All-NICL East softball: D-NH's Kvale on 1st team

Dike-New Hartford freshman Taylor Kvale was the lone area representative on the top team of the All-NICL East Softball Team.

Kvale earned her first-team spot at shortstop. Sophomore teammate Abby Sohn was selected as a unanimous second-team pick at pitcher and freshman Whitney Wauters earned honorable mention.

Kvale averaged .551 at the plate in 16 league games this season, the third-highest average in the NICL East. She led the league in hits with 27 and stole 25 bases against league defenses, also a league best this season.

Abby Sohn hit .385 with a team-leading five doubles and 15 runs batted in and was the primary pitcher for Dike-New Hartford in conference action, posting a 9-4 record and 7.20 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 59 walks.

Wauters hit .315 for the Wolverines with seven RBI in her first season as the varsity catcher for D-NH, catching four base runners stealing.

Aplington-Parkersburg senior Jenna Bruns was awarded honorable mention. Bruns hit league pitching at a .311 clip, smacking four doubles with four runs batted in.

Waterloo Columbus swept the top awards, with senior Taylor Hogan named a unanimous Player of the Year and Chris Olmstead receiving Coach of the Year honors for the state-qualifying Sailor crew.

All-NICL East Softball Team

Player of the Year: Taylor Hogan, Waterloo Columbus.

Coach of the Year: Chris Olmstead, Waterloo Columbus.

First team

Pitchers: Kayla Sproul, sr., Columbus; Rhianna Bigwood, sr., Jesup.

Catcher: Sydney Schultz, sr. Columbus.

First base: Kristin Sadler, jr., Jesup.

Second base: Kylee Sallee, so., Hudson.

Third base: Jenna Jensen, jr., Jesup.

Shortstop: Taylor Kvale, fr., Dike-New Hartford.

Outfielders: Jalila Hart, sr., Columbus; Reagan Lindsay, so., Columbus; Zoe Miller, jr., Jesup.

Utility: Marissa Stock, sr., Denver; Natalie Tecklenburg, jr., Union.

Second team

Pitchers: Chantelle Nuss, so., Sumner-Fredericksburg; Abby Sohn, so., Dike-New Hartford.

Catcher: Landree Kobiska, so., Sumner-Fredericksburg.

First base: Steph Prather, sr., Hudson.

Second base: Breanne Fischels, sr., Jesup.

Third base: Alivia Schultz, jr., Waterloo Columbus.

Shortstop: Abby Gaudian, jr., Hudson.

Outfielders: Allie Driscol, so., Union; Maliyah Little, sr., Waterloo Columbus; Kelsey Pagel, sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg.

Utility: Morgan Galbraith, jr., Hudson; Alexus Jensen, sr., Jesup.

Honorable mention

A-P: Jenna Bruns, sr.; Columbus: Jenna Schott, jr.; Denver: Allison Bonnette, fr.; D-NH: Whitney Wauters, fr.; Hudson: Ella Engel, fr.; Jesup: Alexis Larson, fr.; Sumner-Fredericksburg: Tiffany Beyer, jr.; Union: Jocelyn Gates, fr.; Wapsie Valley: Sami Kane, jr.