Thursday, August 24, 2017

PODCAST - 2017 Football Preview

PODCAST - 2017 Football Preview
On Today's Shot:
Tipton Football Coach Joe Zeutenhorst
North Cedar Football Coach Adam Hadenfeldt
Wilton Football Coach Ryan Hetzler
Durant Football Coach Joel Diedrichs


PODCAST - 2017 Volleyball Preview

PODCAST - 2017 Volleyball Preview

Tipton Volleyball Coach Amy Calonder
North Cedar Volleyball Coach Traci Smith
Wilton Volleyball Coach Brenda Grunder
Durant Volleyball Coach Renee Meyer



Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Meyer, Ralfs named 1st Team All-State



DES MOINES — Two Durant softball players were named to the class 2A, Iowa Girls Coaches Associatio All-State team.  They are senior catcher Cathy Ralfs and sophomore pitcher Kamryn Meyer.  Both were tabbed as two of the best in class 2A.  
Ralfs was a leader behind the plate and an excellent defender.  She was 13th in class 2A in hits with 56 to go with her .438 batting average, .695 slugging percent and .497 on-base percent.  Ralfs had 51 RBI’s, 7 home runs, 10 doubles and one triple.
Meyer led class 2A pitchers in ERA with a 0.90 ERA in 155 2/3 innings.  She had a record of 21-3 and struck out 205 batters against 55 walks.  Opposing batters batted .162 against her in 24 starts.  At the plate, Meyer batted .315 with 39 hits, 26 RBI’s and two home runs.
The duo was joined by two players from Iowa City Regina, Sarah Lehman and Emma Corkery.  Tony Fenton from Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont was the class 2A Coach Of The Year.
More local players were on the second, third and honorable mention teams.  Durant had Ruby Kappeler on the second team while Wilton’s Kortney Drake and West Branch’s Nicki Henson were each third team selections.
A host of River Valley Conference players were honored by being named to the honorable mention team.  Tipton’s Rylee Conrad and North Cedar’s Alyssa Barnhart were two of 19 players from the RVC on the list.  On the honorable mention list were Rebecca Schroeder (Bellevue), Kylee Biedermann (Bellevue), Marissa McAuliffe (Bellevue), Hailey Hannan (Cascade), Noelle Green (Cascade), Laura Kremer (Cascade), Aubrey Werthmann (Durant), Jenna Lawson (Durant), Mallory Warner (Durant), Hannah Happ (Durant), Alyssa Barnhart (North Cedar), Emily Bonnett (Iowa City Regina), Rylee Conrad (Tipton), Kaiya Luneckas (West Branch), Taylor Thein (West Branch), Chloe Wells (Wilton), Amanda Fowler (Wilton), Emily Lange (Wilton) and Karlie Schult (Wilton).

Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s Class 2A All-State Team
First Team All-State
Abby Kraemer (Alta-Aurelia), Amber Boeckenstedt (Dyersville-Beckman), Hannah Ausenhaus (Central Springs), Abbey Kahler (CMB), Mikayla Houge (CMB), Taylor Hogan (Columbus Catholic), Cathy Ralfs (Durant), Kamryn Meyer (Durant), Haegen Boyer (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont), Randie Richmond (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont), Kelsey Hora (Highland), Josie Wickett (I-35), Carlyn Stanley (I-35), Kylan Straight (Logan-Magnolia), Randyn Carter (Louisa-Muscatine), Anna Ingalls (North Union), Emma Schnell (Pella Christian), Elizabeth Van Manen (Pella Christian), Sarah Lehman (IC Regina), Emma Corkery (IC Regina), Katie Bracken (IC Regina).
2A Coach of the year - Tony Fenton - Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

Second Team All-State
Lily Peterson (Alta-Aurelia), Samantha Ubben (BCLUW), Heather Boeckenstedt (Dyersville-Beckman), Sydney Steffen (Dyersville-Beckman), Anna Dietrich (Central Springs), Sydney Schultz (Columbus Catholic), Olivia Penland (Des Moines Christian), Ruby Kappeler (Durant), Taylor Hipsley (Earlham), Peyton Gross (IKM-Manning), Annika Wall (Jesup), Skylar Sadler (Lisbon), Jenna Peschel (Logan-Magnolia), Abby Flanagan (North Linn), Kyarsten Mullen (North Union), Kate Anderson (North Union), Elle Laws (Ogden), Jaydlyn Seehase (Sumner-Fredericksburg), Sydni Huisman (Treynor), Madelyn Deitchler (Treynor), Meagan Blomgren (Van Meter), Chaydon Metzger (West Lyon).

Third Team All-State
Jordyn Beeghly (BCLUW), Lauren Klaahsen (Central Springs), Kayla Sproul (Columbus Catholic), Laine Morgan (Eagle Grove), Alli Boyle (Earlham), Payton Sporrer (IKM-Manning), Lilly Miller (I-35), Megan Wilson (Logan-Magnolia), Abbie Carlson (Logan-Magnolia), Brianna Mensen (Maquoketa Valley), Paige McElfish (Nodaway Valley), Grace Flanagan (North Linn), Kami Wheelock (Ogden), Lindsey Wttrock (Okoboji), Andie Sowers (Pleasantville), Alissa Moss (South Hamilton), Taryn Hintz (South O’Brien), Krayton Allen (Sumner-Fredericksburg), Mackenzie Blomgren (Van Meter), Nicki Henson (West Branch), Jordyn Kramer (West Lyon), Kortney Drake (Wilton).

Honorable Mention All-State (Locals, RVC Only):

Rebecca Schroeder (Bellevue), Kylee Biedermann (Bellevue), Marissa McAuliffe (Bellevue), Hailey Hannan (Cascade), Noelle Green (Cascade), Laura Kremer (Cascade), Aubrey Werthmann (Durant), Jenna Lawson (Durant), Mallory Warner (Durant), Hannah Happ (Durant), Alyssa Barnhart (North Cedar), Emily Bonnett (Iowa City Regina), Rylee Conrad (Tipton), Kaiya Luneckas (West Branch), Taylor Thein (West Branch), Chloe Wells (Wilton), Amanda Fowler (Wilton), Emily Lange (Wilton), Karlie Schult (Wilton).

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Three Wildcats, Two Beavers Named All-District



TIPTON — Five area softball players were named to the class 2A Southeast All-DIstrict team last week when the list was released by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.  Three players from Durant and two from Wilton were named.  Senior catcher Cathy Ralfs and sophomores Kamryn Meyer and Ruby Kappeler each were named to the All-District team while Wilton had sophomore Kortney Drake and 8th grader Chloe Wells were named to the team.
Kappeler and Ralfs were 1-2 in batting this season for Durant.  Kappeler led the Wildcats through the Regional tournament in hits with 62, doubles with 12 and batting average with an average of .440.  Ralfs led Durant in home runs with 6 and RBI’s with 49.  She batted .433 with 52 hits and nine doubles.  Both had slugging percentages over .600
Meyer was 19-2 in 22 starts.  She pitched in 138 1/3 innings with an ERA of 0.96.  She had 184 strikeouts with 49 walks and opposing batters only had a batting average of .167.  At the plate, Meyer batted .336 with 39 hits, 2 home runs, 25 RBI’s and seven doubles.
Drake and Wells helped lead Wilton to a 20-win season this summer, their first since 2012.  Drake was the leading hitter for Wilton with a .405 average.  She tied with Wells for the team high in hits with 47.  Drake had an on-base percentage of .420 and 17 RBI’s.  Wells batted .367 and had a team high 11 home runs.  She also had 25 RBI’s with 47 hits and had a team high 10 doubles.  Wells had a slugging percentage of .703.
Durant head coach Steve Hopkins was named the Southeast coach of the year after helping lead Durant to their fifth state trip in six years.  Hopkins won his 300th game along the way this season.

Class 2A IGCA All-District Teams
All-Southeast District: Sarah Lehman (IC Regina), Cathy Ralfs (Durant), Kamryn Meyer (Durant), Haegen Boyer (Eddyville-Blakesburg), Kelsey Hora (Highland), Ruby Kappeler (Durant), Emma Schnell (Pella Christian), Randyn Carter (Louisa-Muscatine), Chloe Wells (Wilton), Nicki Henson (West Branch), Brianna Mensen (Maquoketa Valley), Abby Flanagan (North Linn), Elizabeth Van Manen (Pella Christian), Mady Reid (Wapello), Amber Boeckenstedt (Dyersville-Beckman), Heather Boeckenstedt (Dyersville-Beckman), Sydney Steffen (Dyersville-Beckman), Aly Stokes (Highland), Skylar Sadler (Lisbon), Randie Richmond (Eddyville-Blakesburg), Kortney Drake (Wilton), Grace Flanagan (North Linn).
Coach of the Year: Steve Hopkins, Durant

All-Northeast District: Taylor Hogan (Waterloo Columbus), Jaydlyn Seehase (Sumner-Fredericksburg), Anna Ingalls (North Union), Kyarsten Mullen (North Union), Hannah Ausenhaus (Central Springs), Krayton Allen (Sumner-Fredericksburg), Samantha Ubben (BCLUW), Kayla Sproul (Waterloo Columbus), Lauren Klaashen (Central Springs), Leah Tantis (BCLUW), Alissa Moss (South Hamilton), Mikayla Houge (CMB); Ady Wintermote (South Hamilton), Anna Dietrich (Central Springs), Sydney Schultz (Waterloo Columbus), Alexus Jensen (Jesup), Maddison Osborne (Alburnett), Annika Wall (Jesup), Kate Anderson (North Union), Jordyn Beeghley (BCLUW), Abby Kahler (CMB), Lane Morgan (Eagle Grove).
Coach of the Year: Troy Houge (CMB).

All-Northwest District: Abby Kraemer (Alta-Aurelia); Lilly Petersen (Alta-Aurelia); Chaydon Metzger (West Lyon); Jordyn Kramer (West Lyon); Taryn Hintz (South O’Brien); Abbie Klatt (Okoboji); Emerson Else (Ridge View); Alexis Zomermaand (Unity Christian); Darma Tripp (Sioux Central); Chandler Schemper (Hull, Western Christian); Kenedee Bubke (MVAO); Lindsey Wittrock (Okoboji); Beth Pinkhinkie (Ridge View); Brittany Turnquist (Alta-Aurelia); Kate Jackson (Emmetsburg); Kelli Gleason (Hinton).
Coach of the Year: Dave Turnquist (Alta-Aurelia).

All-Southwest District: Peyton Gross (IKM-Manning); Kylan Straight (Logan-Magnolia); Josie Wickett (I-35); Carlyn Staney (I-35); Sydni Huisman (Treynor); Jenna Peschel (Logan-Magnolia); Madelyn Deitchler (Treynor); Ellee Laws (Ogden); Andie Sowers (Pleasantville); Meagan Blomgren (Van Meter); Paige McElfish (Nodaway Valley); Taylor Hipsley (Earlham); Olivia Penland (Des Moines Christian); Lilly Miller (I-35); Alli Boyle (Earlham); Kami Wheelock (Ogden); Megan Wilson (Logan-Magnolia); Mackenzie Blomgren (Van Meter); Payton Sporrer (IKM-Manning); Lydia Knapp (Panorama).

Coach of the Year: Tim Boggs (I-35).

Three Beavers Names All-State In Class 2A



DES MOINES — Three Wilton baseball players were named to All-State lists in recent weeks.  The Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association released their class 2A All-State teams.  Named to the teams were Wilton baseball players Evan Reifert, Collin McCrabb and Jared Townsend.
Reifert had top honors on both lists.  The North Iowa Community College signee was named to the first team INA class 2A team as an infielder.  He was also named the captain of the IBCA 2A All-State list.
Reifert batted .454 with 44 hits, 14 doubles, 9 home runs, 34 RBI’s and 20 stolen bases.  He had an on-base percentage of .571 and a sluggins percantage of .897.  Those stats minus the batting average led Wilton this year.  He also pitched, starting four games and appearing in three others.  He was 1-1 in 19 1/3 innings with a 0.72 ERA.
Sophomore Collin McCrabb was named to the IBCA first team as a pitcher and to the INA team as a 2nd team pitcher.  McCrabb was 12-1 in 69 innings to lead Wilton.  He had an ERA of 1.22 with 96 strikeouts against 27 walks.  Opposing batters, batted .120 against him.  He also had two saves.  At the plate, he batted .320- with 32 hits, 13 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBI’s.
Sophomore Jared Townsend was named to the IBCA 2nd team as an outfielder and to the INA team as a 3rd team outfielder.  At the plate, he batted .452 with a team best 47 hits.  He hit one home run with 32 RBI’s and 11 stolen bases.  He had an on-base percentage of .521 and a .606 slugging percentage.  In the field he had only two errors all season and had a fielding percentage of .974.  Townsend also pitched and was 3-1 in six starts and 24 innings.  He had a ERA of 5.25 with 43 strikeouts.
Wilton won the South Division conference title this season with a 16-2 record.  The Beavers advanced to a class 2A substate game and won 26 games this year.

Iowa Newspaper Association
Class 2A All-State Team
First Team
Pitcher - Jackson Bennett (Dyersville-Beckman), Ryne Schooley (IC Regina), Colby Seuntjens (Maple Valley-Anthon Oto).
Catcher - Jacob Manternach (Monticello).
1b - Noah Hopp (New Hampton).
INF - Evan Reifert (Wilton), Brett Daley (Treynor), Riley LeGrand (Dyersville-Beckman).
OF - Bryce Simon (Cascade), Trace Howard (Wapello), David Disney (West Marshall).
UT - Tyler Laing (Kuemper Catholic), Kaleb Harrison (Tri-Center).

Second Team
Pitcher - Conner McDermott (Dyersville-Beckman), Collin McCrabb (Wilton), Colton Shipman (Forest City).
Catcher - Treye Rinehart (Centerville).
1b - Brock Farley (Denver).
INF - Ross Randall (West Marshall), Will Dembski (Pella Christian), Anthony Lowman (Van Meter).
OF - Sam Stelken (Dyersville-Beckman), Izak Baumhover (Kuemper Catholic), Kyle Dell (NE Goose Lake).
UT - Zach Miller (Denver), Spencer Hanson (Woodward-Granger).

Third Team
Pitcher - Cater Stochl (New Hampton), Kendrick Humphreys (Treynor), Evan Olseen (Estherville-Lincoln Central).
Catcher - Brad Barkema (BCLUW, Conrad).
1b - Lowden Gabriel (Louisa-Muscatine).
INF - Gannon O’Brien (Cascade), Matt Eckard (Okoboji), Jaden Snyder (West Lyon).
OF - Blake Berns (IC Regina), Ben Midtgaard (Forest City), Jared Townsend (Wilton).
UT - Clayton Mapel (Dike-New Hartford), Kyle Sperfslage (Monticello).

Iowa Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team
Class 2A
Class 2A Captain - Evan Reifert, Wilton

First Team
Pitcher - Ryne Schooley (IC Regina), Collin McCrabb (Wilton), Connro McDermott (Dyersville-Beckman).
Catcher - Jacob Manternach (Monticello), Jordan Wendel (Alta-Aurelia).
1b - Noah Hopp (New Hampton).
2b - Evan Olesen (Esterville-Lincoln Central).
3b - Matt Rhodes (Woodward-Granger).
Outfield - Bryce Simon (Cascade), Izak Baumhover (Kuemper Catholic), Blake Berns (IC Regina), Carter Paterson (DM Christian).
UT - Jackson Bennett (Dyersville-Beckman), Tyler Laing (Kuemper Catholic), Spencer Hanson (Woodward-Granger).

Second Team
Pitcher - Kendrick Humphreys (Treynor), Carter Stochl (New Hampton), Trey Jacobson (Estherville-Lincoln Central).
Catcher - Trent Hoogerwerf (IC Regina).
1b - Justin Cox (Treynor).
2b - Kyle Sperfslage (Monticello).
SS - Riley LaGrand (Dyersville-Beckman).
3b - Kaleb Harrison (Tri-Center).
Outfield - Jared Townsend (Wilton), David Disney (West Marshall), Trace Howard (Wapello), Sam Stelken (Dyersville-Beckman).
UT - Treye Rinehart (Centerville), Clayton Mapel (Dike-New Hartford), Colton Shipman (Forest City).

Leo Callison Named first Team All-State 2b in 1A



DES MOINES — Two All-State teams were released in recent weeks for class 1A baseball.  The Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association released their annual All-State teams honoring baseball players from around the state.  Durant senior Leo Callison was a first team All-State selection at second base on the IBCA All-State team and was a third team selection on the INA All-State team.
Callison led Durant in batting with a .456 batting average with 36 hits, 13 doubled three home runs and 32 RBI’s.  He had an on-base percentage of .539 and a slugging percentage of .759.
Durant made a smooth transition to class 1A this season, winning 21 games and finishing third in the River Valley Conference South Division.

Class 1A IBCA All-State Baseball Team
Class 1A Captain - Ben Fitzgerald (Mason City Newman)
First Team
Pitcher - Jake Hilmer (North Linn), Jacob Wesselman (Remsen-St. Mary’s), Caden Kratz (Mason City Newman).
Catcher - Clay Emhoff (West Fork), R.J. Staab (Remsen-St. Mary’s).
1b - Brady Garvin (Martensdale-St. Mary’s).
2b - Leo Callison (Durant).
ss - Garret Reisz (Council Bluffs St. Alberts).
3b - Evan Paulus (Mason City Newman).
OF - Aaron Allard (Akron-Westfield), Ryan Miller (North Linn), Carter Kuchel (Remsen-St. Mary’s), Brandon Riley (Coon Rapids Bayard).
UT - Cameron Hoeg (North Tama), Trace Embray (Twin Cedars), Trevor Brown (Don Bosco).

Second Team
Pitcher - Chase Rath (Highland), Austin Allard (Akron-Westfield), Jared Mayer (St. Ansgar).
Catcher - Cael Kopriva (North Tama), Quentin Sefrit (Bedford).
1b - Brett Kelting (Calamus-Wheatland).
2b - Cy Patterson (Council Bluffs St. Alberts).
ss - Alex Hageman (Hudson).
3b - Tucker Babbit (Moravia).
OF - Austin Krob (Lisbon), Avery Moore (Sigourney), Nick Phelps (Woodbury Central).
UT - Trevor Dooley (Martensdale-St. Mary’s), Kevin Duncan (Martensdale-St. Mary’s), Jake Lynott (West Sioux).

Iowa Newspaper Association
Class 1A All-State Team
First Team
Pitcher - Jake Hilmer (North Linn), Jared Meyer (St. Ansgar), Caden Kratz (Mason City Newman).
Catcher - Clay Emhoff (West Fork).
1b - Brady Gavin (Martensdale-St. Mary’s.
INF - Ben Fitzgerald (Mason City Newman), Trace Embray (Twin Cedars), Garret Reisz (Council Bluffs St. Alberts).
OF - Aaron Allard (Akron-Westfield), Ryan Miller (North Linn), Brandon Riley (Coon Rapids-Bayard).
UT - Jacob Wesselman (Remsen St. Mary’s), Austin Krob (Lisbon).

Second Team
Pitcher - Kevin Duncan (Martensdale-St. Mary’s), Jonathan Jacobs (Colfax-Mingo), Evan Paulus (Mason City Newman).
Catcher - Trevor Dooley (Martensdale-St. Mary’s.
1b - Brett Kelting (Calamus-Wheatland).
INF - Chase Rath (Highland), Joe Smoldt (Gladbrook-Reinbeck), Mitchell Schlitz (Remsen St. Mary’s).
OF - Avery Moore (Sigourney), Austin Allard (Akron-Westfield), Aaron Schmitz (Lenox).
UT - Cameron Hoeg (North Tama), Marcus Daugherty (CAM, Anita).

Third Team
Pitcher - Will Earley (North Tama), Jake Dannes (Ar-We-Va), Tyson Tucker (Maquoketa Valley).
Catcher - Quentin Sefrit (Bedford).
1b - Austin Miller (Don Bosco).
INF - Alex Hageman (Hudson), Leo Callison (Durant), Drew Buckholdt (Exira-EHK).
OF - Nick Phelps (Woodbury Central), Jovante Squires (Lone Tree), Peyton Scott (Mason City Newman).

UT - Kenny Boles (Murray), Britt Noel (New London).