Express All-Area softball

The softball season is over for the six schools that the Express covers, and it is time for the All-Area softball honors.
Every year, I think it will get easier to make the decisions, and every year I am mistaken. The teams covered compete in three different conferences: Corner, Hawkeye 10, and Pride of Iowa, making selections a more difficult task.
Some teams had some tough seasons, but when you look at the roster and realize how young some of those teams were, it becomes clear that the next few seasons of summer ball is going to be exciting to cover.
Wins and losses were not included in the factoring of the selections. Some girls stood out with their athletic abilities, even though the team finished the year with a losing record. Without further ado, here is the Express All-Area first team.
First team
The committee has selected junior Devin Isaacson of Stanton to be the captain of the first team. Isaacson has played catcher for the Viqueens the past two seasons and has done a terrific job. However, this season, as regional play began, the Queens had to make some adjustments due to injuries, and Isaacson was moved to shortstop. I was not aware of the injuries at the beginning of the game and was surprised to see Isaacson at the shortstop position. But within minutes of the first inning, I saw how competent and amazing she was there. She played as if she had been playing shortstop for years. She made impressive outs, and moved to back up third or second bases accordingly, resulting in her being chosen for first team utility and captain.
Isaacson has compiled a dozen RBI on 16 hits. She had two doubles and two triples on the season, and recorded 11/11 stolen bases. Her on base percentage was .338 with a batting average of .246.
Isaacson was also awarded the E. Wayne Cooley “You Can” Award by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association, which honors girls who demonstrate qualities of determination and character, and the values of pursuing victory with honor. Her co-head coaches, Brandie McFarland and Lacey Stephens, admit that she “is one of the most coach-able players we have ever had.”
Pitcher: Brenna Rossell, Griswold freshman. Rossell struck out 100 batters in the 433 she faced, keeping her opponents’ batting average at .242. She pitched 101 2/3 innings and earned an ERA of 3.65, giving up just 53 earned runs.
Catcher: Chloe Johnson, Red Oak junior. Once again, the Tiger catcher impressed with clean throws and stopped balls. She ended the season with a batting line of .448/.524/.381. Johnson had 32 hits in her 84 at bats, including two home runs and six doubles, and collected  17 RBI while scoring 17 runs for the Tigers. She earned All-Hawkeye 10 honorable mention.
Infield: Kamryn Buntrock, Red Oak senior; Alexa McCunn, Red Oak sophomore; Marleigh Johnson, Stanton eighth-grader; Lexi Johnson, Red Oak freshman.
Buntrock finished her high school career with the second highest batting average on the team. She had eight doubles and one triple in her 47 hits for a batting line of .534/.600/.495. She was the only Tiger to earn All-Hawkeye 10 softball second team honors.
McCunn held the highest batting average on the team with a line of .533/.563/.515. She had 53 hits, including five doubles, and plated 25 runs to lead the Tigers.
M. Johnson stepped up big for the Viqueens, ending the season with a batting average of .305 in her first year as a varsity player. Johnson’s 18 hits came in clutch several times and she plated 18 runs, the second highest on the team.
L. Johnson earned 20 runs for the Tigers on her 33 hits. She had 13 doubles, two triples, and one home run, and drove in 14 runs. Her batting line was .468/.639/.398. She was moved from third base to shortstop and between her and McCunn, the Tigers kept the stolen bags to a minimum.
Outfield: Anna Kelley, Griswold freshman; Camryn Johnston, Southwest Valley freshman; Maddie Wendt, Red Oak senior.
Kelley led the Tigers offense with a .417/.455/.364 batting line. She had 24 hits, including two doubles, two triples, and drove in 11 runs.
Johnston only played 18 games and ended with 14 hits, one a double. She finished with .326/.333/.311 batting  and three RBI.
Wendt hit 6 doubles in her 30 hits,  scored 17 runs, and finished with .358/.396/.330 for stats.

Second team
Pitcher: Zoey Welter, Red Oak senior.
Catcher: Jordyn Figgins, Southwest Valley junior.
Infield: Haylee Pennock, Griswold sophomore; Ali Silvius, Stanton sophomore; Cami Porter, Red Oak sophomore; Alex Knop, East Mills junior.
Outfield: Kacey Danker, Griswold junior; Jenna Stephens, Stanton eighth grader; Ryanne Mullen, Southwest Valley eighth grader.

Honorable mention
Pitcher: Kaitlyn Burce, Stanton sophomore; catcher: Sami York, Stanton sophomore; Infield: Miah Urban, East Mills eighth grader; Brooklyn Adams, Stanton sophomore; Madison Williams, East Mills senior; Isabelle Inman, Southwest Valley sophomore. Outfield: Lexi Ungry, East Mills junior; Kinley Chickering, East Mills senior; Kami Tibben, Stanton junior.