Local athletes receive Central College softball honor
Center fielder Emma Johnson (junior, Davenport, Assumption Catholic HS) received the LeRoy Timmer Most Valuable Player Award for the second straight year while shortstop Carson Fisk (senior, Searsboro, Lynnville-Sully HS) won the Defensive Player of the Year Award, second baseman Haley Bach (freshman, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) won the Offensive Player of the Year Award, first baseman Megan Stuhr (junior, Sigourney) won the Most Improved Player Award and pitcher Emma Beck (freshman, Holland, Grundy Center HS) received the Outstanding Newcomer Award. Outfielder Makenna Hall (senior, Keokuk, Central Lee HS) and pitcher Sydni Huisman (junior, Treynor) shared the LeRoy Timmer Most Inspirational Player Award. Stuhr and third baseman Franie Burnett (sophomore, Ankeny, Centennial HS) were selected as 2024 team co-captains.
Central, one of the nation’s top NCAA Division III programs, gained a record 31st NCAA Division III Tournament berth, playing host to a four-team regional at Pella May 18-20. The Dutch posted a 33-11 record.
NFCA Hall of Fame coach George Wares is the winningest coach in Division III history, compiling a 1,232-437-3 (.737) record. He’s guided Central to four national titles.
Wares awarded 13 varsity letters.
FREMONT – Emma Lennox, so., DP-C, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS
Honors/awards: Second varsity letter
2023 offensive stats: .221 average, 41 games, 21 hits, 3 2B, 23 RBI
GRINNELL – Megan Doty, sr., LF, Grinnell HS
Honors/awards: Fourth varsity letter, American Rivers All-Conference honorable mention (2022)
2023 offensive stats: .287 average, 44 games, 28 runs, 37 hits, 6 2B, 14 stolen bases
2023 defensive stats: 65 putouts, 3 assists, 3 errors, .958 fielding pct.
SEARSBORO – Carson Fisk, sr., SS, Lynnville-Sully HS
Honors/awards: Third varsity letter, Defensive Player of the Year Award (2023); Most Improved Player Award (2021); Academic American Rivers All-Conference (2023)
2023 offensive stats: .224 average, 44 games, 22 runs, 22 hits, 1 3B, 7 RBI, 9 stolen bases
2023 defensive stats: 45 putouts, 87 assists, 6 errors, .957 fielding pct.
SIGOURNEY – Megan Stuhr, jr., 1B, Sigourney HS
Honors/awards: Third varsity letter; team co-captain (2024); American Rivers position player of the week (April 17, 2021; May 1, 2023); American Rivers All-Conference, second team (2021)
2023 offensive stats: .323 average, 44 games, 21 runs, 43 hits, 8 2B, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 5 stolen bases
2023 defensive stats: 273 putouts, 5 assists, 1 errors, .996 fielding pct.
