2019 Iowa high school softball preview: Area teams to watch

Top area teams to watch for the 2019 softball season:

Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Coach — Mike Kuba (1st year, 0-0)

2018 record — 36-9

2018 postseason — Class 5A state qualifier, 3rd place

Returning starters (7) — C Hannah Markham (sr.), 1B Emily Kuba (sr.), 2B Lindsey Culver (sr.), 3B Gabby Zach (sr.), LF Kaylee Donner (sr.), RF Alex Smith (sr.), DH Kelsey Palmer (fr.)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Coach — Maddison LeClere (3rd year, 70-14)

2018 record — 33-6

2018 postseason — Class 5A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (9) — P/1B Kaylin Kinney (jr.), P Jayme Scheck (soph.), C Abby Spore (jr.), 1B Mary Krystofiak (jr.), SS Alyssa Martin (jr.), LF Addie Parker (soph.), RF Kai Johnson (sr.), DH Izzy Wright (jr.), OF Lizzy Dennis (jr.)

Cedar Rapids Prairie

Coach — Erin Johnson (2nd year, 28-13)

2018 record — 28-13

2018 postseason — Class 5A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (7) — C Jensyn Jones (fr.), 1B Amaya Snyder (soph.), 2B Kobie Blaha (sr.), 3B Gabby Robinson (jr.), SS Makenna Moenk (sr.), LF Grace Ironside (soph.), DH Payton Akers (sr.)

Independence

Coach — Heather Hupke (5th year, 88-72)

2018 record — 35-7

2018 postseason — Class 4A state qualifier, T-5th place

Returning starters (6) — P Mackenzie Hupke (sr.), C Kenzie Fischels (jr.), 1B Allie Jo Zieser (jr.), 3B Mary Puffett (jr.), SS Abby Davis (sr.), LF Kaylee Hosch (sr.)

Iowa City High

Coach — Jeff Koenig (6th year, 64-98)

2018 record — 25-19

2018 postseason — Class 5A state qualifier, T-5th place

Returning starters (9) — P Ayana Lindsey (soph.), P/1B Ella Cook (soph.), C Carey Koenig (soph.), 2B Keli Potter (jr.), 3B Makayla Ribble (fr.), SS Brooke Bormann (jr.), LF Sydney Fellows (jr.), CF Brianna Bentler (sr.), RF Alexa Fredericks (sr.)

Iowa City Regina

Coach — Jake Koolbeck (2nd year, 25-16)

2018 record — 25-16

2018 postseason — Class 2A state runner-up

Returning starters (8) — P Katie Bracken (sr.), C Maeve Dunne (sr.), 2B Lauren Marth (sr.), SS Annie Gahan (soph.), LF Emma Nibaur (fr.), CF Jess Hunter (sr.), RF Carrigan O'Connor (sr.), DH Elly Gahan (jr.)

Lisbon

Coach — Bob Bunting (50th year, 1,162-625)

2018 record — 35-9

2018 postseason — Class 1A state qualifier, 3rd place

Returning starters (10) — P Skylar Sadler (sr.), C Reegan Happel (sr.), 1B McKenna Nelson (jr.), 2B Sam Schrantz (sr.), 3B Stacia Hall (soph.), LF Grace Clark (sr.), P/CF Emily Butteris (jr.), RF Emma Howard (jr.), DH Taylor Techau (soph.), OF Sam Bennett (jr.)

North Linn

Coach — Marv Porter (2nd year at North Linn, 38-5)

2018 record — 38-5

2018 postseason — Class 2A regional finalist

Returning starters (9) — P Abby Flanagan (jr.), C Grace Flanagan (jr.), 1B Paige Doyl (sr.), 3B Natalie Gallery (jr.), SS Kaitlyn Sommerfelt (soph.), LF Faithe Cavalier (jr.), CF Hannah Bridgewater (jr.), RF Olivia Rauch (soph.), DH Maddie Stepanek (soph.)

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