Butler leads three Newton softball players on all-LHC team

Senior Kya Butler, sophomore Kadance Ahn and eighth-grader Mack Sims ranked in the top three in most offensive statistical categories this summer for Newton’s softball team.

And after the season, all three were named to the all-conference team in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

Butler led the way with a second-team selection, while Ahn and Sims both were honorable mention.

All-conference honors are based on statistics inside LHC play only.

Butler’s second-team honor came as a utility player. She led the Cardinals with a slugging percentage of .405 and scored a team-high 13 runs.

Butler was second with a .310 batting average, third with an on-base percentage of .396, third in total bases with 17 and tied for third with four stolen bases. She also ranked tied for fourth with 13 hits.

Butler added three RBIs, one homer, four walks, two hit by pitches and her fielding percentage was .867.

Ahn led the Cardinals with a .327 batting average. She ranked first on the team and 11th in the LHC with an OBP of .485, ranked tied for first on the team and tied for 10th in the conference with seven stolen bases and led the team and the LHC with eight hit by pitches.

Ahn’s eight walks ranked second on the team and tied for 12th in the conference. She also ranked tied for first on the team with two doubles and was second with 11 runs, 19 total bases and 17 hits.

Her .365 slugging percentage ranked tied for second and her fielding percentage was .877. She also collected five RBIs.

Sims was impressive in her first varsity season. She led the team with 19 hits, 10 walks and 23 total bases and ranked tied for first with seven stolen bases. The 10 walks ranked tied for fourth in the LHC and the seven steals tied for 10th.

Sims ranked second on the squad with an OBP of .413 and she tied for second with a slugging percentage of .365 and seven RBIs.

Sims’ two doubles ranked tied for first on the team, while she was third with a .302 batting average and 10 runs scored. She added one triple, two hit by pitches and her fielding percentage was .918.

Little Hawkeye Conference Softball

Final Standings

Team LHC Overall

DCG 19-1 35-7

Norwalk 18-3 30-8

Indianola 16-5 28-13

Oskaloosa 7-13 11-22

Newton 7-14 13-19

Grinnell 6-15 12-17

Pella 6-15 14-22

Pella Christian 4-17 10-22

All-Conference

First Team

Pitcher — *Zadie Wadle, jr., Norwalk; *Aubrey Johansen, so., DCG.

Catcher — Mara Bishop, sr., Indianola; Ava Curry, so., Pella.

Infielder — Brynn Ortlund, jr., Indianola; *Elle Nelsen, sr., DCG; Macee Reiling, so., DCG; Natalie Harrill, sr., Pella Christian.

Outfielder — Nya Hulbert, fr., Norwalk; Selia Becker, sr., Indianola; *Emri Agre, jr., Pella Christian.

Utility — *Ella Grife, jr., Grinnell; *Reese Burke, so., DCG; *Olivia Gordon, sr., Oskaloosa.

Second Team

Pitcher — *Camila Rodriguez, so., DCG; *Addi Downe, so., Norwalk.

Catcher — Gretta Dodd, jr., Grinnell.

Infielder — Ashlyn Imhoff, sr., Grinnell; Presley Blommers, jr., Oskaloosa; Jordyn Gripp, jr., Indianola; Kiley Kindelspire, fr., Indianola.

Outfielder — Olivia Huston, jr., DCG; Maleah Walker, jr., Oskaloosa; Jaylynn Brandt, so., Norwalk.

Utility — Kya Butler, sr., Newton; Kylie Tauke, jr., Pella; Kate Van Compermolle, jr., Grinnell.

*Unanimous selection

Honorable Mention

Kadance Ahn, so., Newton; Mack Sims, 8th, Newton; Bella Mulder, so., DCG; Lauren Wyllie, sr., DCG; Kelsey Van Compermolle, jr., Grinnell; Rhiannon Rees, 8th, Grinnell; Izzie Benge, fr., Indianola; Hanna Graham, sr., Indianola; Lauren Black, so., Norwalk; Kady Vandemark, sr., Norwalk; Aubrey Boender, sr., Oskaloosa; Lucy Roach, jr., Oskaloosa; Thea Wisse, sr., Pella; Kiki Riggen, so., Pella; Emma Eekhoff, 9th, Pella Christian; Faith Kacmarynski, fr., Pella Christian.