WEBSTER CITY – Four spots on the all-Heart of Iowa Conference softball teams went to South Hamilton, is was announced late last month.

Following a successful season that included a third-place finish in the league and a trip to the Class 2A regional semifinal round, the Hawks garnered one first-team spot for senior catcher Alyssa Hegland and a second-team accolade for junior pitcher Ady Wintermote. Junior center fielder Alissa Moss and freshman third baseman and pitcher Taylor Volkmann were placed on the honorable mention list.

Hegland was a unanimous choice to the top team, as were Saydel junior catcher Lyndsay Bianchi and Greene County senior outfielder Sydney Koch.

League champion Collins-Maxwell-Baxter collected three first-team spots and eight awards in all to lead the way. North Polk, which shared third-place with South Hamilton, also had three players named to the top team.

Despite the upper-tier finish in the final standings, South Hamilton, somewhat surprisingly, finished seventh amongst the nine teams in awards earned. The Hawks earned fewer awards than fifth-place finisher Greene County (five), sixth-place finisher Prairie City-Monroe (five) and seventh-place finisher Roland-Story (five).

Only Gilbert and Nevada, who placed eight and ninth, respectively, earned fewer honors. The Tigers and Cubs were shut out of the first and second teams and landed two honorable mention spots each.

Hegland, the lone senior on the club, was the unquestioned leader for South Hamilton. The multiple-year starter behind the plate hit .300 with two home runs, nine doubles and 22 runs batted in.

But it was her spot in the Hawks’ battery where Hegland was most instrumental. She made just two errors all season and finished with a .989 fielding percentage. She also threw out eight runners attempting to steal.

Hegland’s sterling prep athletic career includes multiple all-conference awards in volleyball and softball, as well as three trips to the state track and field meet in the 2A high jump.

Wintermote was a vital piece of the Hawks’ three-player pitching rotation. She put together a 9-5 record and a 2.22 earned run average in 782?3 innings inside the circle. She fanned 38 batters and allowed opponents to hit just .216.

At the plate, Wintermote put up a .358 average with seven doubles, four triples, two dingers and 16 RBI. Her 34 hits and 25 runs scored were both team highs.

Moss certainly had a first-team all-conference season in the outfield where she was arguably one of top gloves in the league. Roaming center field, she often made the difficult look easy and made just three errors all season.

Moss was a .280 hitter with one double, one long ball and 11 RBI.

Hitting lead-off all season, Volkmann hit at a .290 clip with three doubles and 12 RBI. The freshman also led the pitching staff in innings (88) and strikeouts (102). She compiled an 8-5 record with a 2.78 ERA.