SOLON — Changes are in store for the varsity softball team this season as Brad Holub has taken over the program. Holub has been with Anamosa the last three seasons (76-18 record) and led the Blue Raiders to their first State Tournament in 25 years last season. Before that he coached and co-ran the Cedar Rapids Blue Devil Softball Organization for about a dozen years and is still one of the directors along with assistant coach Cory Keeney. Keeney is also in his first year at Solon after three year of assisting Holub at Anamosa. Monika Bevans Solon alumni and All-State Softball recipient, joins Holub as the head JV coach and varsity assistant coach as she rounds out her first year of teaching at Solon. Skyler Stookey, head coach for the Level 3 program, and also a varsity assistant, is in his second year with Solon. He too is an All-State honoree and currently plays for Coe College.
Solon lost Monet Barnhouse, Payton Haasl, and Sarah Heick to graduation after a 26-13 showing last year, 16-8 in the WaMaC East, good for third behind 22-2 Mount Vernon and 17-7 West Delaware.
Holub and company inherit seven returning starters including seniors Camryn Keith, Ava Stebral, Tiffany Primmer, Carly Ellison, and Meghan O’Neill, junior Hillary Wilson, and sophomore Kendall Jensen.
Keith, a first baseman, earned 2nd Team All State and 1st Team All-Conference honors with a .515 batting average, eight home runs, and 13 doubles. Stebral, a second baseman, hit with a .351 average, Primmer batted .437 and is a third baseman, and Ellison is a pitcher and utility player with a .416 average. Holub noted Ellison will likely start in the outfield this season when not in the circle. O’Neill is an outfielder who hit .360 last year.
Wilson is a shortstop who earned 1st Team All-State and All-Conference honors last year with a .548 batting average, seven dingers, and 18 doubles. Jensen is a pitcher who went 15-8 with a 2.04 ERA.
Also back are junior Claire LaDage, sophomore Mia Stahle, and freshmen Izzy Frees and Addie Miller.
LaDage and Stahle, Holub said, will be looking for an increased role this season. Stahle was primarily a runner last year with 28 runs while LaDage scored 11 times. Frees is a pitcher and utility with a 6-2 record, and 2.36 ERA, last year as an eighth grader while Miller is a catcher and utility with 11 hits in 18 appearances at the plate including three doubles and six RBIs.
Newcomers include junior Sara Holtz and McKenna Rogers. Holtz is a junior who moved to Solon at the beginning of the school year, and Holub said she has potential at catcher and first base. Rogers is an eighth grade slapper and utility with “good ball savvy for her age,” and “lots of potential.”
The Lady Spartans, he said, are a veteran team with some younger pitching. “We should be solid in all areas – pitching, hitting, and defense.” The WaMaC East again looks to be challenging with runner-up Mount Vernon. Overall, he sees Williamsburg, Clear Creek Amana, and Benton Community (all WaMaC West) as strong contenders.
“We really increased the strength of our non-conference schedule by playing in the Iowa City West tournament at the University of Iowa (Friday, June 3), and traveling to Ottumwa at the end of the season (Saturday, July 2), which always hosts strong teams.” Of special interest to Solon fans will be a “Future Spartan Night” on Monday, June 20 as Alburnett visits.
The season opened Monday, May 23 with a doubleheader against Maquoketa. Solon visits Independence for a varsity doubleheader Thursday, May 26 starting at 5:20 p.m., and will host Benton Community for two Tuesday, May 31 starting at 5:30 p.m.
“I am super excited to be part of the Solon Community, and very appreciative of the support we have seen so far!” said Holub.
New varsity head coach Brad Holub surveys his Lady Spartans during a scrimmage with Liberty High Tuesday, May 27 at home. Holub led the Anamosa Blue Raiders to their first State Tournament berth in 25 years last season.