The Southeast Valley softball team ended their season during the first round of regional play on July 6th against the Rams from Greene County. The loss left the Jags with an overall record of 14-11 and 8-2 in conference play.

The beginning of the season did not pan out the way the players, coaches, and fans wanted with a run-rule loss to, foe, Humboldt in game number one. Following that loss, the Jags would go on to lose the next three games, by three or less runs in each of the losses, proving the ability was there. It would be May 28th before the Jags would put one in the W column after blanking the Ogden Bulldogs by a score of 17-0. The Jags would pick up their first conference win in exciting fashion after traveling to Peterson to take on the Rebels from Sioux Central (6-5 W). After a tough loss to Algona, the Jags would bounce back to win the next eight games defeating Manson NW-Webster, Emmetsburg, Alta-Aurelia, Pocahontas Area, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Storm Lake St. Mary’s, and East Sac County. During a tough week on the schedule, the Jags would drop two games: one to Newell-Fonda and one to GTRA, however they would bounce right back to pick up three wins against Iowa Falls-Alden, South Central Calhoun, and Pocahontas Area. In their final week of play, the Jags would win one against Manson NW-Webster and drop two to Greene County and one to Saydel.

Throughout the season, the Jags faced adversity and had their backs against the wall, however they proved that they were a force to be reckoned with and never backed down from any opponent, ever.

Overall the offensive side proved to be the Jags’s biggest strength. Southeast Valley hit .307 on the season with a .452 slugging percentage. The offense was led by sophomore Jordyn Rowley who batted an outstanding .506 (.788 SLG) on the season, followed by fellow sophomore Ellie Nolte (.706 SLG) hitting an impressive .424, and junior Maddie Vansickle with a .383 (.688). Lauren Eslick also had a slugging percentage above .400 with .410, respectively. Eight Jaguars had an on base percentage of .300 or higher: Chloe Lambert, Lauren Eslick, Ellie Nolte, Rian Schlief, Kenna Scott, Leilah Olson, Maddie Vansickle, and Jordyn Rowley. Jordyn Rowley led the team in RBI’s with 34 followed by Maddie Vansickle with 31. Ellie Nolte and Rian Schlief were right behind with 17 and 16 RBI’s of their own.

Ellie Nolte, Jordyn Rowley, Kenna Scott scored a combined 101 runs on the season for the Jags. The other 94 runs scored this season came from Lauren Eslick (22), Maddie Vansickle (17), Anna Corell (14), Leilah Olson and Alex Kitchen with 11 each, Chloe Lambert (8), Camryn Lane (6), Rian Schlief (4), and Ava Chase (1) On the basepaths the Jags were led [in stolen bases] by Nolte (17), Rowley (15), and Eslick (10).

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jags saw a lot of changes after graduating six seniors after the 2021 season. The girls adapted and many played spots that they had never been in before. The outfield saw a total overhaul! Replacing last year’s group of outties would be a tough feat, however the trio of Kenna Scott (left field), Alex Kitchen (center field), and Rian Schlief (right field) held their own after learning entirely new positions [Scott and Kitchen made the jump from infield to outfield]. On the infield, Jordyn Rowley took over behind the plate, Lauren Eslick played full time at third base, Ellie Nolte moved from third to shortstop, Leilah Olson stepped in at second base while Maddie Vansickle and Chloe Lambert shared time on the mound and at first base.

Vansickle and Lambert proved to be a solid one-two punch throughout the season. The two nearly mirrored each other in every category;both pitched in 19 games, Vansickle recorded seven wins and six losses while Lambert earned a .500 winning percentage going 4-4. Lambert faced 289 batters while Vansickle saw 348, they matched each other in strikeouts earning 63 a piece, and nearly matched each other's walks as well, combining for 43 on the season. Lambert earned herself an impressive 2.44 ERA while Vansickle contributed a nice 3.53 ERA. Nolte and Schlief also saw time on the mound during the season. Defense proved to be the Kryptonite of Southeast Valley softball and they look to improve in that aspect of play in the off season.

Whether it be courtesy running, pinch hitting, pinch running, starting, or simply being the loudest in the dugout, the Jags saw contributions from all 15 players and without Lily Reck, Lauren Johnson, Ava Chase, and Riley Carlson, the Jag’s would not have found as much success as they did this summer. Next season, the Jags will return all 15 varsity players, including the nine starters. The Jags played the ‘22 varsity season with one junior, five sophomores, six freshmen, and three eighth graders.

2022 Varsity Roster

3 Chloe Lambert (FR)

5 Adrianna Corell (FR)

6 Lauren Eslick (FR)

7 Ellie Nolte (SO)

8 Rian Schlief (8th)

9 Lauren Johnson (FR)

11 Kenna Scott (SO)

13 Maddie Vansickle (JR)

14 Leilah Olson (SO)

15 Ava Chase (FR)

17 Jordyn Rowley (SO)

18 Riley Carlson (8th)

20 Lily Reck (FR)

22 Alex Kitchen (SO)

25 Camryn Lane (8th)

Rian Schlief IGCA All District Softball Player