RIVERSIDE 

A team headlined by a strong senior class, Highland softball was brimming with talent this year, and this did not go unnoticed as the Huskies had a total of nine players earn all-conference honors. 

Reaching 19 wins (one more than last year and making it four straight seasons they’ve earned double digit wins) Highland saw its season come to an end in the 1A semifinals where they fell to eventual 1A State Champions, the Sigourney Savages. 

This year the Huskies were defined by a strong defense (giving up an average of 2.4 runs per game) and a cornerstone of this impressive defensive effort was Grace Prybil, who was selected first-team all-conference as a pitcher in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division. 

In her senior year Prybil saw the most playing time on the mound in her career and she made the most of the opportunity. 

With career highs across the board, she was fourth in the SEISC North in strikeouts (103), started in the third most games (19), allowed the second least amount of runs (29), had the second most wins (15), and ended the best ERA (1.29). 

Another senior who made an impact this year (who needs no introduction if you are at all familiar with Highland athletics) was Sarah Burton. In her final year of Highland softball, she earned first-team all-conference honors as an infielder. 

Burton (who also participated in volleyball, track & field, and basketball) played shortstop for the Huskies and led the team in assists (41) and had a fielding percentage of .942. 

Leading the team in hits (39) and having the third most RBIs (16), Burton had a batting average of .438. Her four home runs are a conference best and the 48 runs she scored are the second best in the conference. Speed is an important element in Burton’s game, as she is 35 for 36 when it comes to stealing a base, which is tied for the most in the conference. 

Another pivotal piece of Highland’s outstanding defense was Madison Beeson. What this senior lacks in size (standing at 5 ‘1”) she makes up for it with extraordinary effort and focus as she was selected first-team all-conference as a catcher. 

In the SEISC North, no one had a better fielder percentage (.994) than Beeson, only making one error all season long. Her 162 putouts are the fourth most in the conference and she caught a base runner stealing six times which is the third most in the conference.  

She could also be counted on when it came to offense. Beeson collected 22 hits and knocked in eight runs with a batting average of .309. Her three sacrifice bunts are tied for the fourth most in the conference. 

Also, part of this talented senior class was first baseman Payton Brun. Putting together an impressive year on the diamond, Brun earned first-team all-conference honors as an infielder and was named to the 1A Southeast All-District team.  

Leading the team in RBIs (29), Brun tallied 33 hits with a team best batting average of .458. With an on base percentage of .571 (the fifth best in the conference), she was walked 21 times (the fourth most in the conference) and scored 27 runs.  

Rounding off the first-team selections for the Huskies, sophomore Mackenzie Davis earned first-team all-conference honors as an outfielder. 

In her second year of Highland softball, Davis saw a more expanded role as a starter in the batting lineup. 

She had a batting average of .278, connected on 22 hits, scored 20 runs, and brought home 18 runs. When on defense in the outfield, Davis had a fielding percentage of .821 and four assists to go along with 19 putouts. 

Moving away from first team, the Huskies had two players earn second-team honors, Lilly Barre and Mayia Singbeil.

Not only was Barre selected second-team all-conference as an infielder, but she was also chosen to the 1A Southeast All-District team, an impressive achievement for the junior. 

Barre (playing second base for the Huskies) had a fielding percentage of .988, the fifth best in the conference and only committed one error all season long, tied for the second lowest in the conference. She also allowed zero stolen bases, had 34 assists and 47 putouts.  

Also making her presence felt on offense, Barre had a batting average of .366, 16 RBIs, scored 32 runs, and went 16 for 16 on stolen bases. Her five sacrifice bunts were the second most in the SEISC North.  

Singbeil (one of two eighth graders who started more than 20 games for Highland) played third base for the Huskies and she was chosen second-team all-conference as a utility player.

With a batting average of .371, Singbeil had 23 hits and 16 RBIs. Her three triples are tied for the fourth most in the conference. She was also responsible for 24 assists and 11 putouts. 

Earning honorable mention all-conference were the senior and eight grade duo of Courtney Chalupa and Kamryn Fink.

In her final season of Highland softball, Chalupa had a batting average of .200 along with 12 hits and seven RBIs. Her three sacrifice bunts are tied for the fourth most in the conference. 

Fink, in her first season of Highland softball, had a batting average of .333 along with 25 hits and 16 RBIs. She went 18 for 19 on stolen base attempts and her two sacrifice flys are tied for second most in the conference.