Starters return for Cardinal softball in 2016

With no seniors on the roster in 2015, Newton High’s Cardinal softball team finished one game under .500 at 16-17. The Cardinals charge into the 2016 softball season with a full head of steam and most of their starters returning.

“We are aiming high this season and goals have been set. The girls are ready to hit those goals and more,” Newton second-year head coach Kristina McNew said. “Yes, the team and I grew together last year. They know what to expect out of each other and from me.

“It’s just putting it all together for the Ws (wins).”

McNew, who played for Newton High as a catcher and shortstop, has a young team again with only three seniors on the roster. She also has two new assistant coaches in Elizabeth Roby-Miklus and Taryn Fisher.

Roby-Miklus is the junior varsity coach. She currently is attending Wartburg College and playing softball for Wartburg. Fisher is the freshman coach, who teaches seventh-grade English at Berg Middle School.

“Elizabeth and Taryn are excited about coaching here and working with our players,” McNew said.

The cornerstone of the Cardinal squad are its three seniors — all-state shortstop Sydney Jenkins, second baseman Fran Lucas and center fielder Kari Adams. Newton returns its starting battery — pitcher and catcher — in freshman Peyton Maher and sophomore Kennedy Leiker.

Jenkins has been a force for the Cardinals since her freshman season. She was the team’s starting catcher for two years before moving to shortstop in 2015.

Jenkins has earned first-team Little Hawkeye Conference honors and Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 4A Southeast District honors for three years. She was named to the IGCA Class 4A All-State second team last year.

Jenkins led the Cardinals in all offensive categories during the 2015 season. She led the team in hitting for the third straight season Her .500 batting average was 10th best in 4A.

She owned an .830 slugging percentage, which was seventh best in 4A and a fifth-best .597 on-base percentage.

As Newton’s leadoff hitter for most of the season, Jenkins was 20-of-22 on stolen base attempts. She drew 21 walks and was hit by pitches three times. She only struck out eight times. Jenkins had 50 hits, eight doubles, five triples and five home runs. She drove in 29 runs and scored 37 runs.

Jenkins switched from catcher to shortstop. She had an .882 fielding percentage. She had 15 errors on 127 fielding chances with 49 putouts and 63 assists.

Adams is slotted for center field this season. She earned LHC honors as a sophomore. In her junior season, Adams hit .194 with six doubles, one triple and one home run. She drove in seven runs and scored 15 runs.

Lucas returns at second base giving the Cardinals a strong middle infield duo with Jenkins. She had a .912 fielding average with eight errors defensively. She scored 17 runs and drove in 12 runs as a .169 hitter. Lucas had 11 hits, two doubles and a home run.

Maher earned All-Little Hawkeye Conference honorable mention honors a year ago. Maher stepped into the No. 1 pitching spot as an eighth-grader, going 12-12 for the Cardinals.

Maher had a 1.90 earned run average over 162 innings pitched. Maher allowed 122 hits and 72 runs, walked 43 batters and hit seven with a pitch.

Maher chalked up 151 strikeouts. She had a fielding percentage of .944 and three errors.

Maher provided plenty at the plate for the Cardinals as the clean-up hitter. Her .355 batting average was second best for the team. She had 38 hits, which included six doubles. Maher drove in 24 runs and scored eight.

Kennedy Leiker was the starting catcher with a .936 fielding average behind the plate. She had three errors defensively and threw out eight base runners. She hit .205 with 17 hits and two doubles, driving in 14 runs.

Sophomore Karley Leiker is back in right field for Newton. She earned conference honorable mention honors. She had a .960 fielding average, and had one error.

Karley Leiker usually hit in the second slot of the Newton batting order last year. She finished the season with a .282 batting average, which was fourth on the team. She had 29 hits and one double. She drove in 23 runs and scored 16 runs. She was 5 of 5 on stolen base attempts.

Sophomores Audrey Lucas and Taylor Ryan return at the Newton infield corners — third and first base, respectively. Lucas hit .235 with 24 hits and four doubles and six RBIs. Ryan was a .321 hitter with 27 hits, five doubles and one home run. Ryan scored 15 runs and drove in 19 runs.

Also back are freshmen Emily Valtman, Anna Coyle and Lakin Jenkins, sophomores Liz McVey and Mackenzie Johnson and juniors Lynae Doland and Lizzy Coyle. All saw limited varsity action last year, but are expected to contribute more this season.

Anna Coyle was sharing pitching duties with Maher last year until an injury sidelined her. She made six starts in the circle, going 3-3. She had a 5.88 ERA, giving up 40 hits and 11 walks while striking out six. Ryan is expected to pitch for the NHS junior varsity and Maddison Thayer is the freshman team’s pitcher.

“The positions aren’t set in stone and can change depending on different situations,” McNew said. “The girls have been working hard and we had our first scrimmage Monday. It went well. Of course, there are things to work on in regular practice before our first game Tuesday at Marshalltown.”

Other players expected to work in varsity playing time are junior Mackenzie Hansen, sophomores Harlie Durr, Rylie Bakalar and Jaden Adams and freshmen Brittany McConnell and Rilee Slycord.

McNew said the concern going into the season is about mental toughness — the girls believing in themselves. She said confidence is always something an athlete struggles with somewhere in their career.

“By working on weaknesses and strengths, they get stronger. They develop confidence by knowing what to expect of themselves and their teammates, which makes us stronger as a team each game,” McNew said.

Newton finished 3-8 in Little Hawkeye Conference play in 2015. The Cardinals were sixth in the conference, which had four teams in the Class 4A rankings last year including three-time 4A state champion Dallas Center-Grimes.

“Everyone on the team has seen the conference and knows what to expect. The girls are ready to complete again and improve from last year,” McNew said.

Newton’s season opener is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Marshalltown. The Cardinal’s home opener is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against Knoxville at Berg Middle School.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com