Wares, Dutch win league softball honors
Central College
PELLA—A record five Central College softball players received first-team all-Iowa Conference honors while Dutch mentor George Wares was named the league’s coach of the year Tuesday.
First baseman Katie Tenboer (senior, Morrison, Ill.), second baseman Angela Davis (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS), shortstop Annie Sarcone (freshman, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS), designated player Rachael Everingham (junior, Georgetown, Ill., Georgetown-Ridge Farm HS) and pitcher/designated player Kiley Lythberg (senior, Mount Prospect, Ill., Prospect HS) were all first-team selections, the most in school history.
Catcher Caitlyn Meyer (sophomore, Newton) received honorable mention.
Wares, who guided the Dutch to a share of their 11th league championship with a 14-2 mark, as well as a 35-7 overall record and the program’s 23rd NCAA Division III tournament berth, received coach of the year honors for the eighth time.
Davis was tabbed for the third straight year. She’s hitting .388 with a team-high 15 doubles and 26 RBI, along with a .969 fielding percentage.
Tenboer, the league’s position player of the year in 2010, was tabbed for second straight year. She leads the Dutch with a .420 average, hitting 11 doubles, a team-high seven homers and a school record 43 RBI.
Lythberg was also on the squad for a third time, but it’s her debut on the first team after being a second-team pick in 2009 and 2010. She hit .425 in league games, ranking second in the conference, and is batting .393 overall with three homers and 29 RBI. She’s also posted a 17-5 pitching record with a 2.34 earned run average, walking 37 batters and striking out 103.
Everingham, a first-team choice in 2009, is hitting .345 with 14 RBI.
Sarcone, one of two freshmen on the first team, is batting .348 with six homers and 42 RBI.
Meyer is hitting .377 with 10 doubles and 30 RBI. She has a .990 fielding percentage and has picked off four baserunners.
The Dutch play host to an eight-team NCAA Division III regional tournament Thursday through Monday. They open at 4 p.m. Thursday against Benedictine (Ill.) at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field.
