By Becky Walz,
Good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting will be keys to the success for the Decorah softball team this season. One week into the season, the Vikings look like the veteran squad they are, with a 3-0 record in the young season.
Leading the way is Head Coach Jill Boyd, who is in her fifth season with the program.
Remembering 2020
With the entire team back last year, the Vikings were still young, with experience on the diamond. The finished the Northeast Iowa Conference season third with a 7-5 mark. The season ended at the hand of Mason City in the Class 4A regional semifinal by a 17-14 margin.
As a team, the Vikings compiled a .286 batting average. They collected a .404 on-base percentage and a .371 slugging average. Decorah scored 118 runs with 92 RBI, along with seven home runs and 13 doubles. The pitchers put together a 4.71 ERA with 69 strikeouts.
Back strong
The Vikings return 13 letter winners. Leading the team in batting average a season ago was Bryar Duwe who earned an honorable mention nod in the NEIC. As a freshman, Duwe had a .408 batting average and .540 on-base percentage with 20 hits and 10 RBI. She also led Decorah with 12 stolen bases.
Back in the pitcher’s circle is senior Avery Shelton after earning All-NEIC first team honors as a utility player a year ago. Shelton recorded a 6-5 record with 53 strikeouts in her 68 innings of work. At the plate, Shelton was a force with a .354 batting average and .466 on-base percentage. She connected for three home runs and two doubles in the 17 hits and drove in 20 runs.
Second team all-NEIC catcher Ella Kittelson is also back with a .250 average and .350 on-base percentage. Driving in 13 runs as a junior, Kittelson tallied 13 hits for the Vikings. Fellow second-team selections back are Isabel Ihde and Ellie Luzum. Ihde will return to the infield with the second-best average at .404 with 19 total hits. Meanwhile Luzum is back in the outfield after hitting .289 as a sophomore and collecting seven stolen bases.
Senior Emma Johnson is also back for Decorah after being an All-NEIC honorable mention a year ago. Johnson was .256 at the plate, scoring 13 runs on 10 hits and driving in nine. She made seven appearances in the pitching circle for a 2-2 record with 16 strikeouts.
Others returning with a letter include Mya Numedahl, Cora Syverson, Lydia Ihde, Jane Murphy, Fiona Buresh, Abigail Milburn and Kallie Mincks.
A look at the NEIC
It will again be a tough year in the conference; however, Coach Boyd believes the Vikings could be a contender for the league title along with Charles City and Waverly-Shell Rock.
“We are looking forward to the 2021 softball season. This season we return our whole starting lineup from the 2020 season, and we feel this group of student athletes have worked hard over the past three years and are looking to continue to improve their overall standings from past seasons,” concluded Coach Boyd.
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