyn Sommerfelt, jr., OF Olivia Rauch, jr., DH Jenna Lemley, soph.

 

2.

Iowa City High

2019: 36-8, 27-3 MVC (1st, Mississippi Division); Class 5A state tournament, 3rd place

2019: 36-8, 27-3 MVC (1st, Mississippi Division); Class 5A state tournament, 3rd place

Coach: Jeff Koenig Streak: Won 1 Previous: No. 2 Projected returning starters: P/SS Ayana Lindsey, jr., C Carey Koenig, jr., 1B/P Ella Cook, jr., 2B Keli Potter, sr., SS/1B Brooke Bormann, sr., 3B Makayla Ribble, sr., LF Sydney Fellows, sr.

 

3.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy

2019: 37-4, 29-1 MVC (1st, Valley Division); Class 5A state tournament, 7th place

2019: 37-4, 29-1 MVC (1st, Valley Division); Class 5A state tournament, 7th place

Coach: Maddison LeClere Streak: Lost 2 Previous: No. 3 Projected returning starters: P/1B Kaylin Kinney, sr., P Jayme Scheck, jr., C Abby Spore, sr., 1B Mary Krystofiak, sr., 2B Sam Scheck, jr., 3B Reegan Deputy, sr., SS Alyssa Martin, sr., LF Lizzy Dennis, sr., CF Addie Parker, jr., RF Addy Alber, fr., UT Carlee Smith, sr., DH Izzy Wright, sr.

 

4.

Williamsburg

2019: 31-12, 20-6 Wamac (1st, West Division); Class 3A regional finalist

2019: 31-12, 20-6 Wamac (1st, West Division); Class 3A regional finalist

Coach: Adam Berte Streak: Lost 1 Previous: No. 7 Projected returning starters: P Peyton Driscoll, fr., C Carly Campbell, jr., 1B Elle Ridgeway, fr., 2B Aubray Walters, sr., 3B Jill Holub, sr., SS/P Charley Geguzis, sr., CF Charlotte Wetjen, jr., RF Megan Lamparek, jr., DH Breanna Nail, sr.

 

5.

Anamosa

2019: 31-5, 16-3 River Valley (1st, North Division); Class 3A regional finalist

2019: 31-5, 16-3 River Valley (1st, North Division); Class 3A regional finalist

Coach: Brad Holub Streak: Lost 1 Previous: No. 8 Projected returning starters: P Kalli Minger, sr., 1B/P Emily Watters, fr., 3B Maggie McQuillen, sr., SS Ellie Tallman, sr., LF Autumn Kirby, sr., CF Grace Lubben, jr., RF Delaney Frater, jr., OF Kiley Chapman, jr., DH/1B Lexi Bright, jr.

 

6.

West Liberty

2019: 30-6, 17-2 River Valley (1st, South Division); Class 3A state tournament, 3rd place

2019: 30-6, 17-2 River Valley (1st, South Division); Class 3A state tournament, 3rd place

Coach: Chad Libby Streak: Won 1 Previous: No. 4 Projected returning starters: P/LF Janey Gingerich, jr., C Austyn Crees, sr., 1B/DH Ellen Carow, soph., 2B Sailor Hall, soph., 3B Finley Hall, fr., SS Haylee Lehman, sr., RF Brittney Harned, sr., 1B/DH Isabel Morrison, jr.

 

7.

Linn-Mar

2019: 24-14, 20-10 MVC (3rd, Valley Division); Class 5A regional semifinalist

2019: 24-14, 20-10 MVC (3rd, Valley Division); Class 5A regional semifinalist

Coach: Lindsey Murray Streak: Lost 1 Previous: NR Projected returning starters: P Madison Beard, sr., P Hannah Gralund, soph., 1B Kennedy Rentschler, sr., 2B Genna Sanchez, sr., 3B Rae Van Milligan, sr., LF Allie Long, jr., RF Brittan Stark, sr.

 

8.

Iowa City Liberty

2019: 21-22, 15-15 MVC (6th, Valley Division); Class 4A regional finalist

2019: 21-22, 15-15 MVC (6th, Valley Division); Class 4A regional finalist

Coach: Jeff Kelley Streak: Lost 1 Previous: NR Projected returning starters: P Kara Maiers, jr., Kinsley Robertson, soph., C Tiffany Jones, jr., 1B Miranda Jones, jr., 2B Addie Schmierer, jr., 3B Courtney Olson, sr., SS Raquel Trolliet, jr., LF Ella McLaughlin, soph., CF Brylee Klosterman, sr., RF Ashlyn Geasland, jr., DH/2B Mallory Jones, soph.

 

9.

Mount Vernon

2019: 27-13, 19-7 Wamac (T-4th, East Division); Class 3A state tournament, T-7th place

2019: 27-13, 19-7 Wamac (T-4th, East Division); Class 3A state tournament, T-7th place

Coach: Robin Brand Streak: Lost 2 Previous: NR Projected returning starters: C Mandy Morrical, sr., 1B Summer Brand, sr., 2B Caitlin Babcock, sr., 3B Maia Bentley, soph., LF Nadia Telecky, soph., CF Lauren Ryan, jr.

 

10.

Cedar Rapids Prairie

2019: 29-12, 21-9 MVC (2nd, Mississippi Division); Class 5A regional finalist

2019: 29-12, 21-9 MVC (2nd, Mississippi Division); Class 5A regional finalist

Coach: Alisha Frese Streak: Lost 1 Previous: NR Projected returning starters: C Jensyn Jones, soph., 1B Amaya Snyder, jr., 3B Alexis Barden, soph., LF Grace Ironside, jr., CF Miranda Farr, jr., RF Gabby Robinson, sr.

 

Dropped out: West Delaware (5), Lisbon (6), Dyersville Beckman (9), Independence (10)

Area class rankings

Class 5A: 1. Iowa City High (36-8), 2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (37-4), 3. Linn-Mar (24-14), 4. Iowa City Liberty (21-22), 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie (29-12)

Class 4A: 1. Decorah (18-12), 2. Western Dubuque (19-19) 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (24-17), 4. West Delaware (31-12), 5. Marion (22-18)

Class 3A: 1. Williamsburg (31-12), 2. Anamosa (31-5), 3. West Liberty (30-6), 4. Mount Vernon (27-13), 5. Solon (23-16)

Class 2A: 1. North Linn (42-4), 2. West Branch (18-18), 3. Dyersville Beckman (30-14), 4. Jesup (30-10), 5. Alburnett (18-18)

Class 1A: 1. Central City (31-11), 2. Lisbon (34-7), 3. Lone Tree (11-14), 4. Turkey Valley (18-16), 5. Belle Plaine (24-9)

Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com