Softball 2016: Area teams to watch

Area teams to watch for the 2016 softball season:

BENTON COMMUNITY

* Coach — Eric Stenberg (3rd year, 79-9)

* 2015 record — 42-4

* 2015 postseason — Class 3A state runner-up.

* Returning starters (10) — P Amber Fiser (sr.), C Jaicee Lyons (jr.), 1B Anna Stenberg (jr.), 2B Grace Martensen (fr.), 3B/P Alyssa Wiebel (sr.), SS Lea Brunssen (sr.), LF Jessica Heilman (sr.), CF Shelby Hulsebus (soph.), RF Angie Gorkow (fr.), DH Laura Maschino (soph.)

CASCADE

* Coach — Ken Weber (5th year, 88-51)

* 2015 record — 24-11

* 2015 postseason — Class 2A state runner-up.

* Returning starters (8) — P Lynsey Dolphin (sr.), C Lisa Tucker (jr.), 1B Bailey Clemens (jr.), 2B Annie Meyer (jr.), 3B Laura Kremer (jr.), SS Noelle Green (jr.), RF Riley Takes (jr., injured, will miss season), DH Natalie Frasher (sr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

* Coach — Brian Erbe (4th year at Jefferson, 104-29; 14th year overall, 428-179)

* 2015 record — 36-9

* 2015 postseason — Placed 4th in Class 5A at the state tournament.

* Returning starters (6) — 1B Kennedy Dighton (jr.), 2B Lindsey Culver (fr.), 3B Erin Kuba (sr.), SS Avery Guy (jr.), CF Olivia Erickson (soph.), DH Taylor Holub (jr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

* Coach — Dan Gratz (3rd year, 55-27)

* 2015 record — 28-13

* 2015 postseason — Class 4A regional semifinalist.

* Returning starters (9) — P Jenna Schwartzhoff (jr.), C Peyton Baskerville (sr.), 2B Ashley Winterowd (soph.), 3B Paige Timmerman (sr.), SS Ashley Hamilton (jr.), LF Sydney Kinney (jr.), CF Tianna Drahn (sr.), RF Camryn Jeffords (soph.), UT Megan Weber (jr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

* Coach — Joe Yegge (4th year at Prairie, 81-42)

* 2015 record — 27-12

* 2015 postseason — Class 4A regional finalist.

* Returning starters (7) — P Natalie Halverson (jr.), C Neila Bell (sr.), 1B Lauren Kuch (jr.), 2B Carsyn Waller (soph.), SS Taylor Moenk (sr.), LF Amanda Pipolo (sr.), RF Anne Cervany (soph.)

• Softball Preview: Players to watch

CENTER POINT-URBANA

* Coach — Alexis Ferguson (1st year, 0-0)

* 2015 record — 30-15

* 2015 postseason — Placed 4th in Class 3A at the state tournament.

* Returning starters (8) — 1B Megan Croghan (jr.), 2B Olivia Brecht (soph.), 3B Taylor Henderson (jr.), SS Claire Chandler (jr.), LF Claire Holtz (jr.), CF Katelyn Banning (jr.), RF Maddie Karr (soph., injured, ACL, will miss season), DH Alyssa Wade (jr.)

IOWA CITY REGINA

* Coach — Jon Prottsman (9th year at Regina, 200-148; 16th year overall, 392-227)

* 2015 record — 26-14

* 2015 postseason — Class 2A state champion.

* Returning starters (6) — P Sarah Lehman (jr.), 2B Cammy Verducci (sr.), 3B Emily Bonnett (soph.), SS Kennedy Brown (sr.), CF Jenny Wick (sr.), RF Jess Hunter (fr.)

IOWA CITY WEST

* Coach — Justin Lutjen (3rd year at West, 63-16; 7th year overall, 172-76)

* 2015 record — 34-6

* 2015 postseason — Class 5A regional finalist.

* Returning starters (6) — P/1B Jessie Harder (sr.), C Taylor Libby (sr.), 2B Shea Lewis (jr.), 3B Adara Opiola (sr.), CF Taleah Smith (jr.), RF Skylar Ryan (jr.)

• Baseball Preview: Players, teams to watch

MOUNT VERNON

* Coach — Robin Brand (5th year at Mount Vernon, 96-60; 9th year overall)

* 2015 record — 31-10

* 2015 postseason — Placed 5th in Class 3A at the state tournament.

* Returning starters (7) — P Lily Dahlstrom (sr.), C Annie See (sr.), 2B Bailey Sullivan (soph.), 3B Alyssa Maddocks (jr.), SS Libby Ryan (jr.), LF Sammy Moss (fr.), DH Marissa Roe (sr.)

SOLON

* Coach — Jim White (4th year at Solon, 122-10; 22nd year overall, 931-128)

* 2015 record — 42-3

* 2015 postseason — Class 3A state champion.

* Returning starters (7) — C Monika Bevans (sr.), 1B McKenna Miller (jr.), 3B Jess Heick (jr.), SS Sydney Lawson (sr.), LF Taylor Ryan (fr.), RF Nicole Oberthein (sr.), DH Lexi Stebral (jr.)

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