Jefferson Softball

Rachel Sedlacek signs with UNI

Jefferson senior Rachel Sedlacek was one of 11 players to sign national letters of intent to play softball at the University of Northern Iowa. Coach Ryan Jacobs announced the signings Thursday.

"We are very proud to announce the 2012 recruiting class," Jacobs said in a release provided by UNI. "It was important for us to sign a very talented class to replace the
great players that will be graduating at the end of the year. Not only did it need to be a talented class, but also a very big one.

"With eight players in our current senior class, it was imperative that we replace those players to maintain our level of depth. I can say with all certainty that we not only met our expectations, but exceeded them in every way."

Sedlacek, an outfielder, already is a four-year letterwinner She was second-team all-conference and second-team all-Metro in 2010, and first-team all-conference, first-team all-Metro and first team all-state in 2011.

Besides Sedlacek, the Panthers also signed Alex Benedict (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury HS), Ellie Doughty (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS), Nicole Fisher (Conrad, Iowa/BCLUW HS/Kirkwood CC), Kristin Lock (Lenexa, Kan./St. James Academy), Sami Olson (Olathe, Kan./Olathe East HS), Abby Pollow (Sioux City, Iowa/East HS), Micalla Rettinger (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill HS), Betsy Thomas (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa/Sergeant Bluff-Luton HS), Abbie Van Vleet (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola HS) and Caitlin Wnek (Amana, Iowa/Clear Creek Amana HS) to national letters-of-intent.

"Although these 2012 recruits cover all positions and styles of play, it is definitely the most versatile class I have ever signed," Jacobs said. "There is a great mix of speed, size, and power in this class. At the end of the day, you could take this group alone and compete for championships. We certainly expect many of them to step in immediately
to fill starting positions."

Morgan Allee signs with Indiana State

FORT DODGE – Iowa Central sophomore shortstop Morgan Allee signed a National Letter of Intent with NCAA Division I Indiana State University Wednesday morning.

Allee, a sophomore from Cedar Rapids Jefferson, had a freshman season for the record books as she obliterated the single-season batting average record by 52 points. She batted .524 with 19 doubles, 77 hits, four triples, six home runs and 47 stolen bases.

Allee was named First Team All-America by both the NJCAA and the NFCA, becoming the first Triton to be selected to the First Team by both organizations. She was also named Region XI Defensive Player of the Year as well as First Team All-Region XI, First Team All-Midwest by the NFCA and Academic All-Region XI.

“Morgan deserves all that she’s getting right now, she worked so hard and has put so much time in, I am glad she finally gets to go Division I,” said Coach Josh Sandin. “We have been so lucky to have Morgan these past two seasons and I know she’ll do well at Indiana State.”

Allee will have a familiar face as her coach at Indiana State will be former Iowa Lakes Coach Shane Bouman. He is entering his first year as the head coach of the Sycamores after a year at Iowa Lakes.

Morgan is the 21st Triton to continue her career at a four-year school since 2007. She is the fourth player to go to an NCAA Division I program.

Petersen, Burgart commit to Mustangs, Sedlacek to UNI

At a minimum the Jefferson J-Hawks will have three of their six seniors going on to play softball in college after this year.

Left fielder Rachel Sedlacek, pitcher Hannah Petersen and shortstop Carson Burgart all recently committed to play college softball next year. Sedlacek will head to Northern Iowa while both Petersen and Burgart have decided to attend Mount Mercy.

The group is excited to have the opportunity to play at the next level, but none of them are looking past this year. They all would like to end their high school career with a state title while enjoying one more year with their J-Hawk teammates.

“There is no explaining high school ball. These girls are my family and I can’t imagine not seeing them every day,” Petersen said. “My goals are to enjoy my last year and be the first 5A state champs.”

Sedlacek and Burgart agree. Both said they will miss their teammates and would like to win the state title.

Mount Mercy made a major haul in landing Petersen.

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No-no state softball tournament for J-Hawks

MARSHALLTOWN - Pain, tears, and disappointment filled the eyes of the Jefferson softball players Thursday night after the J-Hawks came up short in their Class 4A regional final game against Dowling Catholic.

The J-Hawks lost 2-0 in eight innings, making it two years straight that Jefferson (32-8) came up short of a state tournament appearance.

“We had a great year, the girls really overachieved,” Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said. “It is too bad it had to end this way.”

Jefferson ace Hannah Petersen and Dowling ace Demi Plathe came ready for a battle. Petersen, who has been stellar all year, was again a force to be reckoned with, allowing just six hits in eight innings.

Plathe was better. Despite pitching 16 innings the night before in a 3-2 semifinal win over Marshalltown, Plathe stifled J-Hawk hitters en route to a no-hit shutout.

“I knew it would be a tough game,” Niemeyer said. “I have seen her four or five times. She is tough.”

For seven innings it looked as if no one would ever score as both teams struggled to get runners on base.

Defense came up big for both teams throughout the game as each team made big plays to leave runners stranded and end scoring threats.

Jefferson looked like it would strike in the first inning after junior Kailey Drake walked and was bunted over to set Kenna Fry up with a chance to give Jefferson a lead. Fry delivered with a well hit ball to right center but Dowling right fielder Mackenzine Clair made a diving catch to save a run.

The J-Hawk defense did its job in the third, turning a double play on a bunt that was popped up to get out of the inning after a one out single from Dowling shortstop Laurie Siedl. Petersen got out of the next three innings with big strikeouts to leave Dowling runners stranded. She struck out six.

The J-Hawks hit the ball hard but did not threaten again until the sixth inning when pinch hitter Hannah McInerney reached second on an error with one out. Dowling again escaped danger when pinch runner Katie Naber was thrown out at third after tagging on a long fly ball.

“I thought we hit pretty well tonight, it was just right at people,” Niemeyer said.

Dowling broke through in the eighth inning with three hits, including a two-run home run that just barely cleared the right-field fence by the No.9 batter in the order, Alicia Crivaro.

The J-Hawks went down in order in the bottom of the eighth.

The J-Hawks return nine starters next year including ace Hannah Petersen and leading hitter Rachel Sedlacek.

Dowling (23-17) advances to next week's state tournament at Fort Dodge.

DOWLING CATHOLIC (2)
Claudia Farrell, CF, 4 0 0 0, Katie Mauk, 3B, 3 0 1 0, Demi Plathe, P, 4 0 1 0, Madison Gale, cr, 0 0 0 0, Mickie Ryan, 1B, 3 0 0 0, Emily Aller, C, 3 0 0 0, Mackinzie Clair, RF, 2 0 0 0, Jessica Bastian, DP, 2 0 0 0, Laurie Siedl, SS, 3 1 2 0, Alicia Crivaro, 2B, 3 1 2 2, Kelsay Hannam, LF, 0 0 0 0. Totals 27 2 6 2.

JEFFERSON (0)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 3 0 0 0, Kailey Drake, CF, 2 0 0 0, Hannah Petersen, P, 2 0 0 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 3 0 0 0, Maddie Hanson, DP, 3 0 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 3 0 0 0, Amber Grimm, RF, 3 0 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 2 0 0 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 1 0 0 0, Hannah McInerney, ph, 1 0 0 0, Katie Naber, pr, 0 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 23 0 0 0.

Dowling    000 000 02 -  2 6 1
Jefferson  000 000 00 -  0 0 0
Plathe and Aller. Petersen and Marquart. W – Plathe. L – Petersen. HR – Crivaro.