Benton softball back and better for another title run

VAN HORNE — Eric Stenberg sleeps sparingly. His teams win regularly.

Last year's Class 3A state softball runner-up, Benton Community comes back with full force this summer. The Bobcats return everybody from a squad that went 42-4 a year ago.

Everybody.

'It's going to be a great year,' said pitcher Amber Fiser, a signee of the University of Minnesota. 'We played our best last year at state; that's all you can ask.

'It makes us want it even more, especially our seniors.'

The Bobcats have it all. An elite pitcher in Fiser. A fearsome slugger in Illinois State signee Alyssa Wiebel — one of the best all-around athletes in the area. Speed at the top of the lineup. Steady defense. Experience.

And hunger. Benton was so close to a state championship last year, falling to Wamac Conference rival Solon, 3-1, in the final.

'As soon as last year's championship game was over, it was like, 'OK, next year is going to be our year,'' Wiebel said.

Now, finally, 'next year' is here. Benton opens the season Monday at Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The Bobcats have been building for this for quite some time. They have improved, steadily and incrementally through the past few years.

'People have been looking to this year for quite a while,' Stenberg said. 'We should have everything it takes to make a strong run. If we take care of business, everything else will fall into place.'

Stenberg is in his third season in charge, and owns a 79-9 record through the first two. His 'day job' is actually a night job, as an emergency-room physician at Mercy Iowa City. His hours are 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

'I can coach at night and be at work by 11,' Stenberg said. 'I sleep when I can. Sleep is overrated anyway, right?'

Maybe, but the Bobcats aren't, assuming they'll start the season at No. 1 in 3A. You can make the argument that, on paper, they're the best team in any class.

• Softball Preview: Area teams to watch

'I think we're more confident and comfortable with each other than we were last year,' Fiser said.

Fiser was 26-2 last year with an ERA of 0.16 and 313 strikeouts. This will be her fifth year as a varsity pitcher and she has more than 1,000 strikeouts. Her fastball has been clocked at 68 mph, but isn't reliant just on heat.

'I think my curve and my riseball are my best pitches,' she said. 'I like to use my changeup a lot.'

Wiebel is the No. 2 pitcher (she was 12-1 last year), but prefers to play elsewhere (generally third base). Her identity comes at the plate.

She batted .600 with 23 doubles and a state-high 21 home runs, driving in 71 runs and scoring 64.

Yes, she's worried that she'll be treated this year much like Ankeny Centennial slugger Kendyl Lindaman, who was repeatedly walked intentionally last season.

'That kind of scares me, but if they give me the free base, I'll take it,' Wiebel said.

Fiser and Wiebel are the headliners, but Benton is far from a two-trick pony. Eight starters batted .300 or higher last year, and Wiebel said, 'We'll be better, up and down the lineup. Everyone's going to be a tough out, even 7, 8 and 9.'

Benton had to make do without senior shortstop Lea Brunssen (fractured and dislocated finger) through the preseason, though Stenberg thinks she'll be back for the first week of competition.

Brunssen (.344) and sophomore center fielder Shelby Hulsebus (.427) are the primary table-setters; they scored 99 runs last year between them.

• Softball Preview: Area players to watch

So it begins Monday. As you'd expect, the Bobcats are determined to surpass their success of 2015. Wiebel uttered the word 'undefeated, though it's not the end-all.'

The Wamac Conference will be a snakepit again, with returning state-tournament teams like Mount Vernon, Center Point-Urbana and — of course — Solon.

Benton's stance: Bring 'em on.

'These kids are the biggest competitors there are out there,' Stenberg said. 'They want to play everybody, right now.'

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