The Iola softball team was rewarded for its improvement on the field this season by having four players given All-League recognition.
Chloe Gardner was named to the first-team All-League, while Sydney Wade, Sierra Snavely and Ashlie Shields each received a spot on the second team.
“I feel like it is an awesome honor as a sophomore,” Gardner said. “It has always been a dream.”
Gardner had a fantastic sophomore season and was not only able to provide the Fillies’ with a reliable glove at third base, but she also held down the No. 3 spot in the Fillies’ batting order all season.
Gardner hit over .400 for nearly the entire season and was able to finish the year with a .403 clip.
“She by far was our most consistent bat all year,” Iola head Coach Chris Weide said. “Every time she came up, we knew she was either going to move somebody around or get a quality at-bat.”
Many players would not even be able to imagine having those numbers at the end of the season, but for Gardner, that was the plan all along.
“Before the season even started, Coach Weide made us make goals and one of my goals was to bat .400,” Gardner said. “I am really proud that I accomplished that.”
Gardner also led the team with 21 runs scored and had four doubles to go with 13 RBIs.
One of Gardner’s most impressive stats is her ability to get the bat on the ball. In 70 plate appearances this season, opposing pitchers were able to strike the right-handed batter out only four times.
“She will be in the two- or the three-spot for the rest of her career with the Fillies, just because we know what she can do,” Weide said. “As a leader-by-example, she is the perfect kid for that. On the infield she is always making plays and talking, so that is just somebody we can really build around. She is such a positive influence on everyone.”
Gardner’s speed also was a huge asset for the Fillies. She finished second on the team with five stolen bases.
One on the major points that Weide was able to take away from the coaches’ meeting was how complimentary the other coaches were of the defensive left side of his infield. Gardner makes up half of that at third base. Her partner on that side is second-team All-League shortstop Wade.
“With Chloe and Sydney over there on the left side, we knew that if anything was hit over there we’d have a chance to make a play on it,” Weide said. “That was one of the coolest things at that meeting, because whenever I talked about Chloe and Sydney, that was one of the first things they talked about was how solid their defense was.”
“When you have coaches that have no stake in our program come in and talk about the respect they have for our kids’ ability and potential, that is pretty cool,” Weide said.
In addition to Wade playing a very consistent shortstop all season the junior also was able to give the team consistent production from the top of the lineup.
