Softball players to watch this season

Softball players to watch this season

By Ben Lamparek, Hometown Current

May. 27, 2025 2:50 pm

Iowa Valley pitcher Lydia Kriegel delivers a pitch against Nevada Saturday. Kriegel pitched all five innings and hit two home runs in the game. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current) — Iowa Valley pitcher Lydia Kriegel delivers a pitch against Nevada last season. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

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The 2025 summer softball season gets underway this week.

Here is a look at two key returners this season for each Hometown Current area team.

BELLE PLAINE

Ava Grieder, soph.— Batted .321 last season and was second on team in Runs Batted in (13). Also stole eight bases.
Taylor Johnson, fr.— Returning first team South Iowa Cedar League selection. Led the Plainsmen in innings pitched (80) and batting average allowed (.221). Was second on team in hits (22).

BGM

Ryanne Van Dee, sr.— First team SICL selection last year. Batted .402 last season with 33 hits and 13 RBIs.
Emersyn Minnaert, fr.— Batted .368 and was third on team in RBIs (15). Stole nine bases.

ENGLISH VALLEYS

Taylor Mikesell, jr.— Second team SICL selection last season. Batted .288 with 14 RBIs and is the team’s primary catcher.
Ava Gehrking, soph.— Was 10 for 10 on stolen bases last season. Will play first base and batted .338 last season with 23 hits.

HLV-TC

Ayla Hall, sr.— 1A third team all-state and first team SICL selection last season. Batted .459 with a team high 39 hits and also had 21 RBIs. Was 29 for 29 in stolen bases.
Lily Randall, sr.— Second team SICL selection. Led team in home runs (3) and RBIs (35) while batting .449. Will be more of a primary pitcher this season.

IOWA VALLEY

Lydia Kriegel, sr.— Batted a staggering .527 last season with 48 hits and four home runs. 1A third team all-state and first team SICL selection. Team’s primary pitcher who posted a 2.71 ERA last season with 120 strikeouts.
Izzy Kriegel, sr.— First team SICL catcher last season. Batted .357 and led team in RBIs (20).

MONTEZUMA

Chloe Snook, jr.— Led team in hits (34), runs (31) and stolen bases (16) last season.
Mya Smothers, soph.— Led team in average (.424), RBIs (23) and was third in hits (28). Was 11 for 11 in stolen bases.

WILLIAMSBURG

Jersey Metz, jr.— 3A first team all-state last season. Team’s primary pitcher en route to a state championship. Pitched 178 2/3 innings with a 2.82 ERA and 113 strikeouts. Batted .274 with 27 RBIs.
Makenna Hughes, sr.— Second team WaMaC West selection last season. Batted .384 at the bottom of the lineup with 43 hits and 15 RBIs. Second in 3A last season with 50 stolen bases.