Avery Guy, Ashley Hamilton are MVC players of the year

Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Avery Guy and Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Ashley Hamilton are divisional softball players of the year in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

A senior shortstop bound for DMACC, Guy batted .527 with 66 runs, eight home runs and 35 RBIs as Jefferson went 25-1 in conference play and won the Mississippi Division. Jefferson (38-4) has qualified for the state tournament for the 23rd time.

Hamilton is a senior shortstop who has signed with Iowa. She batted .462, scored 43 runs and drove in 28 for Kennedy, which shared the Valley Division title with Cedar Rapids Prairie. The Cougars (35-7) are state qualifiers for the first time since 1999.

Jefferson's Brian Erbe and Kennedy's Maddison LeClere are divisional coaches of the year.

Jefferson and Kennedy both had six first-team selections in their respective divisions.

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

First Team (*unanimous)

Pitchers — *Erica Oler, jr., C.R. Jefferson; Maria Steffen, jr., C.R. Xavier; Catcher — Christina Lincoln, sr., Linn-Mar; Infield — Avery Guy, sr., C.R. Jefferson; Lindsey Culver, soph., C.R. Jefferson; Kennedy Dighton, sr., C.R. Jefferson; Elison Ollinger, sr., Linn-Mar; Outfield — Liv Erickson, jr., C.R. Jefferson; Arianna Rolle, jr., Linn-Mar; Taleah Smith, sr., Iowa City West; Utility — Emily Oler, sr., C.R. Jefferson; Brylee Klostermann, fr., Iowa City West.

Player of the year — Guy

Coach of the year — Brian Erbe, C.R. Jefferson

Second Team

Pitchers — Katie Smith, jr., Linn-Mar; Anna Chapman, 8th, Dubuque Wahlert; Charli Patten, soph., C.R. Xavier; Brianna Netty, jr., Waterloo East; Ally Johnson, jr., Linn-Mar; Katie Langholz, jr., C.R. Xavier; Skylar Ryan, sr., Iowa City West; Outfield — Charlotte Richards, jr., C.R. Xavier; Olivia Richards, soph., C.R. Xavier; Sydney Briney, sr., C.R. Jefferson; Utility — Josie Card-Stocks, fr., Waterloo East; Cynthia Hull, 8th, Iowa City West.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION

First Team (*unanimous)

Pitchers — *Natalie Halvorson, sr., C.R. Prairie; Kaylin Kinney, fr., C.R. Kennedy; Catcher — *Megan Weber, sr., C.R. Kennedy; Infield — *Ashley Hamilton, sr., C.R. Kennedy; *Alana Cooksley, jr., Dubuque Hempstead; Ashley Winterowd, jr., C.R. Kennedy; Ayana Lindsey, 8th, Iowa City High; Outfield — *Lauren Kuch, sr., C.R. Prairie; Morgan Krug, jr., Dubuque Hempstead; Camryn Jeffords, jr., C.R. Kennedy; Utility — Jenna Schwartzhoff, sr., C.R. Kennedy; Ellie Grace Dixon, sr., Iowa City High.

Player of the year — Hamilton

Coach of the year — Maddison LeClere, C.R. Kennedy

Second Team

Pitchers — Jayme Scheck, 8th, C.R. Kennedy; Malarie Huseman, fr., Dubuque Hempstead; Catcher — Kayla LaPage, soph., Dubuque Hempstead; Infield — Natalie Blank, jr., C.R. Kennedy; Kaylie Springer, fr., Dubuque Hempstead; Nicole Sullivan, fr., C.R. Prairie; Cara Forsblom, soph., Cedar Falls; Outfield — Morgan Lewis, jr., C.R. Prairie; Sydney Kinney, sr., C.R. Kennedy; Tessa Kemp, jr., Dubuque Senior; Utility — Carey Koenig, 8th, Iowa City High; Sadie Mai, sr., Dubuque Senior.

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