CMB softball hopes to go even further in final season

It was a dream season for the Collins-Maxwell/Baxter softball team in 2016. The Raiders hope 2017 is even better.

They’ll have to replace a gigantic hole in middle of the lineup, but the rest of the team is back from a squad which finished fifth in Class 3A at last year’s state tournament.

With one year left together, the Raiders look to bring home an even better trophy in 2017.

“We are setting lofty goals,” CMB coach Troy Houge said. “We don’t hide from the expectations. We’ll go after it and hit it straight on. Our goals last year were to win the conference and make it to state. We have similar goals this year but would like to go out on top. Hopefully we can take that next step.”

The Raiders won the Heart of Iowa Conference title as a 3A team last year. This season, if they win the title again, it will be as the largest 2A program in the state.

Graduated senior Payge Jurgens took her talents to Waldorf, and Houge admits her nine home runs, 33 RBIs, 35 runs and .436 batting average will not be able to be replaced. He does think a few of his younger players can get a little better than they were last year to make up the difference lost by the departed Jurgens.

“You can’t replaced Payge with one person,” Houge said. “We do have enough girls though to pick up the slack. We don’t have to make all of that up anyway.”

The good news for the Raiders is everyone who played significant innings a season ago is back, including all-state pitchers Abbey Kahler and Mikayla Houge.

Kahler, a senior, earned second team all-state honors last year after going 14-5 in the circle with an earned run average of 2.11. She fanned 126 batters and walked just 10 in 109 2/3 innings.

At the plate, Kahler is the top returning hitter after averaging .385 a year ago. She belted two home runs and ranked third on the team with 28 RBIs. She also walked 14 times and had a team-best 11 doubles.

Houge, a freshman, was just as impressive in her first high school season last year. Houge gave the Raiders three all-state players, joining Jurgens and Kahler, as she was named a third-team all-stater after going 13-3 in the circle with and ERA of 1.56. Houge fanned 116 batters and walked 26 in 112 1/3 innings.

Houge wasn’t too shabby at the plate either. batting .323 with 22 RBIs.

“Both pitchers are proven, and it’s nice having a 1-2 combination,” Houge said. “I try to go week by week based on matchups. We’ll mix them up and give teams different looks.”

Two other seniors are back after earning all-conference second-team honors.

Mikayla Eslinger returns to second base after hitting .361 with 31 RBIs and eight doubles.

Megan Ritter is back in center fielder and in the lead-off spot after hitting .348 and stealing 20 bases. She was second on the team with 27 runs and drove in 15 runs.

Sophomore Hannah Caple joined Ritter and Eslinger on the all-conference second team last year. She hit .298 in her first season as starting catcher.

Junior Katie Camp and freshman Holly Jessen return after claiming honorable mention all-conference honors. Camp hit .288 and scored 26 runs, and Jessen batted .321 in her first high school season.

Other returning starters include senior Heather Jessen and junior Jordynn Wesselink.

Coach Houge said junior Kaitlynn Kelly, senior Veronica Condon and sophomore Sydney are three others who could see more playing time this season.

The Raiders won 27 games last year, which set a new school record. CMB starts the season as the favorite in the HOIC conference, but North Polk, Saydel, South Hamilton, Greene County and Prairie City-Monroe all have enough talent to challenge the Raiders for the conference title.

CMB defeated PCM, Saydel and North Polk to get to its first state tournament last season. They won’t have to do that this year in 2A.

“There are tough teams all around no matter what class you are in,” Coach Houge said. “Nothing will come easy. We played the 2A teams well last year though.”

CMB opens the 2017 season against Nevada at 7 p.m. Monday in Collins. The Raiders host Greene County at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Collins.