Softball 2017: Area teams to watch

Ten area teams to watch for the 2017 high school softball season:

BENTON COMMUNITY

2016 record: 43-2

2016 postseason: Class 3A state champion

Coach: Eric Stenberg (4th year, 122-11)

Returning starters (6): C Jaicee Lyons (sr.), 1B Anna Stenberg (sr.), 3B Grace Martensen (soph.), LF Makenna Bonewitz (jr.), CF Shelby Hulsebus (jr.), RF Angie Gorkow (soph.)

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

2016 record: 31-9

2016 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

Coach: Brian Erbe (5th year at Jefferson, 135-38; 15th year overall, 459-188)

Returning starters (9): P Erica Oler (jr.), C Hannah Markham (soph.), 1B Kennedy Dighton (sr.), 2B Lindsey Culver (soph.), SS Avery Guy (sr.), LF Kaylee Donner (soph.), CF Liv Erickson (jr.), RF Sydney Briney (sr.), DH/P Emily Oler (sr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

2016 record: 37-5

2016 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

Coach: Maddison LeClere (1st year, 0-0)

Returning starters (7): P Jenna Schwartzhoff (sr.), C Megan Weber (sr.), 1B/P Kaylin Kinney (fr.), 2B Ashley Winterowd (jr.), SS Ashley Hamilton (sr.), LF Sydney Kinney (sr.), RF Camryn Jeffords (jr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

2016 record: 28-15

2016 postseason: Class 5A state qualifier, 5th place

Coach: Joe Yegge (5th year, 109-57)

Returning starters (7): P Natalie Halvorson (sr.), 1B Lauren Kuch (sr.), 2B Makenna Moenk (soph.), 3B Haley McFarlane (sr.), CF Morgan Lewis (jr.), RF Anne Cervany (jr.), DH Taylor Holub (sr.)

CENTER POINT-URBANA

2016 record: 22-18

2016 postseason: Class 3A regional finalist

Coach: Don Vanourney (1st year, 0-0)

Returning starters (10): P Bailey Smith (sr.), C Taylor Henderson (sr.), 1B Megan Croghan (sr.), 2B Olivia Brecht (jr.), 3B Alyssa Wade (sr.), SS Claire Chandler (sr.), LF Claire Holtz (sr.), CF Katelyn Banning (sr.), RF Natalea Cook (jr.), DH Maddison Kurt (jr.)

IOWA CITY REGINA

2016 record: 28-18

2016 postseason: Class 2A state runner-up

Coach: Jon Prottsman (11th year at Regina, 420-245; 18th year overall, 228-166)

Returning starters (7): P Sarah Lehman (sr.), C Maeve Dunne (soph.), 1B/P Katie Bracken (soph.), 3B Emily Bonnett (jr.), CF Emma Corkery (sr.), RF Jess Hunter (soph.), DH Taylor O'Conner (jr.)

IOWA CITY WEST

2016 record: 31-11

2016 postseason: Class 5A regional finalist

Coach: Justin Lutjen (4th year at West, 94-27; 8th year overall, 203-87)

Returning starters (6): P Abby Henderson (jr.), 2B Darby Donovan (sr.), SS Brooke Goodman (jr.), LF Brylee Klosterman (fr.), CF Taleah Smith (sr.), RF Skylar Ryan (sr.)

LANSING KEE

2016 record: 39-6

2016 postseason: Class 1A state champion

Coach: Elizabeth Hill (7th year, 119-91)

Returning starters (9): P Courtney Cooper (sr.), P/3B Kendra Cooper (jr.), C Katie Brennan (soph.), 1B Chloe Severson (jr.), SS Makayla Walleser (soph.), OF Casey Welsh (sr.), OF Annabelle Dibert (jr.), OF Sydney Strong (sr.), OF Nicki Wood (jr.)

SOLON

2016 record: 34-10

2016 postseason: Class 3A state qualifier, 3rd place

Coach: Jim White (5th year at Solon, 156-20; 23rd year overall, 965-138)

Returning starters (6): P McKenna Miller (sr.), 3B Madison Rogers (jr.), SS Taylor Moore (soph.), LF Taylor Ryan (soph.), CF Bryn Hanrahan (sr.), RF Jess Heick (sr.)

WEST DELAWARE

2016 record: 31-11

2016 postseason: Class 4A regional finalist

Coach: Tiffany Rave (2nd year at West Delaware, 31-11; 7th year overall, 155-79)

Returning starters (9): Katelyn Mangold (sr.), Maleah Georgen (sr.), Heidi Yonkovic (sr.), Liz Koloc (sr.), Kira Vaske (jr.), Claire Demmer (soph.), Paighton Lindauer (soph.), Ally Martin (soph.), Macey Kleitsch (fr.)

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

Recommended Reading

Softball 2017: Area players to watch