Softball 2014: Teams to watch

BENTON COMMUNITY

Coach – Eric Stenberg (1st year)

2013 record and postseason – 31-6, Class 4A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (7) – OF Savannah Halstead (sr.), OF Taylor Busta (sr.), P/IF Alyssa Wiebel (soph.), IF Lea Brunssen (soph.), P/IF Amber Fiser (soph.), UT Jessica Heilman (soph.), 1B Anna Stenberg (fr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

Coach – Brian Erbe (2nd year at Jefferson, 33-12; 12th year overall, 357-162)

2013 record and postseason – 33-12, 5th place at state (Class 5A)

Returning starters (6) – P Alyssa Olson (jr.), C Maddie Hansen (jr.), 3B Erin Kuba (soph.), SS Katelyn Holub (sr.), CF Avery Guy (fr.), UT Hannah Towns (jr.)

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

Coach – Joe Yegge (2nd year at Prairie, 29-16)

2013 record and postseason – 29-16, 6th place at state (Class 5A)

Returning starters (6) – 1B Malia Gudenkauf (sr.), 2B Amanda Stecklein (sr.), 3B Gabi Carter (jr.), SS Mallory Jones (jr.), LF Halle Lueck (sr.), RF Olivia Usher (soph.)

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER

Coach – Nikki Price (2nd year, 29-12)

2013 record and postseason – 29-12, Class 4A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (6) – 2B Allison Schwach (sr.), CF Courtney Colston (sr.), SS Hayley Deutmeyer (sr.), P Erin Drahozal (jr.), RF Morgan Breitbach (jr.), 3B Jamie Feltes (soph.)

HIGHLAND

Coach – Carrie Wieland (10th year)

2013 record and postseason – 32-4, Class 2A regional finalist

Returning starters (8) – Jordan Rath (sr.), Morgan Craig (jr.), Bridget Murphy (jr.), Courtnee Hahn (jr.), Bailey Walsh (jr.), Katie Springer (jr.), Cheyanne Adamson (soph.), Kelsey Hora (fr.)

IOWA CITY REGINA

Coach – Jon Prottsman (8th year at Regina, 153-116; 15th year overall, 345-195)

2013 record and postseason – 21-21, 7th place at state (Class 2A)

Returning starters (8) – C Katie Wick (sr.), P/1B Hannah Stein (jr.), 2B Jenny Wick (soph.), 3B Jenna Lehman (sr.), SS Kennedy Brown (soph.), P/LF Megan Bonnett (sr.), CF Gabby Dutchik (sr.), RF Cammy Verducci (soph.)

SOLON

Coach – Jim White (2nd year at Solon, 41-4; 20th year overall, 850-122)

2013 record and postseason – 41-4, 6th place at state (Class 4A)

Returning starters (7) – P Holly Hinkel (sr.), P Emily Ira (jr.), C Ali Herdliska (jr.), SS Mallory Madsen (sr.), LF Riley Ogden (sr.), CF Taylor Nearad (jr.), OF Sydney Lawson (soph.)

WEST DELAWARE

Coach – Kevin Schuchmann (11th year at West Delaware, 359-106; 29th year overall, 795-424)

2013 record and postseason – 25-15, Class 4A regional semifinalist

Returning starters (7) – 2B Reeann McCarty (sr.), P/LF Hannah Cole (sr.), 3B Ashley Heims (jr.), RF Marly Boies (jr.), 3B Haley Morrison (jr.), CF Emily Thole (jr.), 1B Bridget Hoffman (soph.)