ALL-AREA SOFTBALL CAPTAIN — North Union’s Emily Meyer fires a delivery to the plate during Iowa Class 2A, Region 1 playoff action in Swea City. Meyer and Fairmont’s Tegan Livesay were selected as the Sentinel’s 2023 All-Area softball players of the year. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — A pair of hard-throwing senior right-handers made indelible impacts on the high school softball landscape from each side of the Minnesota-Iowa border this spring and summer.

Ace hurler Tegan Livesay and her Cardinal teammates played integral roles in “changing the softball culture in Fairmont,” while Warriors’ captain Emily Meyer and her diamond mates continued North Union’s rich and successful tradition in 2023.

Livesay and Meyer consistently overpowered their respective opponents both from inside the pitching circle and the batter’s box in game after game as the two programs combined for 40 victories.

Livesay — a multi-talented one-season transplant from Newton, Kansas — completely rewrote the pitching standards in nearly every category for Fairmont this spring.

The Ms. Minnesota softball finalist fired the Cardinal program’s first-ever perfect games — against Luverne on April 24 and New Ulm Cathedral on April 29, in addition to combining with Brylee Miller for a no-hitter against Waseca in Game 1 of an April 27 doubleheader on the road.

The Minnesota Class AA first-team all-state selection also established the top 10 single-game strikeout marks in Fairmont history in just 19 games.

The all-Section 2AA choice notched a program-best 25 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings of work to complement performances of 24 in 9 frames and a playoff-record 22 in 10 2/3 frames against New Ulm High. Livesay also generated solo outings of 21 and 20, while amassing 18 strikeouts three times.

Ironically, Livesay’s 21-strikeout effort accounted for every out during a victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader with Marshall on May 4.

The Division I Southeast Missouri State University softball commit finished with a single-season school record of 298 strikeouts for Fairmont in 2023 after establishing Newton’s single-season mark of 266 in 2022.

The all-Big South Conference selection produced a 15-4 record — including eight shutouts — and a miniscule 0.40 ERA while limiting opposing batters to an .068 hitting clip in 121 innings pitched to help power the Cardinals to a 19-4 overall showing, a third-place finish in the Section 2AA tournament and the program’s first-ever conference championship.

Livesay, who pitched Newton to fourth place at the 2022 Kansas Class 5A state tournament, finished with five one-hitters and four two-hit gems for Fairmont in 2023.

Livesay not only overpowered opposing teams’ hitters, the No. 3 batter topped the Cardinals’ lineup in seven different offensive categories this spring.

The 6-footer, who donned the No. 14 jersey, drilled a team-leading five HRs and nine doubles to generate a team-best 31 RBIs and a team-high slugging clip of .855 in only 23 games.

Livesay also paced Fairmont with a .478 batting average via a second-best team total of 33 hits, in addition to drawing a program-record 21 walks en route to the team’s No. 1 on-base percentage (.604) in 2023.

The SEMO coaching staff plans to utilize Livesay as both a pitcher and a designated hitter during her collegiate career in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

While Livesay makes the long trek to her Division I destination, Meyer will get prepared for her dual-sports career at Division III Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. The three-time Iowa Class 2A all-state selection earned scholarships to play both volleyball in the fall and softball in the spring at the collegiate level.

The three-time Iowa all-Region 1 choice closed her stellar five-year prep softball career as North Union’s all-time career strikeout leader with a staggering 1,008 — including 255 in 159 innings this summer.

The three-time Top of Iowa Conference Player of the Year established the Warriors’ single-season strikeout record of 318, which also proved the No. 2 mark in the state during 2022.

The three-time Sentinel All-Area softball player of the year also eclipsed North Union’s single-season record for wins (33) and shutouts (24) to help engineer the team’s fourth-place showing in last summer’s Class 2A state tournament in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

In addition to topping all players in the state with 33 pitching victories in 2022, the hard-slugging Meyer also led Iowa preps with an incredible 60 RBIs.

The five-year varsity starter, who also powered North Union to the 2021 state tournament, guided the green-and-black lineup to a 21-7 record and a runner-up showing in the Class 2A, Region 1 tournament this summer. She posted a miniscule ERA of 1.28 and a WHIP clip of 0.86, while opponents hit at a .177 batting rate in 2023.

North Union’s clean-up batter did exactly that from an offensive perspective, clouting a team-leading 11 HRs — including an incredible run of round-trippers in each of the Warriors’ three regional contests this summer.

Meyer, who finished second on the team with a .400 batting average, topped North Union with 33 RBIs and an .867 slugging clip. Meyer also drilled nine doubles and compiled a .465 on-base percentage.

Meyer — who’s playing in the Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-Star senior games today — closed out her outstanding high school softball career with 24 HRs, 151 RBIs, 104 pitching wins and 57 shutouts.

For the incredible impact that they made upon the prep game, Meyer and Livesay have been selected as the 2023 Sentinel All-Area softball players of the year.

Here’s an inside look at the rest of the All-Area softball selections for the 2023 prep season.

Emily Anderson (Martin Co. West) — The three-time all-Valley Conference shortstop displayed her sure-handedness by topping the Maverick defense by recording 53 assists this spring.

The three-time Sentinel All-Area selection, who made 30 putouts en route to a .902 fielding rate, hit .375 on the strength of five doubles and one HR to generate 23 RBIs in 2023.

The sophomore standout produced a .593 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging clip to complement scoring 26 runs during her third varsity campaign.

Thea Anderson (Martin Co. West) — The two-time Sentinel All-Area choice topped the Mavericks by hammering seven doubles and five triples during her final prep diamond campaign.

The repeat all-Valley Conference selection hit opposing deliveries at a second-best team clip of .397 on the strength of a second-best 27 hits this spring.

The Maverick senior second baseman paced MCW with a .647 slugging percentage to complement 23 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

Defensively, Thea Anderson gloved hard-hit grounders at a .921 pace, while recording 32 assists and 38 putouts during her final prep softball season.

Keira Benck (Martin Luther/GHEC/Truman) — The all-Valley Conference honorable mention choice posted No. 1 team marks in batting average (.431) and stolen bases (17) to highlight an injury-hindered campaign.

The hard-hitting Benck collected 22 hits, including a pair of doubles and triples, to help produce 11 RBIs to go with scoring a co-second-best 19 runs on the season.

Benck, who drew six walks this spring, closed out her diamond schedule with a .491 on-base percentage and .490 slugging rate in 2023.

Maddie Carlson (Martin Co. West) — The eighth-grade phenom topped both the Maverick pitching staff’s statistical numbers and the MCW offense’s RBI production this spring.

The all-Section 2A hurler compiled an 11-5 record and 2.62 ERA in 96 innings of work. The right-hander also notched 81 strikeouts to cap a stellar year.

The all-Valley Conference choice also produced a team-leading 26 RBIs on the strength of 21 hits — including three doubles and three triples — en route to a .333 batting average.

Carlson, who tallied 30 assists and 11 putouts on defense, also generated a .600 on-base percentage and a .476 slugging pace in 2023.

Kylee Eckmann (Blue Earth Area) — The all-Big South Conference choice topped the Bucs in six different offensive categories this spring.

The junior pitcher/infielder smacked deliveries at a team-high .360 clip on the strength of 18 hits, including a team-best four triples and three doubles in 2023.

Eckmann also drove in a team-high 11 runs, generated a .580 slugging pace and a .407 on-base percentage to highlight her effort from the batter’s box.

The right-handed hurler struck out 35 batters in 46 innings inside the chalked circle to round out her next-to-last prep campaign.

Shelby Fraker (North Union) — The fleet-footed left-handed-hitting No. 2 batter topped the Warriors in six categories from an offensive perspective in 2023.

The repeat all-Top of Iowa Conference choice drilled deliveries at a team-best clip of .475 on the strength of 48 hits, including a team-leading five triples, to complement two doubles and one HR this summer.

The two-time Sentinel All-Area selection also led North Union with a .509 on-base percentage, 41 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.

The senior catcher, who generated a .624 slugging mark, collected 11 assists and 268 putouts en route to a .993 fielding average to help power the Warriors to a 21-7 record and appearance in the Class 2A, Region 1 championship game to cap her outstanding prep career.

Brylee Miller (Fairmont) — The freshman phenom displayed her varsity mettle by earning the Cardinals’ No. 1 marks in hits (34), triples (4) and runs scored (29) during the 2023 campaign.

The all-Big South Conference choice produced Fairmont’s second-highest batting average (.400) by smacking seven doubles and one HR on the season.

The smooth-fielding shortstop, who tallied 13 RBIs to go with a .612 slugging clip and a .463 on-base rate, also displayed her skills inside the pitching circle.

The right-handed hurler compiled a 3-0 record — including a shared no-hitter with Tegan Livesay — and 2.24 ERA on the strength of 35 strikeouts in 25 innings of work.

Miller played an integral role in the Cardinals generating a 19-4 overall record, the program’s first-ever conference championship and a third-place showing in Section 2AA in 2023.

Chantel Moeller (Fairmont) — The all-Section 2AA choice proved steadfast in handling all of the Cardinals’ defensive duties behind the plate in 2023.

The senior standout crushed pitches at a .367 clip from the batter’s box to finish her final prep softball campaign with 29 hits.

The hard-hitting Moeller produced 19 RBIs and six doubles to complement a .443 slugging percentage and a .405 on-base clip this spring.

Moeller played a key role in the Cardinals producing the program’s first-ever conference crown, a 19-4 overall record and a third-place showing at the sectional tournament.

Mandy Pytleski (Martin Luther/GHEC/Truman) — The repeat all-Valley Conference selection proved a lethal combination of a hard-throwing hurler in the pitcher’s circle and a hard-hitting slugger on offense.

The two-time Sentinel All-Area choice belted opposing pitches at a second-best team rate of .424 on the strength of team-leading totals in hits (25), doubles (9) and triples (3) to go with one HR this spring.

Pytleski also topped the Jaguars with a .500 on-base percentage, a .729 slugging rate and 20 runs scored in 2023.

The senior right-hander recorded a team-high 93 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched to generate a 4-9 record and 4.02 ERA to cap a stellar high school diamond career.

Nevaeh Rahm (Fairmont) — The two-time Sentinel All-Area choice displayed her power at the plate by producing the Cardinals’ second-best RBI total (22) on the strength of two HRs in 2023.

The all-Big South Conference choice generated 28 hits — including a second-best eight doubles — to net an impressive .384 batting clip this spring.

Rahm created a .575 slugging clip and a .430 on-base percentage to help Fairmont win the conference championship, compile a 19-4 record and garner third place in the Section 2AA tournament to cap her junior season.

Hannah Rosenberg (Martin Co. West) — The fleet-footed centerfielder earned honorable mention all-state accolades for her stellar sophomore season on the diamond.

The all-Section 2A choice topped the Mavericks with a .470 batting average on the strength of a team-best 31 hits, including five doubles and three triples this spring.

The all-Valley Conference selection scored a team-leading 33 runs, drew a team-high 11 walks, collected 18 RBIs, compiled a team-leading .626 on-base clip, slugged deliveries at a .636 rate and swiped 17 bases.

The speedy left-hander recorded 26 putouts and two assists en route to a .965 fielding clip to cap an outstanding season.

Olivia Von Bank (North Union) — The multiple Iowa Class 2A all-regional selection closed out her prolific prep softball career by smacking a two-run HR during her last at-bat of the Region 1 championship game.

The perennial all-Top of Iowa Conference choice finished No. 2 on the Warriors in HRs (6), RBIs and (31) and slugging percentage (.702) this summer.

The repeat All-Area player produced a .393 batting average on the strength of 33 hits, including six doubles and one triple in 2023.

The senior standout shortstop scored 22 runs, reached base at a .422 clip, notched 22 assists and made 20 putouts to help power North Union to a 21-7 overall record and an appearance in the Region 1 finals.

Shallie Walders (North Union) — The eighth-grade phenom proved a tough out for opposing pitchers during her varsity diamond debut this summer.

The all-regional selection topped the Warriors by pounding 11 doubles to complement three HRs en route to generating 22 RBIs on the season.

The all-Top of Iowa Conference choice hit .333 on the strength of 28 hits, crossed the plate 22 times, reached base at a .391 clip and produced a .571 slugging percentage to cap the first of numerous stellar softball seasons to come.

The starting outfielder played an integral role in North Union gaining the Region 1 championship game and compiling a 21-7 record in 2023.