Shenandoah junior Levi Green throws the ball back into the infield from right field Tuesday, June 30, during a home win over Tri-Center.
Shenandoah junior Levi Green throws the ball back into the infield from right field Tuesday, June 30, during a home win over Tri-Center.
The Clarinda softball and baseball teams produced a playoff win each and the Shenandoah baseball team recorded an impressive early winning streak to highlight the summer sports season.
Clarinda leads area schools with nine selections to the Southwest Iowa Herald Summer Sports All-Area Team, which is released here.
For the ninth straight summer season, the Southwest Iowa Herald releases an all-area team that spans all school-sanctioned, in-season sports. The Summer All-Area Team is made up of 20 athletes, 10 boys and 10 girls, evenly split between a first and second team. The All-Area Team is comprised of baseball and softball athletes, and all Clarinda, Essex, Shenandoah and Sidney athletes are eligible. At least one boy and one girl are required from each school.
The Summer All-Area Team is a bit different than the spring, winter and fall teams, as there aren’t multiple sports to compare. This team is a bit different than most postseason teams you’ll see, though, as there are no position distinctions.
There were nearly 50 athletes considered for this year’s team.
The baseball and softball seasons were recapped over the last two weeks. This isn’t the end of the summer sports postseason, though, as the Summer Sports Male and Female Athletes of the Year are unveiled next week.
Clarinda led the way with nine summer all-area selections, five on the first team. Shenandoah ended with six selections, including the other five first team picks. There were three Sidney athletes and two from Essex who made the all-area team, all on the second team.
There were nine repeat selections from last year’s summer all-area team, including one four-time summer pick and another making the summer all-area team for the third time. Three of the summer all-area selections were also picked for another seasonal all-area team earlier this school year.
Eight athletes on the summer all-area team were selected for their first seasonal all-area team.
The senior class led the way with nine all-area selections, including half of the first team. The juniors and sophomores had four picks each with two juniors and one sophomore earning first team honors. There were two freshmen on the all-area first team and one eighth grader on the second team.
The full team is below, starting with the first team selections, listed alphabetically.
Tyler Babe, Shenandoah Senior
Shenandoah senior Tyler Babe makes contact at the plate Thursday, May 28, during a loss at Clarinda. Babe is a summer all-area selection for the second straight season.
The first all-area athlete recognized is Shenandoah baseball’s primary catcher. Babe led the Mustang bats in hits with 29 and RBIs with 24. He hit .372 for the season and slugged right at .500. He was one of four Mustangs to steal double digit bases and threw out six runners trying to steal. Babe is a first team selection for the second straight year.
Teagan Brunk, Shenandoah Senior
Shenandoah senior Teagan Brunk fields his position at pitcher, tossing the ball to first base to record an out Tuesday, June 30, during a home win over Tri-Center. Brunk was strong on the mound and at the plate for the Mustangs, earning first team all-area recognition.
Brunk was a strong middle of the order bat for a Mustang team that won 12 games this season. Nine of his 24 hits went for extra bases, including two home runs and one double. He scored 13 runs and drove in 20. He also pitched 31 1/3 innings over eight appearances, striking out 38 with a 2.01 ERA. He committed just two errors all season. Brunk was a first team selection in the spring.
Jordan Butt, Clarinda Senior
Clarinda senior Jordan Butt fires a warmup pitch during the Cardinals' district tournament game against Treynor. Butt had another great season on the mound for the Cardinals and earned first-team all-area recognition.
Butt is the first of the area-best nine Clarinda athletes on the all-area team. He stepped in after a preseason injury and was superb on the mound and in the middle of the batting order for the Cardinals. He struck out 46 batters and finished with a 1.97 ERA in 39 innings over seven starts. He added 17 hits, including three doubles and two home runs, 13 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Butt was also a first team selection in the fall.
Lyndie Green, Shenandoah Sophomore
Shenandoah sophomore Lyndie Green leads off second base Tuesday, June 2, during the Fillies' home win over Red Oak. Green is a summer all-area selection for the second straight season.
Back to Shenandoah for the first softball player to earn all-area recognition. Green was a strong bat in the middle of Shenandoah’s lineup. She was second on the Fillies with 25 hits, eight for extra bases. She scored 18 runs, tied for most on the team, and drove in 15. Green moves up after being a second team summer selection last season.
Rylee Maher, Clarinda Freshman
Clarinda freshman Rylee Maher swings away at a pitch Monday, June 29, during a home loss to Lewis Central. Maher's terrific season earned her first team summer all-area recognition for the second straight year.
Maher is the first Clarinda softball player recognized on the all-area team and she had a big season with 54 hits, 15 for extra bases, including two home runs and three triples, 54 runs scored and 36 RBIs. Her OPS was over 1.200 for the season while manning center field for the Cardinals. She committed just two errors in center field and swiped 38 bases. Maher is a first team summer all-area selection for the second straight year.
Annika Price, Clarinda Senior
Clarinda senior Annika Price prepares to make a play at third base Tuesday, June 16, during a home loss to Atlantic. Price's play this summer earned her a third straight selection to the summer all-area first team.
Let’s stay with Clarinda softball with Price, who had another terrific season to finish her high school career, hitting .450 with 10 doubles, 37 runs scored and 43 RBIs. She was part of an impressive middle of the order for the Cardinals, with a team-best .538 on-base percentage during the season. This is Price’s third straight year being a first team summer all-area selection.
Bella Trowbridge, Shenandoah Freshman
Shenandoah freshman Bella Trowbridge swings away at a pitch Tuesday, June 30, against Tri-Center. After being on the second team last season, Trowbridge earned a place on the summer all-area first team.
Trowbridge gives Shenandoah softball a second first team selection. As the team’s primary catcher, she threw out eight runners attempting to steal this season. She was electric with the bat, leading the team with 26 hits, six for extra bases. Her 17 RBIs from the middle of the Fillie lineup led the team. Teammate Abbey Dumler was one of the top players excluded from the all-area team. Trowbridge was a second team summer all-area selection last year.
Logan Twyman, Shenandoah Senior
Shenandoah senior Logan Twyman makes a warmup pitch Friday, June 12, during a home win over Clarinda. Twyman's pitching earned him a fourth straight selection to the Summer Sports All-Area Team.
Twyman gives Shenandoah baseball a third first team selection. He was Shenandoah’s top pitcher again this season, striking out 53 opposing batters over 35 innings, six starts. He faced some of the best area competition, wrapping up the year with an ERA of 1.60 and a WHIP of 0.97. He also hit .259 with 14 runs scored and 10 RBIs. Twyman makes his fourth straight summer all-area team, second time as a first team pick.
Ryan Wagoner, Clarinda Junior
Clarinda junior Ryan Wagoner waits for the next pitch Friday, July 3, during a district tournament game. Wagoner is a first team summer all-area selection for the second straight year.
Wagoner is the second Clarinda baseball player to earn all-area honors. He led the team with a .400 batting average despite missing a few games with an injury. His 16 RBIs were most on the team as he finished with 20 hits, including two triples and one home run. He started the season as the team’s top catcher and committed just two errors on the season. Wagoner is a first team summer all-area selection for the second straight year.
Janessa Woolsey, Clarinda Junior
Clarinda junior Janessa Woolsey makes a play on a foul ball Thursday, May 28, during a home win over Shenandoah. Woolsey's play earned her a place on the summer sports all-area team.
Woolsey is the third Cardinal softball player earning first team all-area recognition. She batted .458 for the season and slugged a team-best .692. Her 49 hits were second most for the Cardinals and included five home runs and one triple. She drove in a team-best and school record 52 runs. She saw quite a bit of time at catcher this season and threw out five runners attempting to steal. Woolsey earns a seasonal all-area selection for the first time.
Zach Boyd, Sidney Sophomore
Sidney sophomore Zach Boyd stands in the batter's box looking in at the next Essex pitch Tuesday, June 23, during a Cowboy victory. Boyd earned a place on the summer all-area team.
The second team starts in Sidney where Boyd is the Sidney boys representative on the summer all-area team. He finished the season with 10 hits, including two doubles. His 19 runs scored were most on the Cowboys and he drove in 11. He threw out two runners from behind the plate at catcher and stepped up as a leader as Sidney and East Mills came together as one team on the baseball diamond this season. This is the first time Boyd has been selected for a seasonal all-area team.
Eli Cameron, Shenandoah Senior
Shenandoah senior Eli Cameron throws out a Red Oak batter from his defensive position at third base Tuesday, June 2, during a Mustang win over Red Oak.
Cameron gives Shenandoah baseball one more summer all-area selection, all seniors. He hit .297 on the season with 24 runs scored and 15 RBIs. His veteran presence at the top of batting order was essential in Shenandoah’s 12-win season. Cameron stole a team-high 16 bases, committed just three errors, mainly at third base, and gave the Mustangs 17 innings on the mound. Teammates Levi Green and Joey O’Rourke just missed all-area recognition. Cameron ends his high school career with his first seasonal all-area selection.
Avary Gamber, Sidney 8th Grade
Sidney eighth grader Avary Gamber pitches the ball during a win Monday, June 8, at Stanton. Gamber struck out eight and delivered three hits on offense in the win.
Gamber is the first Sidney softball player recognized and the only eighth grader on the summer all-area team. She led the Cowgirls with a .431 batting average and .500 on-base percentage. She finished the season with 22 hits, including three doubles, and drove in 12 runs. Gamber was also the team’s top pitcher, striking out 44 batters over 60 2/3 innings. In her first season, Gamber earns her first seasonal all-area selection.
Makenzie Kane, Clarinda Junior
Clarinda junior Makenzie Kane makes a pitch Friday, June 26, during a win at Shenandoah. Kane earned second team summer all-area recognition for the first time.
Kane stepped up as Clarinda softball’s top pitcher this season and struck out 43 batters in 108 innings. Her work in the circle was a big reason the Cardinals were able to enjoy the success they had this season. She won eight of her 17 starts and finished with a 6.48 ERA. She also became a dependable bat for the Cardinals, hitting .319 with 23 hits and 10 RBIs. Kane is a seasonal all-area selection for the first time.
Bridget Kromminga, Sidney Senior
Sidney senior Bridget Kromminga makes contact with a pitch Tuesday, June 23, during a win at Essex. Kromminga earned a spot on a seasonal all-area team for the first time.
Kromminga gives Sidney softball a second all-area pick. She led the Cowgirls in runs with 16 and RBIs with 17, all coming after a slow start to the season. She hit .308 and reached base nearly half the time. She finished with 12 hits, including one triple and one double. This is Kromminga’s first time being selected for a seasonal all-area team.
Kort Neal, Clarinda Senior
Clarinda senior Kort Neal steps into his throw across the diamond from third base Tuesday, June 16, in a win over Atlantic.
Neal enjoyed another big season for Clarinda baseball, throwing 31 1/3 innings on the mound with 20 strikeouts and a 2.23 ERA. He was the winning pitcher in Clarinda’s game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He ended the year with 18 hits, including three doubles, one triple and one home run, to go with 13 runs and 13 RBIs. Neal was a first team summer all-area selection last year and a second team pick in the spring.
Will Roberts, Essex Senior
Essex senior Will Roberts delivers a warmup pitch Tuesday, June 23, prior to his first pitch. He came on in relief during a loss to Sidney.
Roberts is the all-area representative for the Essex boys after tying for the team lead with five hits and scoring eight runs, most for the Trojans. He was on base at nearly a .500 clip. He stole eight bases and didn’t commit an error defensively. He made two starts on the mound for the Trojans and struck out six over 8 2/3 innings. Roberts ends his high school career with his first seasonal all-area selection.
Paityn Vanatta, Essex Sophomore
Essex sophomore Paityn Vanatta plays third base during a home game this season. Vanatta earned a place on the summer sports all-area team.
We stay in Essex where Vanatta is the Essex girls representative on the all-area team. Her 18 hits were most on the team and included four doubles and three home runs. She scored 18 runs and drove in nine, also both team-high marks. She also gave the Trojanettes 5 2/3 innings in the circle, striking out six. Vanatta is a seasonal all-area selection for the second time.
Nolan Wagoner, Clarinda Sophomore
Clarinda sophomore Nolan Wagoner makes a throw from shortstop during the Cardinals' home loss Saturday, June 20, against Denison. Wagoner earned his second straight summer all-area selection.
Wagoner is the fourth Clarinda baseball player to earn all-area honors. He doubled to open the game at Busch Stadium, nearly a home run, and hit .333 at the top of the Clarinda lineup, with 26 runs, 25 hits, including four doubles and two home runs, and 15 RBIs. His 17 stolen bases led the team. Teammate Creighton Bird just missed a spot on the all-area team. Wagoner was a first team summer all-area pick last year.
Hannah Worl, Clarinda Junior
Clarinda junior Hannah Worl prepares for the next pitch while playing first base Monday, June 29, against Lewis Central. Worl earned a place on the summer all-area team.
Our list of top players ends with a fifth Clarinda softball athlete as Worl provided some pop in her first season on the varsity diamond. She finished the year with 30 hits, including four home runs, 23 runs scored and 27 RBIs. Her season average ended at .286 with an on-base mark of .353. A sixth Cardinal softball player in Hadley Miller just missed a place on the all-area team. This is the first time Worl has been selected to a seasonal all-area team.
Congratulations to all 20 athletes. The Summer Sports Male and Female Athletes of the Year will be unveiled next week. In two weeks, we look back at the best of the school year with the All-Sports, All-Area Team.
Highlights from Shenandoah/Clarinda softball Friday, June 26, in Shenandoah
Recent Clarinda High School graduate and football player Jordan Butt competed in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic Saturday, July 25, in Cedar Falls. He’s pictured with his head football coach at Clarinda, Conner Hanafan, who was an assistant coach for the South Team.
Recent Clarinda High School graduate and football player Jordan Butt competed in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic Saturday, July 25, in Cedar Falls. He’s pictured with his head football coach at Clarinda, Conner Hanafan, who was an assistant coach for the South Team.
