2018 prep softball preview: Area players to watch

Top returning area players to watch for the 2018 softball season:

Autum Barthelman, sr., Sigourney — Batted .480 with seven doubles and eight triples. Scored 51 runs and drove in 21. Stole 43 bases in 43 attempts. Class 1A first-team all-state.

Katie Bracken, jr., Iowa City Regina — Compiled a 10-4 pitching record with a 2.06 ERA. Struck out 135 batters and walked 19 in 98 2/3 innings. Batted .351 with five home runs. Scored 30 runs and drove in 33. Class 2A first-team all-state.

Kendra Cooper, sr., Lansing Kee — Compiled a 20-1 pitching record with a 0.57 ERA. Struck out 203 batters and walked 25 in 111 innings. Batted .547 with 19 doubles and 14 home runs. Scored 59 runs and drove in 47. Class 1A first-team all-state.

Lindsey Culver, jr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson — The state leader in home runs (19) and RBIs (71). Batted .511 with 14 doubles. Scored 56 runs. Class 5A first-team all-state.

Olivia Erickson, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson — Batted .473 with 10 doubles and six home runs. Scored 59 runs and drove in 37. Class 5A third-team all-state.

Angie Gorkow, jr., Benton Community — Second in the state in doubles (28) and RBIs (68). Batted .562 with 15 home runs. Scored 59 runs. Class 4A first-team all-state.

Mackenzie Hupke, jr., Independence — Compiled a 15-8 pitching record with a 1.63 ERA. Struck out 171 batters and walked 44 in 158 2/3 innings. Batted .484 with 21 doubles and six home runs. Scored 36 runs and drove in 48. Class 4A first-team all-state.

Maddie Karr, sr., Center Point-Urbana — Batted .446 with 13 doubles and 12 home runs. Scored 43 runs and drove in 52. Class 3A first-team all-state.

Kaylin Kinney, soph., Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Compiled a 13-3 pitching record with a 1.68 ERA. Struck out 121 batters and walked 16 in 112 2/3 innings. Batted .438 with 17 doubles and 13 home runs. Scored 46 runs and drove in 54. Class 5A first-team all-state.

Brylee Klosterman, soph., Iowa City Liberty — At Iowa City West, she batted .452 with 17 doubles and six home runs. Scored 39 runs and drove in 35. Class 5A first-team all-state.

Ella Link, soph., Western Dubuque — Batted .417 with 10 doubles and 11 home runs. Scored 22 runs and drove in 33. Class 4A second-team all-state.

Sammy Moss, jr., Mount Vernon — Batted .479 with 21 doubles. Scored 51 runs and drove in 65. Class 3A first-team all-state.

Sydney Nielsen, jr., Marion — Batted .508 with 17 doubles and 10 home runs. Scored 36 runs and drove in 48. Class 4A second-team all-state.

Erica Oler, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson — Compiled a 19-5 pitching record with a 1.35 ERA. Struck out 141 batters and walked 19 in 145 innings. Batted .446 with 10 doubles and nine home runs. Scored 22 runs and drove in 41. Class 5A second-team all-state.

Charlotte Richards, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier — Batted .418 with 10 doubles. Scored 35 runs and drove in 35. Class 4A second-team all-state.

Ashley Winterowd, jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Batted .452 with 11 doubles. Scored 49 runs and drove in 24. Compiled a 5-1 pitching record with a 2.75 ERA. Struck out 20 batters and walked four in 20 1/3 innings. Class 5A third-team all-state.

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