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Ingalls, Williams captain All-Area softball team

FAIRMONT — North Union ace right-hander Anna Ingalls’ pitching prowess caused numerous opposing hitters to exit the batter’s box with nothing to show for their efforts during the last four summer softball seasons.

Twenty miles north of the Warriors’ home diamond in Swea City, Fairmont slugger Courtney Williams’ record-setting swing caused numerous opposing hurlers to exit the pitcher’s circle at Cardinal Park with a loss for their efforts during the past three spring campaigns.

Ironically, the pair of varsity softball veterans’ team schedules never aligned to create a one-on-one state-border showdown between the 2017 Sentinel All-Area co-players of the year.

While Ingalls pitched North Union to its third consecutive Iowa Class 2A state tournament during her recently-completed senior season, Williams completely rewrote all of Fairmont’s power numbers for a single season and a career, and she has one high school campaign remaining.

The Cardinals’ cleanup hitter literally cleared the outfield fences and the program’s single-season record by blasting 13 home runs en route to a new mark of 37 RBIs during the 2017 campaign.

The Minnesota all-state nominee connected for three HRs and a staggering eight RBIs during a doubleheader against Marshall on May 9, while hammering two HRs for five RBIs at Blue Earth Area’s expense in a single game on May 11.

The two-time all-Section 2AA choice also topped the Cardinals with a .431 batting average, 10 doubles and a .554 on-base percentage during her junior season. Williams also shared the team lead in triples (3) and runs scored (26).

The repeat All-Area selection wielded stellar leather at third base for the past two campaigns after making her varsity debut at shortstop in 2015.

The two-time all-Big South Conference choice could become the softball program’s winningest four-year starter of all-time if the Cardinals clear the .500 mark again in 2018.

Williams, who produced a team-best four HRs and 30 RBIs as a sophomore, has played an integral role in the Cardinals amassing a 47-25 record — .652 — during her three campaigns, including three consecutive record-setting win totals of 14-10 in 2015, 16-7 in 2016 and 17-8 in 2017.

Across the state line, Ingalls utilized her multi-pitch repertoire to top the Warriors’ charts with a 23-6 record and a 1.83 ERA on the strength of 238 strikeouts in a yeoman’s 168 1/3 innings inside the pitcher’s circle this summer.

The three-time Iowa Class 2A first-team all-state selection, however, proved a potent table-setter for North Union’s batting order out of the leadoff spot.

The four-year All-Area and three-time all-district choice led the green-and-white offense with 51 hits and four triples to complement a third-best batting average of .425.

The four-time all-conference pitcher also scored 34 runs, doubled 11 times, homered once, produced 15 RBIs, swiped 15 bases and amassed a .530 on-base percentage during her senior prep season.

Ingalls will attend Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa, but is still undecided on whether to continue her softball career at the next level.

Here’s an inside glance at the rest of the 2017 Sentinel All-Area softball team.

Kate Anderson (North Union) — Strength at shortstop.

The Iowa Class 2A all-state second-team choice flexed her muscle at the plate by topping the Warriors with nine HRs and 45 RBIs during her third varsity campaign.

The 2016 all-state honorable mention selection smacked softball deliveries at a .402 pace this summer on the strength of 41 hits, including nine doubles and a triple to complement her No. 1 homer total.

The two-time all-district pick scored 36 runs, drew 20 walks, dropped down five sacrifice bunts and swiped 13 bases during her junior season.

The two-time All-Area choice blasted pitches at a second-best team slugging clip of .794 to go with a .529 on-base percentage.

The slick-fielding Anderson helped power North Union to its third consecutive state tournament appearance in 2017.

Brytni Drevlow (Madelia/Truman) — The captain.

The all-state academic student-athlete topped the Jayhawks with a .393 batting average on the strength of 24 hits, including nine doubles and two HRs, during the spring campaign.

The all-Valley Conference second-team choice drove in eight runs, swiped eight bases and dropped down four sacrifice bunts during her fourth varsity season.

The senior third baseman displayed her fielding prowess by posting an .863 average with 28 assists and 30 putouts this spring.

The three-time all-academic all-conference scholar earned the team’s Sanders/ Eager Memorial scholarship for her efforts inside the classroom and on the diamond to close out a great prep career.

Jordan Ehlert (Fairmont) — Pitching prodigy.

The two-time All-Area right-hander already holds nearly every single-game, single-season and career pitching record in Fairmont’s softball history, and she just completed her sophomore year in high school.

The two-time all-Section 2AA choice topped the Cardinals inside the chalked circle with a 14-7 record, an ERA of 2.72, and 119 strikeouts in 149 innings pitched in 2017.

The two-time all-Big South Conference first-teamer matched her own single-season mark for victories — 14-6 in 2016, while etching her name in innings pitched after logging 129 1/3 a year ago.

The hard-throwing ace, who holds the single-season strikeout mark — 131 in 2016, also swung lethal lumber this spring.

The three-year varsity veteran hit .321 on the strength of 26 hits, including a second-best team total of nine doubles, to complement one triple. Ehlert produced 12 RBIs, scored 11 runs and reached base at a .375 clip.

Mallory Gochanour (Fairmont) — Smooth swing.

The all-Section 2AA choice utilized her left-handed swing to produce the Cardinals’ No. 2 batting average of .386 on the strength of 34 hits this spring.

The all-Big South Conference first baseman smacked five doubles and three triples, scored a co-team-best 26 runs, collected 15 RBIs and reached base at a .455 pace.

The two-time varsity starter rejoins All-Area teammates Courtney Williams and Jordan Ehlert in 2018 with a collective goal of eclipsing the 17-win plateau and advancing deeper into the postseason.

Chloe Hartman (Madelia/Truman) — Up and coming.

The all-academic all-Valley Conference player utilized her speed to produce a .328 batting average and a .388 on-base clip this spring.

The honorable mention all-conference selection drove in six runs on offense, while fielding the softball at a .933 pace while patrolling center field for the Jayhawks.

The speedy sophomore back-up catcher earned her second straight varsity letter and was tabbed as the Jayhawks’ most improved player in 2017.

Kyarsten Mullen (North Union) — Strength & speed.

The Iowa Class 2A second-team all-state selection topped the Warriors in five different offensive categories to power the green-and-black back to the state tournament this summer.

The 2016 honorable mention all-stater led North Union with a .455 batting average, 49 runs scored, a dozen doubles, a staggering .808 slugging rate and a .533 on-base clip.

The all-district choice produced 50 hits, including a second-best team total of eight HRs to complement the No. 2 RBI mark of 39, to close out her senior softball season.

The five-year varsity veteran dropped down seven sacrifice bunts, drew 10 walks and swiped 18 bases to put the wraps on an outstanding prep career.

Lizzie Oothoudt (Martin Luther/GHEC) — Pure athleticism.

The freshman phenom displayed her strength by hammering softball deliveries at a team-best .655 slugging pace to complement generating a co-team-high 21 RBIs during her varsity debut.

The all-Valley Conference choice shared the Jaguars’ lead with 23 hits, including two doubles, a team-best five triples and one HR, during the 2017 campaign.

Oothoudt shared the No. 2 team mark of 16 runs scored, swiped eight bases, netted a .397 batting average and reached base at a .470 clip this spring.

Maddie Rolling (North Union) — Consistency Inc.

The two-time Iowa Class 2A honorable mention all-state choice topped the state-qualifying Warriors with 28 stolen bases this summer.

The all-district selection amassed a .432 batting average on the strength of 48 hits, including a co-second-best 11 doubles and three HRs, during 2017.

The two-time All-Area second baseman scored 36 runs, drove in 27 more and dropped down five sacrifice bunts to help guide North Union to its third consecutive trip to Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

The hard-hitting Rolling slugged deliveries at a .642 clip and reached base at a .517 pace to round out her sophomore campaign.

Jenna Steele (Martin County West) — Most improved.

The all-Section 3AA choice pounded deliveries for team-highs of five HRs and four triples to complement generating a co-team-best 27 RBIs this spring.

The all-Valley Conference selection produced a .421 batting average on the strength of 32 hits, including six doubles, and crossed the plate 25 times.

The senior centerfielder recorded 13 putouts and eight assists to finish with an .889 fielding percentage.

Marissa Steinhaus (Martin Luther/GHEC) — The hitter.

The all-Valley Conference choice topped the improved Jaguars’ lineup with a .451 batting average by sharing the team lead in hits (23) with Oothoudt.

Steinhaus demonstrated her power by blasting a team-best seven doubles, while sharing the team’s top spot with one HR in 2017.

The three-year varsity veteran shared the lineup’s No. 1 RBI total with 21, scored 14 times and drew a co-team-best nine walks, while slugging at a .647 pace and reaching base at a .541 clip.

Alyssa Williamson (Martin County West) — Talented sophomore sibling.

The all-Section 3AA selection topped the high-octane Mavericks’ offense with 27 runs scored from the top of the batting lineup in 2017.

The two-time All-Area choice collected 26 hits, including five doubles and two triples, to generate a .325 batting average and 12 RBIs this spring.

The all-Valley Conference shortstop, who’s the younger sister of Sierra Williamson, displayed her defensive skills by chalking up 13 putouts and 35 assists en route to an .873 fielding percentage this season.

Sierra Williamson (Martin County West) — All-star.

The two-time honorable mention all-state selection etched her name in the Maverick record books by closing her impressive four-year varsity career with the No. 1 totals in home runs (19) and RBIs (43).

Williamson tied former MCW standout Paige Breneman for the top career number in run production.

The Mavericks’ representative in the 2017 Minnesota high school softball coaches all-star series led the blue-and-black offensive attack with a .444 batting average, including seven doubles, en route to sharing the team lead in runs scored (27).

The three-time all-section choice produced 33 hits, including four HRs and one triple, to generate a second-best team total of 26 RBIs during her senior season.

The four-time all-Valley Conference selection proved a double-edged sword, compiling a 7-1 record and 2.90 ERA this spring. The senior right-hander notched 78 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched, fired three shutouts and closed out one save.

The repeat All-Area first baseman/pitcher also recorded 97 putouts and 30 assists en route to a .962 field percentage to cap an outstanding prep diamond career.

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