Colo-NESCO softball team has its best season since 2018

Stronger pitching and quality balance helped the Colo-NESCO softball program achieve its most victories in five years.

The 2023 Royals went 11-15 overall and placed second to Collins-Maxwell in the Iowa Star Conference South Division with an 8-7 conference mark. The overall win total is the team's highest since it went 13-13 in 2018.

"The girls improved throughout the season," Colo-NESCO coach Candace Sutton said. "They were really playing together as a team."

Colo-NESCO fell to BCLUW (10-3) and Collins-Maxwell (8-0) in its first two games. The Royals picked up their first victory on May 26 by a 9-6 score over Baxter.

Wapello and English Valleys defeated Colo-NESCO by respective scores of 2-1 and 11-6 at the Williamsburg Invitational May 27. Then Colo-NESCO won three in a row over North Tama (12-7), GMG (10-9) and BCLUW (9-8).

"Two games really stick out for our girls' growth," Sutton said. "Our first game versus GMG we fell behind 5-0, but were able to battle back and win that game. The second was our second game versus BCLUW, where we were able to hold onto a lead as BCLUW battled back in the final inning. Both of these games the girls had to work together playing with intensity to get the outcome we wanted."

Sophomore Molly Angell was Colo-NESCO's top hitter.

Angell posted a .346 average with four doubles, two triples, 32 runs, 19 steals and seven RBIs. She made 17 putouts and four assists on defense.

Junior Rylee Upchurch hit .238 with 11 RBIs and she made 24 assists and 20 putouts in the field. Nessa hit .217 with a double and 15 RBIs and she only had one error in 27 chances.

Junior Katherine Rouse tallied a .237 OBP with seven RBIs and 29 assists and 22 putouts. Cassidi Bartmess had a .300 OBP with 12 runs, nine steals and three putouts during her junior season.

Cassidy Muschick registered a .250 average with two RBIs in 24 at-bats as a junior.

The Royals fell to South Hardin (12-0) and defeated Madrid (7-4) at the Royal Softball Tournament in McCallsburg June 3. They then lost to Collins-Maxwell (17-0), Riceville (14-2) and Nevada (14-1) before thumping Baxter (13-5) to snap their skid.

Colo-NESCO suffered losses to Montezuma (10-0), Don Bosco (18-2) and Iowa Valley in its next three games. The Royals rebounded to top North Tama (8-7) before falling to eventual Class 1A state qualifier Clarksville (12-0) and BGM (2-0).

The victory over North Tama was Sutton's 100th win of her career.

The Royals defeated Janesville (8-2), lost at GMG (3-2) then ended the regular season by crushing Dunkerton (17-5) and H-L-V (13-5). They won their third in a row in the 1A Region 5 first round with a 4-2 victory over GMG at McCallsburg then ended their season with a 7-0 loss to Collins-Maxwell in the quarterfinal game at Collins.

"The girls played really well as a team all season long," Sutton said. "We needed every player committed to accomplish the season we had this year. I enjoyed the adaptability the girls had and willingness to try new things as the season went on. They were very coachable and were a joy to coach."

The Royals gave up just 206 runs on the season after allowing 258 a year ago. The Colo-NESCO pitching staff had an ERA of 6.04 with 172 strikeouts and 48 walks in 148 1/3 innings.

Junior Annabelle Nessa emerged as the top Royal pitcher. Nessa went 7-7 with a 3.68 ERA, 103 strikeouts and 17 walks in 83 2/3 innings.

Kohlwes provided a veteran presence at pitcher. She went 4-8 with a 9.28 ERA, 67 strikeouts and 25 walks in 60 1/3 innings.

"Having two experienced pitchers was a benefit this season," Sutton said.

Sophomore Annabelle Heller threw four innings and tallied a 6.46 ERA.

Senior catcher Abigail Hostetler was the top defensive presence for Colo-NESCO. Hostetler only had four errors in 200 chances and she also threw out seven base runners.

Hostetler also hit .217 with a double and five RBIs.

"Having a five-year starter in the catching position was a strength of the season," Sutton said. "Abigail was able to control the game defensively and was a huge leader for our team alongside our other senior leadership, such as Callie Kohlwes in the pitching and shortstop role."

Kohlwes had 28 putouts and 27 assists on defense. She hit .225 with six doubles, 19 runs, 17 steals and 11 RBIs.

Katie Spalding, Jasmine Johannes and Riley Handsaker were Colo-NESCO's other senior contributors.

Spalding had a .212 on-base percentage with two triples, one home run, six runs and five RBIs. She made seven putouts and one assist on defense.

Johannes tallied a .324 OBP with nine runs and 11 RBIs. She made 15 putouts and eight assists defensively.

Handsaker recorded a .268 OBP with two doubles, one triple, 14 runs and 15 RBIs. She made just three errors in 146 chances playing primarily at first base.

As a team Colo-NESCO scored 130 runs and hit just .212 with 14 doubles, five triples, one homer, 66 walks and 60 steals. The Royal defense tallied a fielding percentage of 87.6%.

"We struggled offensively with our bats, but I was very please with our baserunning aggressiveness," Sutton said. "Defensively, we grew as the year went on making the correct plays."

Sophomore Molly Angell was the top offensive weapon for Colo-NESCO.

Angell hit .346 with four doubles, two triples, 32 runs, 19 steals and seven RBIs. She made 17 putouts and four assists on defense.

Junior Rylee Upchurch hit .238 with 11 RBIs and she had 24 assists and 20 putouts in the field. Nessa hit .217 with a double and 15 RBIs and she only had one error in 27 chances.

Katherine Rouse had a .237 OBP with four runs and seven RBIs and she made 29 assists and 22 putouts as a junior. Cassidi Bartmess recorded a .300 OBP with 12 runs and nine steals her junior year.

Junior Cassidy Muschick hit .250 with two RBIs in 24 at-bats. Eighth-grader Elizabeth Erickson scored 16 runs and freshman Kaydence Reyes crossed the plate seven times.

With the players they have coming back, the Royals have the potential to make a run at a winning season in 2024.

"We have some big shoes to fill losing the seniors in important positions like catcher, pitcher, shortstop and first base, all of which have played those positions for several years," Sutton said. "But we have girls ready to fill those roles and some very key returners such as Annabelle Nessa, Molly Angell, and Rylee Upchurch. We expect to be competitive in conference next year and keep improving as we did this year.”

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Colo-NESCO softball program tops 10 wins for the first time since 2018