WACO Softball

06/21/2026

Another week of softball gives us two nominations for KCII Athlete(s) of the Week: juniors Kaylan Willits and Natalie Wagler.

Both had great weeks at the plate. Natalie was riding a 6 game hitting streak, leading our team in hits, average, and SB for the season. Kaylan has found her groove at the plate this week and has pushed her batting average close to .300 with a great week hitting as our only left handed bat in the lineup.

Once again, to vote, please click on the original KCII post and comment “WACO”. Thanks again for your support and hats off to these girls!

Listeners, it's time to highlight the local boys and girls of summer with the KCII Area Athlete of the Week poll. We have a pair of representatives for each school listed. Cast your vote by commenting on this poll post. One vote/comment per person only. We'll feature the winning school's athletes on the KCII PM Sports Page 6/24 and 6/25 Voting ends at 10PM Sunday 6/21.

Washington- Softball Leighton Salazaar, Baseball Ethan Peebler- Salazaar was all over the basepaths this week, helping the Demons average more than 11 runs a game in contests against Keokuk, Burlington and Carlisle. She finished the week with nine runs scored, seven hits and five RBI. Salazaar is the Demon leader in runs, hits and walks at this point in the season. Ethan Peebler was a big piece of the Demons huge week. Not only did Washington get their first victory, they backed it up with three more to go 4-1, with a combined +39 run differential. Peebler had a big week on the mound and in the box, finishing with eight hits, four runs scored and three RBI, while going 2-0 on the bump with seven strikeouts and no runs allowed in nine innings. He's the Demon pitching staff wins and strikeout leader.

Mid-Prairie- Softball- Sophie Miller, Baseball Kale Miller- The Miller's had a big week for Mid-Prairie. In two conference games this week against Wilton she had six hits, four runs scored. three RBI and a homer. She leads the Hawks in average, OBP, slug, OPS, hits, runs and RBI. Sophie Miller is one of five players in Class 3A who has not struck out this season and she has reached base in every game. Kale Miller continued his power surge this week. In a conference doubleheader against Wilton he finished the night with five RBI, including a grand slam. He finished the week with five RBI, four hits and two runs scored. Miller also pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out three.

Hillcrest Academy- Softball Isabelle Vigneron, Baseball Ethan Yoder- Isabelle Vigneron continues to be one of the most consistent bats in the Raven lineup, supplying both power and average. This week she finished with seven hits, five runs scored, four driven in and a homer. Vigneron is the team leader in average, slug, OPS, hits, runs and RBI. Yoder finished 2-0 on the mound with 11 innings thrown and 11 strikeouts, putting up wins over Keokuk and Wapello. Yoder leads the Raven staff in wins.

Highland- Softball Sienna Bell, Baseball Caleb Wheeler- Bell and the Huskies continued their prolific offensive season this week. She finished with six hits, five runs scored and three RBI. Bell is the team leader in walks. The Highland baseball team has reached double figures six times this season, three times this week alone, with Wheeler pitching in seven hits, six RBI and five runs scored.

Columbus/Winfield-Mt Union- Softball Ellie Sanders, Baseball Tyson Kaalberg- The Wildcat softball team got in the win column for the first time this year, beating WACO, with Sanders in the circle. She finished this week pitching 12 and two thirds innings, strikeout 17. At the plate, Sanders added seven hits, six runs and two RBI. She is the Wildcat leader in hits, average, OBP, slug and OPS at the plate while pacing Columbus in the circle in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Tyson Kaalberg continues his chase of the school record for stolen bases, adding six more to his total this week. Kaalberg continued to stay hot at the plate, with eight total hits, four runs and three RBI. Those eight hits included a walk-off knock to beat Louisa-Muscatine. Kaalberg is the team leader in steals, average, runs, hits and RBI.

WACO Softball- Natalie Wagler, Kaylan Willits- This pair combined for eight hits, an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases this week for the Warriors. They are 1-2 on the WACO roster in batting average, slug, and OPS. Wagler is the leader in runs and hits.

Keota- Softball Jessalyn Aller, Baseball Blake Baker- The Eagle softball team is riding one of the longest winning streaks in Class 1A, taking 11 in a row. Aller went 5-0 in the circle, throwing 42 innings and striking out 29. At the plate, she accounted for 10RBI, eight hits, six runs scored and five stolen bases. Aller leads the Eagles in all major pitching categories, and offensively in slug, OPS, total hits, and RBI. Baker was a part of a three-win-week for the Eagles, compiling eight hits, eight RBI, five runs and three stolen bases. He also pitched three innings with four strikeouts. Baker paces the Eagles in slug and RBI.

Sigourney- Softball Naveah Beinhart, Baseball Chase Clarahan- Beinhart had a big week in the circle and at the plate, collecting a win for the Savages, throwing 10 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. With the bat, she had five hits, three runs scored and an RBI. Beinhart leads the team in RBI, ERA and WHIP. The No. 6 Sigourney baseball team put together a 4-1 week. Clarahan drove in seven and scored six times with five hits. On the mound he collected a win, throwing eight innings and striking out 11. He's the Sigourney leader in slug and OPS at the plate and wins and strikeouts on the mound.

06/20/2026

Big shout out to the junior high softball team as they won an exciting game vs Hillcrest on Friday, 6-5. They sweep the season series following a game with great hitting, pitching, and defense! A couple girls hit balls to the fence and their energy was felt throughout the crowd.

Congrats girls on a great win!

06/20/2026

Tomorrow we will be playing an all day varsity tournament in Danville.

8:00-vs Lone Tree on the Rec Softball Field
12:00-vs Danville on the High School Softball Field
2:00-vs WBND on the Rec Softball Field

Attached is a visual of the fields and parking locations.

06/20/2026

Thanks to Jeff Mills of Reel Smart Highlights for the pictures vs Columbus!

06/17/2026

Tonight's home games for junior high and varsity softball have been postponed due to rain.

Varsity softball will be moved to June 29th at Wapello and will play a double-header, beginning at 5 PM. Junior high softball will play at Wapello June 29th and will start at 3:30 PM.

06/14/2026

Congrats to junior Natalie Wagler and sophomore Trinity Dean on being nominated for Athlete of the Week for KCII.

Natalie and Trinity are coming off good offensive weeks, where both were able to inflate their offensive numbers in the 2 games we played. Natalie is leading our team in hits while Trinity is leading the team in on-base percentage.

To vote, click on the original post that is shared and comment "WACO" to cast a vote.

Thanks for all your support and well done girls!

*VOTING HAS CLOSED*
Listeners, it's time to highlight the local boys and girls of summer with the KCII Area Athlete of the Week poll. We have a pair of representatives for each school listed. Cast your vote by commenting on this poll post. One vote/comment per person only. We'll feature the winning school's athletes on the KCII PM Sports Page 6/17 and 6/18 Voting ends at Noon Monday 6/15.

Washington- Softball Natalie Hartman, Baseball Isaac Medrano- Hartman had a big week at the plate and in the circle at the Jesup tournament. In a ranked win over No. 7 Wapsie Valley, Hartman drove in a run and threw a complete game with five strikeouts. In later rounds, she belted a homer against Dike-New Hartford and was the winning pitcher against South Winneshiek. Demon baseball got one game in this week because of weather. Medrano led Washington with two hits, two runs scored and a stolen base against the West Branch Bears. He's hitting .375 for the year with six hits, two RBI and a homer.

Mid-Prairie- Softball Sophie Miller, Baseball Kale Miller- Sophie Miller and the Golden Hawks faced ranked competition all week taking on Iowa City West, Davenport Assumption and West Liberty. She finished the week with five hits, a run scored and an RBI. Sophie Miller has reached base safely in all 10 games this season, with at least one hit in nine of 10. She's the team leader with a .517 average, .559OBP, 1.145OPS, 15 hits and eight RBI. She is one of 17 players in the state who has not been struck out this season. Kale Miller had three runs, three hits and three RBI this week, including his first varsity home run in a game at West Liberty.

Hillcrest Academy- Softball Ella Mize, Baseball Kellen Miller- Mize is a double threat, helping lead the Ravens to a win over English Valleys this week. At the plate, she has five hits, four RBI, four stolen bases and three walks with a .323OBP on the season. In the circle, she has thrown 19 innings with 20 strikeouts and a 4.05ERA. Miller was part of Raven offensive explosion this week where they averaged 11 runs across four games, including 19-1 and 14-1 wins over Lone Tree and Keokuk. Miller was a part of the hit parade with five hits, seven runs, seven RBI and three walks. He drove in a team high five in the win over the Lions. He's the team leader on the season with 11 hits.

Highland- Softball Kayce Schnoebelen, Baseball Brock Nebergall- Schnoebelen was a part of a Highland split this week that included her double against No. 1 Louisa-Muscatine. She is hitting .300 this season with six hits, two doubles, four RBI, three runs scored and a .791OPS. The Highland baseball team lit up the scoreboard this week with 27 runs in just two contests. Brock Nebergall was a catalyst with five hits, four runs scored, three driven in and a walk.

Lone Tree- Softball Harper Kuboushek, Baseball Jackson Lyon- Kuboushek was a big part of the Lady Lion's rivalry win over Hillcrest 9-1, posting a pair of doubles, an RBI, run scored and two stolen bases. Lyon is a leader for Lone Tree this season with four hits, an RBI and two walks at the plate.

WACO- Softball Natalie Wagler and Trinity Dean- This duo continues to dominate the stat sheet for the Warriors. Wagler was three for four this week with a double, a walk and three stolen bases at the plate. She leads WACO with six runs scored and five total hits. Dean reached four times against Pekin including a hit, pair of walks and a hit by pitch. Dean is the Warriors leader with six walks and a .588OBP.

Keota- Softball Jessalyn Aller, Baseball Brycen Horras- Aller was a workhorse this week for the Eagles in the circle. She worked 14 total innings in games against Sigourney and BGM. In a rivalry win over the Savages she threw 148 pitches, giving up just two earned runs and striking out eight. At the plate she reached base twice and scored once. Against the Bears, it was another complete game with just one earned run and three strikeouts. Horras added to his impressive season totals this year in games against Sigourney and BGM with two more hits, a run and an RBI. Horras is second in all of Class 1A with a .737 average.

Sigourney- Softball Ella Bruns, Baseball Hunter Sellers- Bruns had a big night in a rivalry against Keota, going a perfect four for four with three driven in and two runs scored. She was also part of a walk-off win at Schaefer Field Friday over conference rival Montezuma. This year Bruns is the team leader with a .412 average, .524OBP, .471slug and .995OPS with six runs scored and four walks. Sellers has been a major factor in the Savages current 10-game winning streak where they are outscoring opponents by a combined 112-11 score. At the plate this week he had three hits, drove in three, and walked and scored twice. He was the winning pitcher at Winfield-Mt. Union with four innings, three hits, four Ks and an earned run. Sellers is one of five Savages hitting over .400.

06/11/2026

Tonight’s postponed game vs Wapello will be made up next Wednesday at 7 PM. Middle school will play at 5 PM.

Baseball / Softball Postponed Tonight

The baseball and softball games scheduled for tonight (6/11) vs. Wapello have been postponed to a future date. The date has not been determined yet.

06/09/2026

Danville Varsity Tournament Schedule 6/20

8 AM vs Lone Tree Rec Baseball Field
12 PM vs WB-ND Rec Baseball Field
2 PM vs Danville High School Softball Field

06/09/2026

Thursday's game at home vs Wapello is now VARSITY ONLY BEGINNING AT 5 PM. There will be no JV game. Junior high will start at 3 PM.

06/07/2026

After week 2 of softball, we have 2 more players nominated for KCII Athlete of the Week: junior OF/IF Mei Leichty and sophomore pitcher Savannah Harris!

Mei is currently towards the top of the conference in on-base percentage and has shown flexibility in the lineup, contributing to wherever she is slotted that night. Mei's body has also been a target of pitches, as she is second in the conference in hit by pitches (4 times).

Savannah has been holding the fort down as our pitcher, focusing on using the defense behind her and pitching well to start off games. A couple bad innings doesn't reflect on how well she has pitched: she has given up 67 runs, with only 23 being earned runs.

To vote, click on the original KCII post and comment "WACO" to cast your vote. Thank you for the support and congrats to these two girls!

*VOTING HAS CLOSED*
Listeners, it's time to highlight the local boys and girls of summer with the KCII Area Athlete of the Week poll. We have a pair of representatives for each school listed. Cast your vote by commenting on this poll post. One vote/comment per person only. We'll feature the winning school's athletes on the KCII PM Sports Page 6/10 and 6/11 Voting ends at 9PM Sunday, 6/7.

Washington- Softball Colbie Greiner, Baseball Ty Wright- Greiner has done it both at the plate and in the circle in the early season for the Demons. Her seven RBI, second in the Southeast Conference, and three home runs lead the Washington bats and are third in 3A. Greiner has seven total hits, three runs scored and a .241 average, .241OBP, with .552 slug and .793OPS. She's earned a pair of wins in the circle for Washington, working 32 innings with 26 strikeouts, third in conference, and a 3.64 ERA. This week she finished with five RBI, four hits, three homers and three runs scored while striking out 12 with her arm, including a homer and earning the win in the circle against 5A City High. Wright is Washington's average leader at .500, OBP leader at .533, slug leader at .929, second in the Southeast Conference, and OPS leader at 1.462, third best in conference. He is tied for the Demon lead with seven total hits and a homer to go with three RBI and three runs scored. On the mound, he leads Washington with a .143 batting average against to go with a 17.18ERA, and four strikeouts in three and two thirds innings. This week in a doubleheader against Burlington he finished with a homer, two RBI and a run scored.

Mid-Prairie- Softball Kadence Grout, Baseball Brooks Weber- Grout has helped the Golden Hawk girls to their best start at 6-0, and first state ranking in 11 years. The Hawks checked in at No. 14 in this week's Class 3A poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. This season, she has nine total hits, eight runs scored, seven RBI with a team best .524 average, .600OBP, .714 slug and 1.314OPS, and is one of three Hawks with a homer. Defensively, she has not made an error at first base. In a two-game sweep of West Branch this week by a combined 19-6 score, Grout had four total hits, scored three runs, drove in three and homered. Weber is the Mid-Prairie leader with a .407 average, .529OBP and .852 slug, 13RBI, ninth in 2A, 11 hits, 10 runs scored and three homers. Weber has a 1.314OPS. He was right in the middle of Mid-Prairie's sweep of the West Branch Bears in a doubleheader, including throwing a complete game 4-3 win where he struck out 13. Against the Bears later in the week, he belted three homers in one contest, tying him for the 2A lead in Iowa. Weber finished the week with eight RBI, five total hits, four runs scored and three homers.

Hillcrest Academy- Softball Lyla Genkinger, Baseball Rowan Miller- Genkinger has gotten the most work of any Raven in the circle, throwing 18 innings with a 3.44ERA and recording one of two wins this week, sporting a .205 opponent average and 21Ks during that time. At the plate, she has compiled a .267 average, .389OBP, .333 slug and .722OPS, with four hits, four RBI and a run scored. This week, Genkinger struck out eight in the circle with a hit, a run and an RBI. Miller has a Raven best six runs scored and six walks to go with the only Hillcrest homer. Miller has six runs scored, five RBI and four total hits. Miller is hitting .400, with a .588OBP, .800slug, third in the Southeast Iowa Superconference, and 1.388OPS. On the mound he is 1-0 with a complete game win over Highland with three hits, one unearned run and 10 strikeouts.

Lone Tree- Softball Alyson Ford, Baseball Kort Kemp- Ford is hitting .318 for the Lady Lions with a 375OBP, .409 slug and .784OPS. Ford has seven hits, four runs driven in and two runs scored. This week she finished with two hits, two runs scored, and two driven in including a home run in a rivalry game with Highland. Kemp is hitting .235 with a .278OBP, .294 slug and .572OPS. At the plate he is tied for the team lead with four hits and has a run scored. On the mound Kemp has worked in four games, all starts. Across 16 innings he has 18 strikeouts, 11 earned runs and a .309 opponent average against, and 4.81ERA.

Columbus- Softball Daniella Diaz, Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union Baseball Trevor Phillips- Diaz is hitting .300 this year with a team best, .562OBP, .500 slug and 1.062OPS including three total hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Phillips has a .387 average at the plate with a .525OBP, .387 slug and .912OPS. His average leads the team, so do his 12 hits. Phillips has scored eight runs and driven in five. On the mound he has worked in five games and across nine innings has a .161 opponent average against, nine earned runs and 21 strikeouts, third in the Superconference.

WACO- Softball Mei Leichty, Savannah Harris- This duo has things covered for the Warriors at the plate and on the mound. Leichty has a team best .500 average, .692OBP, second in the Southeast Iowa Superconference, .500slug,1.192OPS and four hits. Liechty has driven in a pair of runs and scored three times. In the circle, Harris has worked all but two innings this season. She leads WACO with her pitching win, the first for the program in a decade, along with 20 strikeouts and a seven ERA, with a .363 opponent average.

Keota- Softball Cameron Haifley, Baseball Blake Baker- Haifley is hitting .333 on the year with a .429OBP, .583 slug and 1.102OPS. She has four hits, three doubles, and three RBI with a team leading six runs scored. Baker is hitting .462 with a .500OBP, .615 slug and 1.115OPS to go with six hits, six driven in and three runs scored. On the hill, he has two wins to lead the team, a .156 opponent average with two earned runs allowed, and 30 strikeouts, eighth in Class 1A, in just 15 innings.

Sigourney- Softball Kia Montgomery, Baseball Landon Conrad- Montgomery leads the Savages with a .400 average, .429OBP, .400 slug and .829OPS, eight hits and four stolen bases. She has scored three runs and driven in another. Conrad is hitting .368 for the top 10 Savages with a .538OBP, .474slug, 1.012OPS. He has seven total hits, five RBI and three runs scored. On the mound, Conrad is unbeaten at 2-0 with a .083 average against, 1.47ERA and WHIP under one.