The Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union has tabbed the West Liberty softball team at No. 14 in the preseason softball rankings in Monday’s release.
The Comets are coming off of a 20-12 season (11-4 record in the RVC) which ended in the regional semifinals in 2023.
Both of West Liberty’s pitchers are back this season as Mallory Wulf enters her sophomore season and Charlie Howard enters her freshman season and second with the team.
Wulf threw 134.2 innings last season with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Howard posted a 4.72 ERA in 56.1 innings with 30 strikeouts compared to 21 walks.
In the batter’s box is a full complement of hitters. Junior Pearson Hall and her spectacular .553 batting average last season returns as a potent force in the lineup.
Backing her up will be freshman sister Sully Hall (.438 BA as an eighth grader last year), sophomore Kiley Collins (.453 on-base percentage in 2023) and freshman Brynn Cassady (.454 slugging percentage in 2023).
Both Hall sisters, Collins and Cassady each stole double-digit bases last season, combining for 64 in total.
West Liberty opened its season on Monday with a doubleheader against West Branch and on Tuesday with a solo match against Sigourney.
On Saturday, May 25, the team will head to Williamsburg for the Jim Turner Classic.