Cardinal, Van Buren land SEISC accolades

The Cardinal softball team came within one win of a state tournament bid and landed the second most players on the First Team All-Southeast Iowa Superconference South.

Seniors Laci Moore and Liz Nichols along with junior teammate Lindsay Moore received first team recognition, leading the Comets to the regional final round and a 24-16 record in 2012.

Laci Moore won 18 games from the mound and finished the year with a 2.43 ERA. Nichols led with her outfield defense and Lindsay Moore hit six homers and had a .385 average.

Seniors Katie Conger and Sarah Greiner and sophomore Allison Ollom earned second team honors. Conger hit .352 with 27 RBI, Ollom was .301 with 28 RBI and Greiner had 20 RBI at the plate and 50 assists on defense.

Cory Campbell, a senior, and junior Morgan Honomichl were honorable mention.

Senior Makenzie Zeitler was Van Buren?s lone representative on the First Team All-SEISC South. Zeitler led the Warriors in several categories at the plate, including average (.432), runs (28) and home runs (4). She also was a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen base attempts.

Van Buren junior Jordan Billups and sophomore pitcher Alicia Fitzsimmons earned spots on the second team. Billups had a .297 batting average with a team-high 23 RBI, while Fitzsimmons won eight games with a 3.43 ERA in her first full season as starter.

Jansen Heckenberg and Caitlyn Millard were named honorable mention.