Seven seniors, a junior and a sophomore made their marks in Iola High School softball and baseball history during the 2010 spring season. Those efforts were recognized by Southeast Kansas League coaches.
The 2010 SEK All-League Softball and Baseball teams were chosen by the coaches right after the regular season concluded. The teams were not released until after the state tournaments were finished at the end of May.
Iola High’s seniors Alex Hill and Molly Riebel and junior Leah Weir earned 2010 All-SEK softball first team. Seniors Brandi Preston and Kylee McKarnin were named to the second team.
Earning first team All-SEK baseball honors were senior Ryan Latta and sophomore Jerrick Sigg. Seniors Chris Heffern and Connor Frazell earned second team honors.
Hill was named to the All-SEK softball first team for the second year in a row. As a sophomore she was a second-team selection.
Hill became Iola’s career-leading pitcher with 39 wins after a 15-3 senior campaign. She is the top single-season strikeout leader with 143 in 2010 and has the career strikeout lead with 333.
Hill had an earned run average (ERA) of 1.17 in 2010 as the Fillies went 16-3 overall. She gave up 30 runs, 53 hits and walked 26 batters. She also had a fielding average of .938.
Hill was a .343 hitter with seven runs batted in (RBI). She scored seven runs and had 12 hits.
Riebel, who moved from centerfield to become Iola’s starting catcher this season, led the Fillies in triples with two and doubles with four. She hit at a .338 clip with 23 hits, 20 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
Riebel had a fielding averge of .956. She was charged with one error in 19 games and seven passed balls.
Weir led the Fillies at the plate. She hit .375 with a team-leading 27 hits and 27 runs scored. She had two doubles and two triples.
Weir, who played second base, drove in 16 runs. She was second on the team in stolen bases with 10. She had a .902 fielding average.
“All of the girls who received league honors plus our other seniors have made an impact on the Fillies’ softball program,” said Vince Coons, Iola High head softball coach.
“Each girl contributed different ways this season and in earlier seasons.”
Coons said the seniors led by example as most have been on the team all four years.
“I appreciate these girls’ dedication to our program and how each one helped it grow as they competed for Iola. They worked hard during the off-season to be ready for each season and it has made a difference,” Coons said.
Preston took over third base this season and had a fielding average of .763. She also was Iola’s top base runner with 14 stolen bases.
Preston hit at a .338 clip with 22 hits, three were doubles and one was an inside the park home run. She scored 24 runs and drove in 14.
McKarnin played first base again for the Fillies and had a .980 fielding average. She was the team’s RBI leader with 25 while scoring 11 runs. She had 16 hits, three double and one triple.
Coons pointed out senior outfielders Amanda Carr, Megan Cook and Shelby Greenwood and senior shortstop Lyndsi Faulhaber as leaders on the team. Carr hit .323 with 19 RBIs and Cook had two triples and two doubles.
Greenwood had 16 RBIs and scored 18 runs. Faulhaber drove in 12 runs and scored 16. All had fielding averages of around .800.
THE MUSTANG’S leading hitter was Ryan Latta. He had a .522 batting average and led the team in hits with 36.
Latta played both first and third for Iola. He drove in 15 runs and scored 29 runs. He had six doubles.
Sigg was Iola’s second leading hitter with a .439 batting average. Sigg played in the outfield and pitched for the Mustangs.
He led the Mustangs with four home runs,s had seven doubles and one triple. Sigg had 24 RBIs and scored 21 runs. He went 9-of 12 in stolen base attempts.
As a pitcher, Sigg was 3-3 with a 2.94 ERA. He led the team with 35 strikeouts as he gave up 22 runs on 34 hits and 19 walks.
Frazell and Heffern were Iola’s top battery. Frazell was 3-2 pitching with a 3.47 ERA. He allowed 44 hits, walked 21 and struck out 23. He also had one save.
Frazell also caught and played outfield. He led the team in runs batted in with 28 and scored 19 runs while hitting .389. Frazell led the team with eight doubles and four triples.
Heffern was the starting catcher and also played outfield and pitched. He was 1-0 as a pitcher with a 1.50 ERA.
He hit .362 and drove in 16 runs and scored 26 runs. He had 21 hits, including five doubles. He was 7-for-10 in stolen base attempts.
