Newton’s Jenkins earns 4A All-District softball honors

For the fourth consecutive season, Newton High’s Sydney Jenkins received Class 4A All-District honors for her performance on the softball field. The Cardinal senior was named to the 2016 4A Southeast All-District softball team.

The Iowa Girls Coaches Association released its 2016 All-District Softball Teams Saturday. Eight area high school players joined Jenkins in earning honors and one area head coach.

In Class 3A, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter’s senior Payge Jurgens and junior Abbey Kahler and Prairie City-Monroe junior Jayci Vos were named to the Central All-District team. CMB head coach Troy Houge was named the Central District Coach of the Year.

In Class 1A, Lynnville-Sully senior Kasiah Ehresman and junior Brenna Lanser and Colfax-Mingo’s junior Amy Russell and sophomores Ries Wilson and Rhiannon Haley received South Central All-District honors.

Jenkins, who has been a starter for Newton for five years, has earned all-district honors from her freshman season on. She was the starting catcher for three years, receiving all-district honors as a freshman and sophomore. As a junior, Jenkins switched to shortstop and has been an all-district selection twice at that position.

Jenkins, who will play NCAA Division I softball at Creighton next year, led the Cardinals to a 21-11 record in 2016. She finished 10th in 4A in stolen base attempts, 28-of-28. She had an on-base average of .561, which was 12th best in 4A.

Jenkins had a .451 batting average for the Cardinals, leading them in triples with four and home runs with two. She had 43 hits and 10 doubles. She scored 39 runs and drove in 11 runs. She had a fielding average of .956.

CMB won the Heart of Iowa Conference title and claimed its first-ever state tournament berth this season under head coach Troy Houge. The Raiders (25-8) begin 3A state tournament action Tuesday in Fort Dodge.

As the Raiders’ first baseman Jurgens has the 13th best slugging average, .780, in 3A. Her nine home runs is tied for eighth in 3A. She had a .429 batting average with 39 hits. She had five doubles. Jurgens drove in 29 runs and scored 33 runs.

Kahler has a 13-4 pitching record for the CMB and her 121 strikeouts is 13th in Class 3A. She has a 1.95 ERA, giving up 77 hits and 41 runs. She walked 10 batters. Kahler also had 41 hits, 11 doubles, two home runs and 28 RBIs with a .410 batting average.

PCM’s Vos led the Mustangs in stolen bases, 10-of-11, and in RBIs, 20. She had a .341 batting average and a .869 fielding average at third base. Vos had 29 hits, two doubles, two triples and led the team with four home runs. She scored 23 runs.

In Class 1A, Lynnville-Sully’s Ehresman finished second in stolen bases by one. Ehresman was 67-of-70 on stolen base attempts and finished her career with 219 stolen bases. Her 52 runs scored was 10th in 1A. She had 49 hits, one double and five RBIs. She had a .537 on-base average and hit .462 as the Hawks’ second baseman.

At third base for the Hawks was Lanser, who led the team with seven home runs, tied for seventh in Class 1A. She had 47 RBIs, which was ninth in 1A, with a .458 batting average and a .794 slugging average. Lanser had 49 hits, nine doubles and three triples. She had a .794 slugging average.

Colfax-Mingo’s Tigerhawks captured the South Iowa Cedar League title going 25-10 this season.

Russell was 16-5 in the pitching circle for the Tigerhawks with a 2.13 ERA. Russell allowed 60 runs on 103 hits, 34 walks and 14 hit batters. She recorded 119 strikeouts. She also had two saves. Russell’s .521 batting average was sixth best in 1A and her .860 slugging average was eighth in 1A.

Russell led the Tigerhawks with 63 hits, 17 doubles and six home runs. She drove in 44 runs and scored a team-high 50 runs. She was 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts.

Wilson played center field for Colfax-Mingo and powered out six home runs. She led the team with 18 doubles. Wilson had 60 hits and three triples. She scored 47 runs and had 33 RBIs. Wilson had a .462 batting average, and a .785 slugging percentage. She was 11-of-12 on stolen base attempts.

Haley was behind the plate all season for the Tigerhawks, throwing out 10 runners on 25 stolen base attempts. She had 47 hits, nine double sand five home runs. Haley had 38 RBIs with a .398 batting average.

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