Division II All-Region Softball Teams Announced

After a year-long waiting period due to the COVID canceled 2020 season, DMACC and Kirkwood finished at the top of the standings once again in 2021. The impressive years that these two teams had were reflected in the 2021 Division II Softball All-Region teams announced on Thursday.

Along with the First, Second and Honorable Mention teams, the special awards were handed out to recognize the Offensive Player, Defensive Player, Pitcher, and Coach of the Year. 

The 2021 Offensive Player of the Year was DMACC's Sophie Maras. Maras led the conference in batting average (.537), home runs (28), RBI (89), runs (98), hits (109), triples (6), slugging percentage (1.099), and stolen bases (52). The home run and RBI totals also lead the NJCAA.

Maras picked up a hit in all but seven of her 59 games played this season, and reached base in all but one game. She has 34 multi-hit games to date.  

The Pitcher of the Year honor went to Kori Wedeking of Kirkwood. Wedeking leads the nation with 27 wins. Her 200 strikeouts lead the conference and puts her at No. 5 in the country heading into District play. She also led the conference with a 1.71 ERA.

In all, she has thrown 176.1 innings in 32 appearances.

Defensive Player of the Year went to Kirkwood's center fielder Randyn Carter. The sophomore only had three errors on the year to go with her 33 putouts and two outfield assists. She has a .921 fielding percentage this season.

Iowa Lakes' Katie King was named the 2021 Coach of the Year. After being picked to finish fifth in Division II, Iowa Lakes nearly forced an if necessary Region XI-A Championship game taking a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh against DMACC. King led her alma mater to a 24-22 record overall and a 22-18 record in conference. Iowa Lakes earned four selections to the All-Region teams with two players on the First Team and two on the Honorable Mention team. 

Joining Wedeking and Carter, other Kirkwood players on First Team were catcher Peggy Klingler, infielder Sydney Albaugh, and outfielder Olivia Richards. 

Albaugh has been the Eagles top power hitter, slugging 22 home runs and knocking in 70 RBI. She has an average of .415 with an OPS of 1.331.

Maras was joined on the First Team by pitcher Abby Flanagan, and fellow infielders Kaylie Reynolds and Delaney Kelley. Outfielder Abby Husak and Designated Player Jada Collins rounded out the selections for DMACC.

Flanagan sits with a record of 18-4 in 126.2 innings pitched with 148 strikeouts. Reynolds is another elite power hitter, with 23 homer runs and 82 RBI she is in the top 6 in the NJCAA in each category.

Kelly is one of three Bears to have 75 RBI or more, which she has 77.

Iowa Central came in with three First Team selections with catcher Madysen Lange, infielder Loghen Schnetzer, and outfielder Carlie Thompson.

Schnetzer was another big bat in a league full of power. She was second among Division II players behind DMACC's Maras in home runs (27) and RBI (83).

Iowa Lakes had two First Team selections, Lexi Chase was the third pitcher selection and she was paired on the team with infielder Eliya Johnson who earned an at-large spot.

Chase did it all for the Lakers as she led the team in innings pitched (167) and batting average (.459). She had 29 extra base hits with a 1.226 OPS.

Ellsworth and NIACC rounded out the First Team with one selection each, Gintare Paskocimaite represented the Panther and Laken Lienhard occupied the utility spot, being the lone Trojan selected. 

First Team All-Region

*At-Large Selections

Second Team All-Region

Honorable Mention All-Region

Defensive Player of the Year: Randyn Carter, Kirkwood

Offensive Player of the Year: Sophie Maras, DMACC

Pitcher of the Year: Kori Wedeking, Kirkwood

Coach of the Year:  Katie King, Iowa Lakes