The Lynx, who dominated the league landscape all season en route to a four-game margin over runners-up St. Edmond and Hampton-Dumont/CAL, snagged five first-team spots on the all-NCC teams, as well as three second-team honors.

The eight selections led all teams, as did the five first-team nods. Humboldt (six overall, three on first team) earned the second-most awards.

“I think we represented the conference teams really well with our girls,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “They all played really well for us this summer.”

Jenna Miller (pitcher), Kelly Stoakes (catcher), Leah Kasch (infield), Alayna Finucan (infield) and Bonnie Nohrenberg (outfield) scooped up the first-team spots for the Lynx. Livia Kasch (infield), Adeline Tesdahl (outfield) and Delainey Bargfrede (outfield) were the second-team honorees.

WCHS third baseman Leah Kasch watches her throw travel across the diamond to first for an out against Boone on Saturday. She was one of five Lynx players named to the all-NCC first team by the league’s coaches. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Miller and Humboldt third baseman Kendal Clark were the only unanimous first-team selections.

In conference games, Miller put together an 8-1 record with a 1.87 ERA inside the circle. She struck out 43 batters and walked only nine. As the team’s clean-up hitter, Miller hit .255 against NCC foes.

Stoakes, who like Miller is now a three-time first-team all-conference performer, led the conference in batting average (.628), hits (27) and RBIs (26), and was tied for second in home runs (4). Her courtesy runner, eighth-grader Cloe Savitski, was the top run producer in the league with 27.

Which begs the question, who in their right mind didn’t vote for Stoakes to be on the first-team?

“She did a great job behind the plate and she was a threat to all base runners,” Howard said of Stoakes. “At the plate, her bat was huge for us.”

Kelly Stoakes. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Kasch earned her second first-team nod by hitting .340 with two dingers and 15 RBIs inside the league. She and fellow senior Miller were also beneficial as leaders, Howard said.

“They both did a great job offensively and defensively for us,” Howard said. “We expected a lot out of them.”

Finucan shifted over from second base to shortstop in 2021 and served as a defensive rock, particularly late in the season. At the plate, the lefty slapper hit .244 and scored nine runs.

Nohrenberg was perhaps the surprise of the bunch. The freshman and first-year starter hit at an impressive .483 clip in conference games and scored 16 runs.

“Bonnie is that player that snuck up on teams,” Howard said. “She was that No. 9 hitter who was another lead-off for us and she was a big reason why Kelly led the league in RBIs.”

Alayna Finucan. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Livia Kasch, the Lynx first baseman, put together a .359 batting average with one home run and 11 RBIs in conference contests.

Tesdahl, a freshman who played center field, hit .333 with seven RBIs.

Bargfrede, another of the Lynx talented freshmen, was a .263 hitter with eight RBIs. She was also a weapon inside the pitcher’s circle where she put together a 5-0 record with a 2.89 ERA.

All-NCC Teams

First Team

Bonnie Nohrenberg. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Pitcher — *Jenna Miller, sr, Webster City; Avery Hanson, jr, H-D/CAL.

Catcher — Kelly Stoakes, jr, Webster City; Annika Nelson, soph, Clear Lake.

Infield — *Kendal Clark, sr, Humboldt; Jori Hajek, sr, Humboldt; Leah Kasch, sr, Webster City; Alayna Finucan, jr, Webster City; Kylee Whipple, soph, H-D/CAL.

Outfield — Alexis Hansen, jr, Humboldt; Hailey Bridgewater, soph, IF-Alden; Bonnie Nohrenberg, fr, Webster City; Ansley Oswald, 8th, St. Edmond.

Utility — Lillian Etherington, soph, Algona.

*Denotes unanimous selection

Second Team

Pitcher — Elise Osman, sr, IF-Alden; Ella Vratny, sr, St. Edmond.

Catcher — Kacey Kruthoff, sr, St. Edmond; Elly Wood, jr, IF-Alden.

Infield — Chelsey Holck, sr, Clear Lake; Gracie Harvey, jr, St. Edmond; Lily Elsbecker, soph, Algona; Livia Kasch, soph, Webster City; Addie Thompson, soph, Humboldt.

Outfield — Delainey Bargfrede, fr, Webster City; Adeline Tesdahl, fr, Webster City; Laurenn Gibb, 8th, St. Edmond.

Utility — Elsie Hubbell, 8th, Humboldt.

Third Team

Marlee Lancaster, sr, IF-Alden; Rilee McKibben, sr, IF-Alden; Clarissa Hasty, soph, CGD; Makella Jacobs, soph, Clear Lake; Aspen Harlan, fr, H-D/CAL; Kalli Henning, fr, St. Edmond; Reagan Lee, fr, Humboldt; Ryan Haynes, 8th, Algona.