The 2023 softball season for KQRadio teams was one of trials and tribulations, and introductions of many new faces across the area. However, some of the wily veterans of the area churned out the production like we’ve become accustomed to seeing over the past number of summers.
Player of the Year: Delainey Bargfrede, Jr. P/OF (Webster City)
Hitting Stats – .337 AVG/.354 OBP/.438 SLG/.792 OPS, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 3 R, 30 H, 23 1B, 6 2B
Pitching Stats – 25 appearances, 24 starts, 16-7 record, 156.1 IP, 1.03 ERA, 26 BB, 178 K, 107 H allowed, 23 ER allowed, .185 BAA
After a breakout season in 2022, Delainey Bargfrede cemented herself as the preeminent player in the listening area with her dominance in the circle and her success at the plate. Even in losing efforts, Bargfrede found ways to shine and keep Webster City at arms length at all times.
Pitcher of the Year: Delainey Bargfrede, Jr. (Webster City)
A double whammy for the junior, who has her pitching stats listed above for her player of the year honors. The Western Kentucky-commit led Class 4A in ERA with her low-mark of 1.03, while finishing 7th in strikeouts with 178. Bargfrede also finished 9th in in opponents batting average, yielding just a .185 average to her opponents.
Defensive Player of the Year: Adeline Tesdahl, Jr. OF (Webster City)
Stats – .320 AVG/.398 OBP/.420 SLG/.818 OPS, 14 RBI, 32 R, 32 H, 24 1B, 6 2B, 2 3B, 26 SB, .915 fielding percentage, 4 errors, 39 putouts, 4 assists
Adeline Tesdahl garners Defensive Player of the Year honors as her prowess and range in the outfield is unmatched by any in the listening area. From diving catches to gunning runners down on tag ups or base hits, Tesdahl is a game-changer out in center field.
Newcomer of the Year: Miley Geise, 8th Grade, DP/P (Roland-Story)
Stats – .300 AVG/.355 OBP/.443 SLG/.798 OPS, 17 RBI, 6 R, 21 H, 12 1B, 8 2B, 1 3B, 14 appearances, 1 start, 1-1 record, 22 IP, 6.68 ERA, 21 BB, 14 K, 31 H allowed, .320 BAA
Roland-Story coach Amber Doyle didn’t think she would use the youngest of 3 Geise sisters much in her first varsity season, but Miley proved to be an energy source for a Roland-Story offense looking for some juice. The 8th-grader finished in the top 5 on the team in RBI and provided a much needed 3rd arm for the Norsemen pitching staff.
Coach of the Year: Jim McLaughlin (Eagle Grove)
Going .500 may not seem significant to some, but for an Eagle Grove program that experienced plenty of turbulence over the previous 5 years, it was big stepping stone in head coach Jim McLaughlin’s tenure. McLaughlin’s Eagles finished 15-15, a .500 record for the first time since 2017, and won a regional game before bowing out to Chariton.
With a majority of his lineup returning in 2024, the Eagles could be contenders to dethrone North Union atop the Top of Iowa West.
First-Team All-Area
Catcher – Peyton Jeter, So. (Roland-Story)
Stats – .280 AVG/.327 OBP/.280 SLG/.607 OPS, 13 RBI, 2 R, 28 H, 28 1B, .960 fielding percentage, 118 putouts, 27 assists, 6 errors, 6 runners thrown out stealing, 87 stolen bases allowed
The sophomore stepped into some big shoes, trying to replace multi-year starter Macy Friest and did a respectable job. Jeter provided some timely hits in the bottom half of the lineup while doing an excellent job defensively in a grueling schedule.
First Base – Kennedy Trca, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Stats – .414 AVG/.468 OBP/.614 SLG/1.082 OPS, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 14 R, 29 H, 18 1B, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 SB, .979 fielding percentage, 178 putouts, 5 assists, 4 errors
Trca became the reliable power bat Clarion-Goldfield-Dows was looing for in 2023, time and again helping to drive a good top 3 of the lineup with the Hasty girls and Karlee Lehman. Trca was also a vacuum at first base, holding the 9th-highest fielding percentage in the NCC at .979.
Second Base – Kayley Birkland, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Stats – .343 AVG/.355 OBP/.419 SLG/.772 OPS, 31 RBI, 20 R, 36 H, 29 1B, 6 2B, 1 3B, 6 SB, .939 fielding percentage, 38 putouts, 39 assists, 5 errors
Kayley Birkland enjoyed an extremely productive season at the plate for Roland-Story, leading the Norsemen in RBI with 31, and finishing 2nd on the team in hits and doubles. Her 39 assists defensively was good for 2nd on the team as well, behind fellow senior Lydia Oetker.
Shortstop – Addy Jeske, So. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .398 AVG/.482 OBP/.495 SLG/.977 OPS, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 31 R, 37 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 25 SB, .855 fielding percentage, 51 putouts, 49 assists, 17 errors
Jeske broke through in 2023 for Eagle Grove as a consistent force at the top of the lineup. The slap hitter led the team in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and total hits, and while defensively had some hiccups, showed great range playing and playmaking ability at season’s end.
Third Base – Braxton Steil, Sr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .326 AVG/.396 OBP/.382 SLG/.778 OPS, 22 RBI, 29 R, 29 H, 26 1B, 1 2B, 2 3B, 23 SB, .808 fielding percentage, 21 putouts, 59 assists, 19 errors
In her final season in a purple and gold uniform, Braxton Steil emerged as a leader for Eagle Grove, finishing in the top 3 on the squad in average, hits, and runs scored. Defensively, despite some hiccups, was a consistent force at the hot corner for the Eagles.
Outfield – Adeline Tesdahl, Jr. (Webster City)
(See Defensive Player of the Year for stats and description)
Outfield – Regan Faber, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Stats – .511 AVG/.621 OBP/.589 SLG/1.210 OPS, 13 RBI, 48 R, 46 H, 40 1B, 5 2B, 1 3B, 23 BB, 28 SB, .970 fielding percentage, 29 putouts, 3 assists, 1 error.
Regan Faber was a statistical anomaly in 2023, despite a down year for Roland-Story. Her .511 average was good for 11th in 3A, and her .621 OBP was good for 5th in 3A. Birkland led the Norsemen in all 4 percentage categories at the plate, as well as hits and walks drawn with 23, to just 3 strikeouts.
Outfield – Alyssa Jones, So. (Roland-Story)
Stats – .247 AVG/.340 OBP/.306 SLG/.646 OPS, 25 RBI, 15 R, 21 H, 16 1B, 2 SB, 1.000 fielding percentage, 14 putouts, 14 assists, 0 errors
Jones split her time between right field and the circle for Roland-Story, but she was a plus defender in her time in right field, while also finishing 2nd on the team in RBI with 25, despite her .247 average. Jones had a knack for timely run-scoring hits, whether clean or sacrifices.
Pitcher – Delainey Bargfrede, Jr. (Webster City)
(See Player of the Year for Stats and Description)
Utility – Tarissa Middleton, So. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .393 AVG/.475 OBP/.464 SLG/.939 OPS, 20 RBI, 24 R, 33 H, 27 1B, 6 2B, 19 SB, .878 fielding percentage, 36 putouts, 5 errors
Middleton was a key cog in a potent Eagle Grove lineup in 2023, finishing 2nd on the team in average and hits and 3rd in RBI. Defensively, Middleton’s range in center provided a challenge for hitters to try and find gaps anywhere near center field.
Second-Team All-Area
Catcher – Chloe Steil, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .237 AVG/.378 OBP/.254 SLG/.632 OPS, 9 RBI, 14 H, 3 R, 13 1B, 1 2B, .960 fielding percentage, 129 putouts, 16 assists, 6 errors
First Base – Livia Kasch, Sr. (Webster City)
Stats – .185 AVG/.224 OBP/.239 SLG/.463 OPS, 8 RBI, 13 R, 17 H, 12 1B, 5 2B, 9 SB, .977 fielding percentage, 156 putouts, 12 assists, 4 errors
Second Base – Karlee Lehman, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Stats – .317 AVG/.456 OBP/.365 SLG/.822 OPS, 19 RBI, 18 R, 20 H, 17 1B, 3 2B, 5 SB, 1.000 fielding percentage, 21 putouts, 32 assists
Shortstop – Clarissa Hasty, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
Stats – .319 AVG/.453 OBP/.609 SLG/1.062 OPS, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 26 R, 22 H, 10 1B, 5 2B, 6 3B, 13 SB, .912 fielding percentage, 28 putouts, 55 assists, 8 errors
Third Base – Breanna Bahrenfuss, So. (Webster City)
Stats – .259 AVG/.281 OBP/.271 SLG/.552 OPS, 11 RBI, 5 R, 22 H, 21 1B, 1 2B, 5 SB, .776 fielding percentage, 16 putouts, 22 assists, 11 errors
Outfield – Kate Barkema, Sr. (South Hamilton)
Stats – .352 AVG/.387 OBP/.465 SLG/.852 OPS, 10 RBI, 13 R, 25 H, 18 1B, 6 2B, 1 3B, 11 SB, .909 fielding percentage, 35 putouts, 5 assists, 4 errors
Outfield – Bonnie Nohrenberg, So. (Webster City)
Stats – .284 AVG/.333 OBP/.307 SLG/.640 OPS, 18 RBI, 13 R, 25 H, 23 1B, 2 2B, 13 SB, .800 fielding percentage, 21 putouts, 3 assists, 5 errors
Outfield – Nadia Kaiser, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – .284 AVG/.338 OBP/.446 SLG/.784 OPS, 21 RBI, 16 R, 21 H, 12 1B, 6 2B, 3 3B, 4 SB, .765 fielding percentage, 12 putouts, 1 assists, 4 errors
Pitcher – Brooklyn Osborn, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
Stats – 27 appearances, 25 starts, 14-12 record, 139.1 IP, 3.57 ERA, 38 BB, 103 K, 175 H allowed, 71 ER allowed, .276 BAA
Utility – Alynn Solberg, Sr. (Roland-Story)
Stats – .341 AVG/.425 OBP/.407 SLG/.832 OPS, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 23 R, 31 H, 27 1B, 3 2B, 5 SB, .831 fielding percentage, 22 putouts, 27 assists, 10 errors
All-Area Honorable Mention
UTL – Miley Geise, 8th Grade (Roland-Story)
INF – Ava Peterson, Jr. (Webster City)
INF – Zoey Duns, Sr. (South Hamilton)
INF – Indy Johnson, So. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
OF – MacKenna Hasty, Sr. (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)
OF – Tanna Thompson, Jr. (South Hamilton)
OF – Celeste Figueroa, Jr. (Eagle Grove)
C – Cloe Savitski, Jr. (Webster City)