Stupp and Baune setting the bar

Aug 1, 2023

T-R FILE PHOTO - Marshalltown eighth-grader Emma Stupp, left, and freshman Gianna Baune, right, were named to the all-Iowa Alliance Conference’s second team in a vote of league coaches. This marks the first time in three years that the Bobcats have had players selected to the all-conference second team.

The final iteration of the all-Iowa Alliance Conference softball teams provided assurance that things are looking up for Marshalltown.

The Bobcats had six players honored on the season-ending all-conference squads, and MHS was the only one of the five Alliance schools without a senior on the teams.

Marshalltown freshman outfielder Gianna Baune and eighth-grade pitcher/corner infielder Emma Stupp were voted by the conference coaches to the all-Alliance second team, the first such honor for Bobcat softball players since 2020.

Baune batted .341 while batting leadoff for all 16 conference games, setting the table with a .449 on-base percentage while tallying team-highs of three doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs and 15 runs scored. Baune also ranked fifth in conference play with 12 stolen bases.

The second-team selection was a promotion for Baune, who scored honorable mention as an eighth-grader.

Stupp made enough of an impact in just 10 conference games to earn second-team honors after batting .435 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. She ranked seventh in conference batting average while also going 3-1 in the pitching circle.

Four more Bobcats collected honorable mention. Sophomore outfielder Kennedy Feldman received the award for the third year in a row, freshman catcher Kinsley Bowie brought home her second such honor, while eighth-graders Kate Sandvick and Briley Danielson made their all-conference debuts in their first season.

Feldman finished third in the Alliance with a .520 batting average in league games, racking up 13 hits in 25 at-bats despite playing just 12 conference contests. She had three doubles and scored four times.

Bowie batted .261 with a home run and four RBIs, but her prowess behind the plate was a big part of her selection. Bowie led the Alliance by throwing out four would-be base-stealers from her catcher position.

Sandvick saw action in just six league games but made enough of an impact at shortstop to gain her first all-conference laurel, batting .500 with three doubles, four runs scored and five RBIs. Her .688 slugging percentage would have ranked sixth in the league with enough at-bats to qualify, and she also made no errors in 21 chances in Alliance action.

Danielson batted .192 in 12 conference games, hitting two doubles and driving in two runs.

All-Iowa Alliance Conference North Division Softball Teams

(* unanimous selection)

FIRST TEAM

*Lucy Porter, so., P, Fort Dodge

Sydney Smalley, so., P, Ames

Kyra Anderson, jr., C, Ames

*Macy Brown, jr., 1B, Fort Dodge

*Hope Alstott, 8th, INF, Fort Dodge

Ellie Lynch, sr., INF, Ames

Brogan Evans, fr., INF, Mason City

Ali Frandsen, sr., OF, Ames

Kaylee Mescher, so., OF, Ames

*Maggie Elsbecker, sr., OF, Fort Dodge

Adyson Evans, jr., UT, Mason City

*Lydia Lara, sr., UT, Fort Dodge

Alanna Ford, sr., UT, W’loo East

SECOND TEAM

Josie Theilen, so., P, Ames

Gwen Fiser, jr., P, Mason City

Ellie Doster, 8th, C, Fort Dodge

Mya Geffre, 8th, 1B, Ames

Ashlyn Wills, so., INF, Fort Dodge

Meah McCaleb, so., INF, Fort Dodge

Katie Riesselman, jr., INF, Ames

Reggi Spotts, jr., OF, Mason City

Nora Morken, so., OF, Ames

Cadence Touney, so., OF, Fort Dodge

Malloree Nichols, fr., UT, W’loo East

Emma Stupp, 8th, UT, Marshalltown

Gianna Baune, 8th, UT, Marshalltown

HONORABLE MENTION

AMES — Mia Vogel, sr.; Ireland Buss, sr.

MASON CITY — Haley Shinn, sr.; Aubri Graven, jr.; Grace Berding, jr.; Kelsey McDonough, jr.

MARSHALLTOWN — Kinsley Bowie, fr.; Kate Sandvick, 8th; Kennedy Feldman, so.; Briley Danielson, 8th.

WATERLOO EAST — Siyanna Cody, fr.; Kaelyn Raney, jr.

Final Conference Standings

Fort Dodge 15-1

Ames 13-3

Mason City 6-10

Marshalltown 5-11

Waterloo East 1-15

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