Erica Oler was more than a dominant pitcher for Cedar Rapids Jefferson. She was a protector.
“She had a good enough year in the 4 spot for us, that people had to pitch to (Lindsey) Culver,” Jefferson softball coach Brian Erbe said.
Both of them thrived, leading the J-Hawks (36-9) to a Class 5A third-place finish at the state tournament last week. And today, both are honored as 5A first-team all-state selections by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
“I can’t say enough about either of them,” Erbe said. “They’ve been consistent. Their work ethic is tremendous. They did it for us all season, and they did it for us at the state tournament.”
Oler, a senior who has signed with the University of Northern Iowa, compiled a 28-6 mark this season with a 1.14 ERA. She also batted .414, allowing Culver to see more quality pitches from her No. 3 spot.
A junior and a South Dakota State commit, Culver hit .571 with nine home runs, including a dramatic two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat Fort Dodge in the state quarterfinals.
“Thankfully she’s not done yet,” Erbe (the 5A coach of the year) said of Culver. “We’re glad she’s got a year to go with us here.”
Jefferson has the most total all-staters (four) of any area teams. Olivia Erickson earned second-team honors; Kaylee Donner is a third-teamer.
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Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5A), Benton Community (3A) and Lansing Kee (1A) join the J-Hawks with a pair of first-team picks.
Kennedy is represented by its pitching duo of sophomore Kaylin Kinney (15-3, 0.50 ERA) and freshman Jayme Scheck (16-3, 0.61), who combined for 305 strikeouts (against 14 walks) in 229 innings. A University of Nebraska recruit, Kinney batted .563 with 13 home runs, and her 43 walks sent her on-base percentage to .702.
The Cougars (33-6) were ranked No. 1 much of the season and were upset in the regional semifinals by Linn-Mar.
A 3A state qualifier, Benton (28-15) is represented on the first team by senior Shelby Hulsebus and junior Angie Gorkow. Hulsebus was one of the most effective leadoff hitters in state history, batting .654 with 67 runs. Gorkow hit .470 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs. Both were part of Benton’s 2016 state-championship team.
The battery of Kendra Cooper and Chloe Severson led Kee to 1A state titles in 2016 and 2017 — the Hawks (35-6) were knocked off by Lisbon in the regional finals this year. Cooper notched a 24-6 pitching mark with a 0.74 ERA and 283 strikeouts, plus a .477 batting average, 17 home runs and 44 RBIs. She was walked 28 times. Severson hit .390 wih 19 doubles and 43 RBIs.
Marion’s Sydney Nielsen (.465, 9 HR, 37 RBIs) joined Oler, Culver, Kinney and Scheck as Metro first-team picks.
Class 5A
FIRST TEAM
Skyler Shellmyer, sr., Urbandale
Lindsey Culver, jr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Sydney Sickels, sr., Indianola
Morgan Greiner, jr., Ottumwa
Erica Oler, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Kaylin Kinney, soph., Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Alex Honnold, soph., West Des Moines Valley
Emily Flint, sr., Johnston
Ellie Spelhaug, sr., Pleasant Valley
Carli Spelhaug, jr., Pleasant Valley
Claire Stalzer, sr., West Des Moines Valley
Kaitlyn Moses, sr., West Des Moines Dowling
Peyton Daugherty, sr., Ankeny
Alana Cooksley, sr., Dubuque Hempstead
Jayme Scheck, fr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Alexia Lara, sr., Pleasant Valley
Bre Tjebben, sr., Fort Dodge
Coach of the year — Brian Erbe, Cedar Rapids Jefferson
SECOND TEAM
(area only)
Olivia Erickson, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Ally Johnson, sr., Linn-Mar
Ayana Lindsey, fr., Iowa City High
THIRD TEAM
(area only)
Ariana Rolle, sr., Linn-Mar
Carey Koenig, fr., Iowa City High
Kaylee Donner, jr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Nicole Sullivan, soph., Cedar Rapids Prairie
Camryn Jeffords, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Class 4A
FIRST TEAM
Mackenzie Hupke, jr., Independence
Samantha Heyer, jr., Charles City
Olivia Brecht, sr., Center Point-Urbana
Emily Valtman, jr., Newton
Hannah Blackford, sr., Des Moines Hoover
Abbie Hlas, soph., Adel ADM
Delaney Schnathorst, soph., Carlisle
Maddie Haines, fr., Oskaloosa
Alyvia Dubois, jr., Carlisle
Danny Barker, sr., Winterset
Ashley Tennant, sr., Adel ADM
Alyx Witt, sr., Norwalk
Josie Bunnell, sr., Oskaloosa
Sydney Nielsen, jr., Marion
Chi Glaha, sr., Mount Pleasant
Sarah Heilesen, jr., Denison-Schleswig
Madelyn Morgensen, jr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Lisabeth Fiser, soph., Charles City
Abby Nolte, jr., Des Moines Hoover
Amber Fistler, sr., Dallas Center-Grimes
Coach of the year — Melissa Feuerbach, Des Moines Hoover
SECOND TEAM
(area only)
Reagan Schutte, soph., Center Point-Urbana
Charlotte Richards, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier
Keera Ball, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier
Lydia Butters, sr., Independence
Brylee Klosterman, soph., Iowa City Liberty
Kellie Dallmeyer, fr., Washington
THIRD TEAM
(area only)
Maddie Karr, sr., Center Point-Urbana
Ella Link, soph., Western Dubuque
Hanna Horsfield, sr., Western Dubuque
Maria Steffen, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier
Class 3A
FIRST TEAM
Hannah Kelley, sr., Davenport Assumption
Riley Holmgren, sr., Roland-Story
Madison Friest, sr., Roland-Story
Olivia Wardlow, fr., Davenport Assumption
Shelby Hulsebus, sr., Benton Community
Hannah Isley, sr., Albia
Hannah Pals, sr., North Polk
Taylor Ryan, jr., Solon
Taylor Hogan, jr., Waterloo Columbus
Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag, sr., Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley
Karli Olsen, soph., Spirit Lake
Alexis Handel, sr., Atlantic
Randie Richmond, sr., Eddyville EBF
Alex Beard, soph., Albia
Ellie Jacobson, soph., Humboldt
Emme Hjelle, sr., Algona
Angie Gorkow, jr., Benton Community
Ally Anderson, sr., Atlantic
Carlie Thompson, soph., Humboldt
Sydney Schultz, jr., Waterloo Columbus
Payton Ahrenstorff, jr., Spirit Lake
Tara Wehde, soph., Camanche
Coach of the year — Amber Doyle, Roland-Story
SECOND TEAM
(area only)
Grace Martensen, jr., Benton Community
Sammy Moss, jr., Mount Vernon
Haylee Lehman, soph., West Liberty
Heather Boeckenstedt, jr., Dyersville Beckman
Bailey Sullivan, sr., Mount Vernon
Skyler Stookey, jr., Solon
THIRD TEAM
(area only)
Macy Akers, jr., West Liberty
Marrah Burrack, sr., North Fayette Valley
Macey Kleitsch, soph., West Delaware
Madison Rogers, sr., Solon
Elisabeth Davis, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg
Taylor McDonald, sr., Monticello
Class 2A
FIRST TEAM
Hannah Ausenbus, jr., Central Springs
Abby Kraemer, jr., Alta-Aurelia
Abby Flanagan, soph., North Linn
Peyton Gross, sr., IKM-Manning
Krayton Allen, sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg
Lily Peterson, sr., Alta-Aurelia
Kamryn Meyer, sr., Durant
Kylan Straight, sr., Logan-Magnolia
Taryn Hintz, soph., South O’Brien
Isabella True, jr., Louisa-Muscatine
Meagan Blomgren, jr., Van Meter
Emma Veenstra, jr., Des Moines Christian
Mady Reid, soph., Wapello
Shayden Blankenship, soph., West Sioux
Hannah Happ, jr., Durant
Sydni Huisman, jr., Treynor
Ries Wilson, sr., Colfax-Mingo
Taylor Hipsley, sr., Earlham
Denali Loecker, soph., Ogden
Kylee Sanders, fr., Louisa-Muscatine
Chloe Wells, fr., Wilton
Katie Bracken, jr., Iowa City Regina
Coach of the year — Bryan Butler, Louisa-Muscatine
SECOND TEAM
(area only)
Kristin Sadler, soph., Jesup
Madison Osborn, jr., Alburnett
Jess Hunter, jr., Iowa City Regina
Grace Flanagan, soph., North Linn
THIRD TEAM
(area only)
Zoe Miller, soph., Jesup
Kaitlyn Sommerfelt, fr., North Linn
Paisley Gardner, sr., Iowa City Regina
Class 1A
FIRST TEAM
Taryan Barrick, jr., Ackley AGWSR
Brynn Van Eldik, sr., Akron-Westfield
Kelsey Lint, jr., BGM
Kori Wedeking, soph., Clarksville
Mikayla Houge, soph., Collins-Maxwell
Alexis Houge, 8th, Collins-Maxwell
Jade Hays, sr., Coon Rapids-Bayard
Sophia Peppers, sr., Exira-EHK
Talia Schon, soph., Glidden-Ralston
Kendra Cooper, sr., Lansing Kee
Chloe Severson, sr., Lansing Kee
Bradi Harvey, sr., Kingsley-Pierson
T.J. Stoaks, fr., Lenox
Skylar Sadler, jr., Lisbon
Kaitlyn Schad, sr., Martensdale-St. Marys
Emma McDanel, sr., Moravia
Breianna Klein, jr., Murray
Layney Loyd, soph., New London
Lily Castle, soph., Mason City Newman
Olivia Larsen, soph., Sidney
Autum Barthelman, sr., Sigourney
Haylee Fortune, sr., Wayne
Lexi Lander, soph., West Monona
Payge Ronfeldt, sr., Woodbury Central
Coach of the year — Troy Houge, Collins-Maxwell
SECOND TEAM
(area only)
Leeah Weber, soph., Central City
Nicki Wood, sr., Lansing Kee
Maddie Morningstar, sr., Lisbon
Madison Schauf, sr., Sigourney
THIRD TEAM
(area only)
Shaylee Dodd, jr., Belle Plaine
Sam Schrantz, jr., Lisbon
Chloe Jacque, jr., Lone Tree
Rylee Menster, sr., Springville
l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com