2017 Wilton Softball Preview - New hope for Beavers this year

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

The Beavers withstood some ups and downs last season to post another successful softball season.  Wilton won 17 games and return six of their starters from last year and add new talent to the mix.  The Beavers got highlight wins over Mid-Prairie, a state ranked Louisa-Muscatine team, Washington, Davenport Central and West Burlington among others.

Three all-conference players will lead the way for Wilton.  Seniors Falloyn Grunder and Amanda Fowler and sophomore Kortney Drake all earned conference honors.

Grunder, a pitcher, was a All-RVC South Division pick after making 31 starts last summer.  She was 15-17 with a 4.09 ERA and 74 strikeouts.  She also batted .292 with 26 hits, 3 home runs and 11 RBI’s.  Fowler, will start in the outfield for the third straight season and was also a All-RVC South Division pick.  She was second on the team in batting last year with a .371 batting average and 46 hits.  She hit four home runs and had 27 RBI’s.  Drake returns to start at second base.  The lefty batter had a batting average of .352 and 44 hits, third on the team in both categories last year.  She had 14 RBI’s and drove in 10 runs too.

Catcher Alexis Mauer is back after batting .297 with 35 hits and 16 RBI’s, but will move to the outfield as 2015 starting catcher Emily Lange returns.  Both will see time behind the plate.  Also back are 2016 starters shortstop Allison Bosten (.218, 19 hits, 3 HR, 21 RBI’s) and first baseman Reagan Scarboro (.266, 21 hits).

New to the line-up this summer are freshman designated hitter Karlie Schult and 8th graders Chloe Wells, Alexis Walker and Rori Allen.   In early games, Schult is batting .471, Wells is the team’s leading hitter, batting .545 with 2 home runs and Walker is batting .385.  Wells will start at third base and also pitch this season.  In early 2017 games, Wells is 3-1 in four starts with 16 strikeouts to 2 walks.

Gone from last year are senior third baseman Megan Kublik and outfielder Aubrey Putman.  Kublik now plays for Kirkwood Community College and led Wilton in batting last year with a .431 average with 10 home runs and 35 RBI’s to go with 53 hits and a .764 slugging percent.  Putman batted .333 with 23 hits, 3 home runs and 17 RBI’s as a freshman.

Wilton will play at weekend tournaments at Louisa-Muscatine on May 27, at Solon on June 3, at Fairfield on June 9 and 10, at Muscatine on June 23 and 24.  The Beavers play at Columbus Junction in the non-conference and have home non-conference home games with Wapello, Fort Madison and Keokuk.  The Beavers will host rival Durant on June 12 for a conference doubleheader.