First Team

Kassi Hardies, Albert Lea, Sr., 1B

Hardies led Albert Lea to a 9-12 overall record by hitting for power and average. Not only did she produce the third-most hits, 32, in the Tribune’s seven-team coverage area, those hits were timely. Her 27 RBIs led the area. Hardies and Lake Mills’ Hailey Borgmeyer were the only area players to eclipse the 20-RBI mark. Borgmeyer had 24, and Lake Mills played seven more games than Albert Lea. Hardies posted the Tigers’ best batting average, .444, which was fifth in the area, and tied Northwood-Kensett’s Shelby Low with four home runs to lead the area. Hardies led the Tigers with six doubles and a slugging percentage of .694.

 

Cassie Gilster, Alden-Conger, Jr., 3B

The best batting average in the area, .551, belonged to Gilster. She led the Knights to a 5-11-1 overall record and a 3-8 mark in the Valley Conference. Gilster posted five doubles, three triples and was one of nine players in the area with two or more home runs. Alden-Conger coach Gary Nelson said Gilster played well at third base and has an excellent arm.

 

Madi Ziebell, Glenville-Emmons, Sr., P

As Glenville-Emmons’ pitcher, strikeouts were a strength for Ziebell. She was the only pitcher in the area who totaled strikeouts in triple figures at 113, and she did so in 14 games. Ziebell had 35 more strikeouts than anyone else in the area, a record of 5-6 and an ERA of 3.64, which was second in the area. She also excelled at the plate with 17 hits, six doubles, 16 RBIs and a batting average of .370.

 

Haley Harms, Albert Lea, Sr., P

Harms combined solid pitching against opponents in the Big Nine Conference with a batting average of .431, which was sixth in the area, and the 10th-most hits in the area, 22, despite missing the Tigers’ last seven games with a broken ankle. Harms was one of two pitchers in the area to have a winning record from the pitching circle at 5-3. In 62 1/3 innings pitched, she had an ERA of 3.706 with 29 strikeouts and nine walks.

 

Anna Lundberg, NRHEG, Jr., P

In terms of winning percentage, Lundberg was the most productive pitcher in the area. She took over for last year’s All-Area co-Player of the Year, Jade Schultz, and posted an 11-4 record with a 2.64 ERA, the best in the area by a full run. In 98 innings, she struck out 55 batters and allowed 52 walks, 113 hits and 42 runs.

 

Emily Orban, Lake Mills, Jr., P

Orban was Lake Mills’ mainstay in the pitching circle, and she totaled the second-most hits in the area, 33, which was second only to Bulldogs teammate Hailey Borgmeyer, who had 34. Orban was fourth in the area with 17 RBIs. She pitched over 40 more innings than anyone else in the area at 139. Orban’s pitching record was 5-18. She struck out 66 batters and allowed 218 hits, 115 earned runs and 42 walks.

 

Shelby Low, Northwood-Kensett, Jr., P

Despite playing only 17 games and pitching 77 innings, Low was second in the area with 78 strikeouts. She also tied Albert Lea’s Kassi Hardies with an area-best four home runs and had a slugging percentage of .700. Of Low’s 16 hits, 10 were extra-base hits. She posted five doubles and a triple with a .320 batting average.

 

Hailey Borgmeyer, Lake Mills, So., CF

Borgmeyer led the Bulldogs and the area with 34 hits, was second in the area with 24 RBIs, 15th in the area with a .374 batting average and in a six-way tie for fourth in the area with two home runs. She produced five doubles, four triples and scored 23 runs. Borgmeyer’s .582 slugging percentage was Lake Mills’ top mark.

 

Shianne Robertson, USC, Jr., OF/P

After a one-win season last year, Robertson led United South Central to a 4-14 record with production at the plate. She was tied with Lake Mills’ Jewell Gasteiger with 25 hits, which was sixth in the area, and Robertson’s .472 batting average was third in the area. She drove in 12 runs, scored 14 runs and hit four doubles.

 

Second Team

Megan Kortan, Albert Lea, Sr., SS

Kortan excelled at each phase of the game. She was consistent at shortstop with only four errors in 21 games, to go with a team-high 23 runs scored, a team-high seven stolen bases and a batting average of .318. Kortan was tied for fourth in the area with two home runs and had a slugging percentage of .500.

 

Taylor Thompson, Albert Lea, Sr., OF

After posting 29 hits and a .358 batting average last year, Thompson improved in both areas. She had 30 hits, which was fifth in the area, and was ninth in the area with a batting average of .400. Thompson hit five doubles, two triples and a home run. She drove in 11 runs and scored 18 with a slugging percentage of .560.

 

Allison Grandstrand, Albert Lea, Jr., 3B

In Albert Lea’s first win over Rochester John Marshall since the 2009-10 season on April 23, 2015, Grandstrand broke onto the scene with two home runs, including a grand slam. She drove in 19 runs, which was third in the area, to go with a .369 batting average, a .462 on-base percentage and a .523 slugging percentage. Grandstrand was eighth in the area with 24 hits.

 

Kayla Gerber, Glenville-Emmons, So., OF

Gerber showed explosive baserunning with solid hitting at the plate in her sophomore campaign. She led the area with 33 stolen bases, and was second in the area with a .500 batting average and in a four-way tie for 10th in the area with 22 hits. Gerber hit five doubles and a triple to go with a .577 on-base percentage of and a .659 slugging percentage.

 

Liesel Theusch, Alden-Conger, Sr., DH

Although Theusch was a designated hitter her senior season with a rotator cuff injury, she found success at the plate with a .460 batting average, which was fourth in the area, and was seventh in the area with 14 RBIs. She also produced 10 doubles.

 

Kasey Knutson, Alden-Conger, Sr., C

Along with leading the Knights from behind the dish, Knutson posted a .304 batting average and was third in the area with three home runs. Alden-Conger coach Gary Nelson said Knutson was better than average at catcher.

 

Kelli Harrington, NRHEG, Sr., OF

Harrington led the Panthers and was sixth in the area with a .407 batting average. She was also tied for 10th in the area with 22 hits. Harrington led NRHEG with a .515 on-base percentage, six doubles and 23 runs scored. She also hit one home run.

 

Cede Byrnes, Lake Mills, Jr., 1B

Byrnes was consistent at first base and at the plate. Her 31 hits were fourth in the area, and she was tied with teammate Emily Orban for fourth in the area with 17 RBIs. Her batting average of .378 was 14th in the area. She also hit two home runs.

 

Leah Johnson, USC, Jr., SS

Johnson was one of two players on the Rebels’ roster who had more than 20 hits with 22, which was tied for 10th in the area. She posted a .407 batting average, which tied with NRHEG’s Kelli Harrington for seventh in the area. Johnson  hit five doubles and two home runs. She scored 16 runs and hit 10 RBIs.

 

Honorable mention

Hanna Schilling, Albert Lea, Jr., P

Dayna Edwards, Albert Lea, Fr., IF

Jessica Price, Alden-Conger, Sr., P

Lani Poole, Glenville-Emmons, So., IF

Laura Hopperstad, Northwood-Kensett, 8th

Sammi Butler, Northwood-Kensett, Sr.

Jewell Gasteiger, Lake Mills, So., LF

Cassidy Cox, Lake Mills, Jr., SS

Anna Stork, NRHEG, Sr., 1B

Alyssa Esplan, NRHEG, Sr., IF

Kayley Camerer, NRHEG, So., IF

Kia Legred, USC, Jr., OF

Taylor Schultz, USC, Sr., P