For Immediate Release:
The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference announced the 2018 Division II Softball All-Region teams and special award winners on Wednesday. Des Moines Area Community College lead all teams with eight First-Team honorees, including the Pitcher of the Year and Coach of the Year.
DMACC head coach Bob Ligouri earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bears to a perfect 40-0 regular season. In his seventh season as head coach at DMACC, Ligouri has led the program to five World Series appearances in six years and has coached 15 All-Americans during his tenure.
DMACC ace Molly Jacobsen was named the Pitcher of the Year after leading the ICCAC in E.R.A. (0.18) and strikeouts (223). The Adel, IA native also finished the season with a perfect 20-0 record.
Kirkwood’s DoniRae Mayhew earns Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 27 home runs and 79 RBI. The sophomore infielder also notched a .460 batting average with 16 doubles and two triples this season.
Also from Kirkwood, Rachel Stewart was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Stewart was spectacular in the infield for the Eagles this season, earning a .932 fielding percentage with 116 assists and five double plays.
DMACC infielder Mia Ruther earned First-Team honors after leading the conference with a .526 batting average.
Kirkwood pitcher Natalie Halvorson was named to the All-Region First Team after collecting 24 wins and a 2.52 E.R.A.
Outfielder Alexis Egan, from Iowa Central, earned First-Team honors after leading the ICCAC with 74 stolen bases.
The rest of the First-Team honorees from DMACC include catcher Bailey Richards, pitcher Gabby Schnarthorst, outfielders Bre Hunter and Kaisha Wells and designated player Morgan Nealy.
From Kirkwood, catcher Monika Bevans and outfielder Lauren Kuch also earned First-Team All-Region honors.
NIACC’s Morgan Thesing-Ritter, Iowa Lakes’ Kacie Salazar, and Northeast’s Savannah Robertson collected infield honors. Three at-large selections are made each year as well. Avery Guy was an at-large selection for infield, Ellsworth’s Syndey Kramer at utility and Iowa Central’s Cheyanne Anderson for outfield.
| 1st Team All-Region | ||||
| Year | # | School | Name | Pos. |
| SO | 4 | DMACC | Bailey Richards | C |
| SO | 11 | Kirkwood | Monika Bevans | C |
| SO | 1 | DMACC | Molly Jacobsen | P |
| FR | 9 | Kirkwood | Natalie Halvorson | P |
| SO | 18 | DMACC | Gabby Schnathorst | P |
| FR | 12 | DMACC | Mia Ruther | INF |
| FR | 12 | Kirkwood | Rachel Stewart | INF |
| SO | 16 | NIACC | Morgan Thesing-Ritter | INF |
| FR | 4 | Iowa Lakes | Kacie Salazar | INF |
| FR | 3 | DMACC | Avery Guy | INF |
| SO | 7 | Northeast | Savannah Robertson | INF |
| FR | 20 | Kirkwood | Lauren Kuch | OF |
| SO | 2 | DMACC | Bre Hunter | OF |
| FR | 7 | DMACC | Kaisha Wells | OF |
| SO | 6 | Iowa Central | Alexis Egan | OF |
| FR | 4 | Iowa Central | Cheyenne Andersen | OF |
| SO | 20 | Kirkwood | DoniRae Mayhew | UTL |
| SO | 27 | Ellsworth | Sydney Kramer | UTL |
| FR | 10 | DMACC | Morgan Nealey | DP |
| 2nd Team All-Region | ||||
| Year | # | School | Name | Pos. |
| SO | 13 | Ellsworth | Kaylee Rynish | C |
| FR | 19 | Kirkwood | Hannah Mausser | C |
| FR | 17 | Iowa Central | Kallie Malloy | P |
| FR | 21 | Iowa Lakes | Yasmine Nix | P |
| FR | 23 | Northeast | Alayna Allen | P |
| SO | 32 | DMACC | Taylor Briley | INF |
| FR | 8 | Ellsworth | Lexi Riggall | INF |
| SO | 7 | Iowa Lakes | Kaitlin Walsh | INF |
| FR | 1 | Kirkwood | Kenady Waugh | INF |
| SO | 18 | NIACC | Shelby Low | INF |
| FR | 6 | DMACC | Kelsey Hora | OF |
| SO | 20 | Iowa Central | Kennedy Newell | OF |
| SO | 9 | Iowa Lakes | Julia Sullwold | OF |
| SO | 8 | Iowa Lakes | Leilani San Pedro | OF |
| SO | 14 | Iowa Central | Jessa May | UTL |
| FR | 23 | NIACC | Kaci Sherwood | DP |
| Honorable Mention All-Region | ||||
| Year | # | School | Name | Pos. |
| FR | 24 | Iowa Lakes | Kenlee Frank | C |
| SO | 8 | NIACC | Kodi Hillman | C |
| SO | 7 | NIACC | Courtney Johannes | P |
| FR | 5 | DMACC | Ellie Dixon | INF |
| SO | 7 | Ellsworth | Abbie Young | INF |
| FR | 2 | Iowa Central | Katerina Anthony | INF |
| FR | 11 | Iowa Central | Destiny Perry | INF |
| FR | 16 | Iowa Central | Jenna Peschel | INF |
| FR | 22 | NIACC | Alyssa Laxson | INF |
| SO | 8 | Northeast | Jade Long | INF |
| FR | 20 | DMACC | Jayci Vos | OF |
| SO | 18 | Kirkwood | Audra Bridenstine | OF |
| SO | 3 | NIACC | Katie Chapman | OF |
| SO | 1 | Northeast | Emily Sherstone | OF |
| SO | 18 | Ellsworth | Samantha Mills | UTL |
