Warriors, Reivers Lead 2022 Division I Softball All-Region Lists

The 2022 Region XI Division I Softball All-Region teams were announced yesterday as well as the winners for the Region's special recognitions including Defensive Player, Offensive Player, Pitcher, Coach and Player of the Year.

Indian Hills named seven players to the First Team this season as well as nearly sweeping the special recognitions after finishing 23-1 in conference play this season. Starting the list off the Warriors is the 2022 Player of the Year Destiny Lewis. 

Lewis, a freshman infielder, finished this season tied for the third most RBI in Division I (88), the third most HR (30) and the eighth best batting average (.546). She led the conference in both average and RBI while also leading the conference in SLG% (1.262), runs (50) and finished with second most 2B (12).

Joining Lewis to the first team is fellow freshman infielder and Offensive Player of the Year Sydney Anderson. 

Anderson has been neck and neck with Lewis in many categories this season as the pair is both tied for the third most RBI in Division I (88). However, Anderson just edges Lewis out in home runs as she is tied for the most in Division I (31). In conference play Anderson finished with the third highest average (.512) as well as the second most RBI (45).

The Warriors have two pitchers on the first team list this season including Pitcher of the Year award winner Madie Anderson.

Anderson earned a win in every game she appeared in and tied for the most wins in the conference (9) and finished with the second most strikeouts in conference play (56). 

Paired with Anderson this season was fellow pitcher Ryan Cheek. Cheek posted the lowest ERA in the conference this season (1.69) while also averaging the highest K/7 innings (9.56).

Catching for Anderson and Cheek this season was First Team selection Kennedy Preston. 

Preston finished with the sixth best batting average in conference play (.482) and drew the most walks this season (17). In the field Preston only gave up one error this season and finished with a fielding percentage of .988 in conference play.

Rounding out the last of the Indian Hills players on the First Team were Gretta Hartz and Breanna Newton. The pair were both good hitters during conference play with Hartz finishing with the 7^th best batting average (.469) and Newton finishing with the 8^th best average (.453).

A big reason Indian Hills continued their success was head coach Lindsey Diehl, who has been named this season's Coach of the Year. Diehl repeated as the winner of this award from last year after finishing 23-1 in conference play and defeated Southeastern 3-0 to win the Region XI Championship for the seventh straight time. 

Iowa Western added four selections to the First Team this season. First up for the Reivers wass infielder and Defensive Player of the Year Jael Wilde. 

Wilde saw a lot of action on the infield with 96 total chances and had the third most assists in the conference with 44. She was also no slouch on the offensive side finishing the ninth best batting average in the conference (.451), tied for the 3^rd most HR (12) and RBI (42).

The Reivers had two outfielders, Karis Gifford and Amayia Hernandez, selected to the first team. Gifford was one of the top bats in the conference, finishing with the second best batting average (.519) and led the conference in triples (5). Hernandez finished conference play with a batting average of .417 and had the third most stolen bases with eight. 

The final selection for Iowa Western was designated player Camryn Milley. Milley finished conference play with a .382 average and the seventh most home runs in the conference (7).

Marshalltown had one selection on this year's first team was utility player Paige Westlin. 

Westlin was a power hitter for Marshalltown this season, having the 3^rd most HR (12) 4^th best SLG% (1.052) as well as the fourth best batting average (.506). 

Lyida Allen-Barnes was the lone selection this season for the Southeastern Blackhawks for her play this season at the plate and in the outfield. Barnes had a batting average of .395 in conference play and finished tied for the fourth most doubles in the conference with nine.

Concluding the list of first team All-Region selections this year is Southwestern infielder Abbi Conrad. Offensively, Conrad was invaluable for the Spartans this season, finishing with a .433 average in conference play while leading the conference in doubles with 14.

Player of the Year: Destiny Lewis, Indian Hills

Offensive Player of the Year: Sydney Anderson, Indian Hills

Defensive Player of the Year: Jael Wilde, Iowa Western

Pitcher of the Year: Madie Anderson, Indian Hills

Coach of the Year: Lindsay Diehl, Indian Hills