Alyssa Wiebel chasing Kendyl Lindaman for state homer record

VAN HORNE — Imagine a softball team that features three of Iowa's all-time slugging leaders.

Such a team exists.

It's called Iowa Premier Gold, and it's loaded with power. There's Kendyl Lindaman behind the plate, DoniRae Mayhew at first base and Alyssa Wiebel somewhere on the left side of the infield.

'We've gone to California for nationals, we've gone to Florida,' Wiebel said. 'We're pretty good.'

Then they split up, go their separate ways for the high-school season and put fear in pitchers throughout the state.

Lindaman, a senior at Ankeny Centennial, set the state career home run record last year with her 55th, but there's no guarantee she'll still have the mark by the time her career ends.

Wiebel is closing on her, and so is Mayhew.

A senior at Benton Community and a signee of Illinois State University, Wiebel has been on a long-ball binge the past two weeks and has 11 this season, raising her career total to 58.

'It's just a joy to watch her hit,' Benton Coach Eric Stenberg said. 'She has such precise mechanics. Every time she's at the plate, there's a chance the ball could be leaving the field.'

That's assuming Wiebel gets a ball to hit, and that's not always a safe assumption. Like the other top sluggers, Wiebel is walked regularly. She has accepted 20 free passes this season.

'I've been getting a few more pitches to hit lately,' Wiebel said.

It's harder to justify walking Wiebel now that she is batting leadoff instead of her customary No. 3.

'It's different, but I like it, I guess,' she said. 'If they walk me, we have a baserunner.'

Lindaman clobbered 24 homers as a freshman, but hasn't approached that total since. She has been walked 135 times in the past three seasons (67 as a junior). Her career homer total stands at 63.

Mayhew, from Bettendorf, is tied for third all-time with Jadyn Spencer (Waterloo West, 2007-11) with 54 career homers. She has eight this season.

Not so long ago, home runs were a rarity in softball. Pitchers were 40 feet away, instead of 43. The ball is a more visible yellow now. Bats are livelier. Because of weight training, players are stronger.

Yes, Wiebel is strong — 'I think my core and my legs are my strongest,' she said — but it's a precise, consistent swing that makes her a threat whenever someone bothers to challenge her.

'Her swing mechanics are really good,' Stenberg said. 'She's compact and she's pretty patient. She doesn't get cheated on her cuts.'

Wiebel talks to Lindaman and Mayhew fairly regularly. The home run chase isn't a topic of conversation, but Wiebel admits to peeking at Quik Stats from time to time.

'I usually keep up to date on what they're doing,' she said.

Iowa's All-Time Home Run Leaders

Player

School

Year

Home Runs

Kendyl Lindaman

Ankeny Centennial

2012-16

63

Alyssa Wiebel

Benton Community

2012-16

58

DoniRae Mayhew

Bettendorf

2012-16

56

Jadyn Spencer

Waterloo West

2007-11

54

Sammy Snygg

North Polk

2005-09

49

Updated after June 22 games

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