Iowa's best high school softball players: Meet the state's top catchers

By Barry Poe 

With the high school softball season getting underway, SBLive is looking at the best players in Iowa. In our second installment, we feature catchers across all classifications. 

The state is loaded with talented catchers. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list as there are numerous outstanding catchers statewide. 

Emma Anderson, South Central Calhoun, Senior

Anderson earned third team all-state honors as a junior after hitting over .500 with 12 doubles and 23 RBI.

Brittany Bcaorn, Knoxville, Sophomore

Bacorn, named a third team all-stater, posted a .436 batting average with four home runs and 20 RBIs as a freshman.

Kendra Casey, Sioux Central, Junior

Casey hit .426 with 16 extra-base hits while driving in 32 and earning second team all-state honors as a sophomore.

Madison Chesnut, West Monona, Senior

Chesnut hit .342 with 12 doubles and 29 RBI while striking out just five times in 111 at bats.

Rylee Dunkin, Twin Cedars, Junior

Dunkin, named first team all-stater, had a .415 batting average for 29-11 team last summer.

Macy Friest, Roland Story, Senior

Friest had 15 doubles, drove in 42 runs while sporting a .447 average en route to first team all-state honors as a junior.

Olivia Gordon, Oskaloosa, Senior

Gordon, a Peru (Neb.) State recruit, earned third team all-state honors after leading the Indians with a .414 average, 12 doubles and 39 RBIs.

Finley Hall, West Liberty, Junior

Hall hit .379 with five homers and 35 RBI while earning second team all-state honors on a state tourney team.

Maddie Harris, Western Dubuque, Senior

Harris had a strong junior season earning third-team all-state honors while hitting .414 and driving in 41 runs.

Josie Hernandez, Storm Lake, Senior

Hernandez paced Storm Lake with three home runs and 23 RBI while posting a .400 batting average and earning third team all-state honors.

Ashlyn Hoeft, Charles City, Senior

Hoeft hit .443 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and 47 RBI and earned third-team all-state honors as a junior.

Sydney Hoskins, Albia, Sophomore

Hoskins, named a second team all-stater, led Albia with a .442 average and drove in 21 runs during her freshman season.

Payton Johnson, Marion, Junior

Johnson led Marion with a .492 average, 18 doubles, five home runs and 35 RBIs while earning first team all-state honors.

Logan Kelley, West Burlington, Sophomore

Kelley, a second team all-stater, led West Burlington with a .479 average to go with 17 home runs and 51 RBI.

Madisyn Kelley, Central Springs, Senior

Kelley, a DMACC signee, was a first team all-stater on state tourney team and hit .373 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs as a junior.

Courtney Kessler, Iowa City Regina, Junior

Kessler was a second team all-stater who led the state with a .641batting average as a sophomore.

Brynnlin Kroymann, Northeast, Senior

Kroymann, a NIACC recruit, hit .489 with 65 hits while driving in 39 runs on her way to earning third-team all-state honors in Class 2A.

Jenna Lemley, North Linn, Senior

Lemley, an Indian Hills CC signee, hit .444 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs for 2A state champion Lynx.

Hayley Madlock, Wilton, Junior

Madlock hit. 370 and drove in 25 runs while handling a pitching staff that compiled a 2.60 ERA on 2A state tournament team.

Annika Nelson, Clear Lake, Junior

Nelson hit .494 with six home runs during her sophomore season to earn third-team all-state honors.

Payton Nolan, Dike-New Hartford, Sophomore

Nolan was named a third-team all-stater as she hit .511 and drove in 22 runs as a freshman.

Mo Purdy, Des Moines East, sophomore

Purdy, a third team all-stater, hit 13 home runs and drove in 59 while posting a .426 batting average during a strong freshman season.

Ava Smithson, Johnston, Senior

Smithson, a Minnesota State recruit, hit 12 home runs and drove in 65 while posting a.455 average in earning first team all-state honors as a junior.

Kelly Stoakes, Webster City, Senior

Stoakes, named a third team all-stater, hit .462 with four home runs and 29 RBI while walking 22 times as a junior.

Lexi Whaley, Fort Madison, Sophomore

Wahley totaled10 home runs, nine doubles and 40 RBIs to go with a .364 average and was named second team all-state.