Solon, Benton dominate all-Wamac teams

Solon and Benton Community both went through Wamac Conference divisional play without a scratch, and their dominance was reflected in the all-division teams, released Wednesday by the conference.

Class 3A top-ranked Solon has seven players on the first team in the East Division, while No. 2 Benton has five in the West. Solon's Jim White and Benton's Eric Stenberg are the divisional coaches of the year.

Four teams - Solon, Benton, No. 8 CPU and No. 13 Mount Vernon - will represent the Wamac at the state tournament next week in Fort Dodge. They will account for half of the 3A field.

WAMAC CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION

First Team

Pitchers - Emily Ira, sr., Solon; McKenna Miller, soph., Solon. Catcher - Monika Bevans, jr., Solon. Infield - Ali Herdliska, sr., Solon; Sydney Lawson , jr., Solon; Libby Ryan, soph., Mount Vernon; Ashley Botsford, sr., Western Dubuque. Outfield - Taylor Nearad, sr., Solon; Emily Thole , sr., West Delaware; Mikayla Whitman, jr., Anamosa; Utility - Tawny Menster, sr., Anamosa; Jess Heick, soph., Solon.

Coach of the Year - Jim White, Solon.

Second Team

Pitchers - Lily Dahlstrom, jr., Mount Vernon; Kristen Wegmann, jr., West Delaware. Catcher - Ashley Heims, sr., West Delaware. Infield - Jess Machovec, jr., DeWitt Central; McKenna Owen, sr., Maquoketa; Abbey Koerperich, sr., Western Dubuque; Karly Oltmanns, sr., Anamosa. Outfield - Abbie Decker, sr., Dyersville Beckman; Haley Sanders, jr., DeWitt Central; Mikaela Lengwin, sr., Mount Vernon. Utility - Sammy Moss, 8th, Mount Vernon; Cassie Ruppert, soph., Maquoketa.

WAMAC CONFERENCE WEST DIVISION

First Team

Pitchers - Amber Fiser, jr., Benton Community; Lexi Kinnaird, sr., Clear Creek Amana. Catcher - Jess Miller, sr., Williamsburg. Infield - Megan Croghan, soph., Center Point-Urbana; Alyssa Wiebel, jr., Benton Community; Lea Brunssen, jr., Benton Community; Lauren Stopko, sr., Clear Creek Amana. Outfield - Maddie Karr, fr., Center Point-Urbana; Sydney Robertson, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Shelby Hulsebus, fr., Benton Community. Utility - Sam Croghan, sr., Center Point-Urbana; Angie Gorkow, 8th, Benton Community.

Coach of the year - Eric Stenberg, Benton Community.

Second Team

Pitcher - Nicole Zuber - fr., Williamsburg; Alicia Steepleton, soph., Marion. Catcher - Grace Murray, soph., Clear Creek Amana. Infield - Skylar Hop, jr., Clear Creek Amana; Olivia Brecht, fr., Center Point-Urbana; Macy Griffith, jr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Anna Stenberg, soph., Benton Community. Outfield - Haley Dullea, jr., Marion; Lydsey Cornell, jr., Vinton-Shellsburg; Claire Holtz, soph., Center Point-Urbana; Utility - Sydney Nielson, 8th, Marion; Jaicee Lyons, soph., Benton Community.

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