Emily Novotny

Crestwood

Junior

Softball

Novotny went wild last weekend, going 9-for-15 (.600) with seven extra-base hits and nine RBIs at a tournament in Manchester. With her hot hitting, it's easy to see why Crestwood entered the week 14-3 and ranked No. 14 in Class 3A. "She has really come through in pretty clutch situations," Cadet coach Doug Sickles said of Novotny, a three-year starter. "She just came in right away and played with poise. She's just a softball player who really knows the game." Novotny, currently hitting .422 this season, also plays volleyball and basketball for Crestwood.

Alec Thompson

Aplington-Parkersburg

Senior

Baseball

This recent graduate plays the game of baseball with instincts befitting a future engineering major. "He's a very intelligent kid," Falcon coach Travis Walker said. "He's the type of kid you don't even need to worry about on the basepaths. His attitude has been positive and he's providing really good leadership." Thompson, a shortstop, is hitting .432 with 10 stolen bases for Aplington-Parkersburg (9-5) and went 9-for-12 in his last three games. Thompson, who will attend Iowa State next fall, was a three-sport star as a prep.

Molly Bolt

Janesville

Senior

Softball

When Bolt hits the basepaths, she often attacks like a strike of lightning. The senior backstop is a key reason the Janesville Wildcats sprinted out of the gates as winners in 15 of their first 19 games. Overall, Bolt is hitting .343 with 10 stolen bases. Bolt, said coach Shelly Sorensen, "gives us a spark on offense." And, her grit was evidenced last Thursday in an eye-opening, 3-2 triumph over 10th-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock of Class 3A. On that evening, the senior smacked a key RBI double while also scoring a run. Bolt, a first-team all-Iowa Star Conference honoree in three sports as a prep, plans to play basketball at Wartburg next year.

Alyson Netty

Waterloo East

Freshman

Softball

The 15-7 Trojans are mounting a charge, and Netty's prolific hitting has helped propel them. Despite the fact she's just a freshman, the pitcher-first baseman has displayed a veteran's poise at the plate, where she entered the week hitting .500 in her last six games. That run included 10 RBIs and a pair of home runs. "She's got a lot of power," said East coach Gene Laughlin of Netty, who is still just 14 years old. "She's got a really strong top hand - she drives the ball a long way. It's really remarkable." Alyson is the daughter of former East baseball coach John Netty.

Gabe Drewelow

Waterloo Columbus

Senior

Baseball

This senior wears many hats for the Sailors - and they all seem to fit quite nicely. Whether it be as a lead-off man, the No. 5 batter, or while pitching in relief, Drewelow always punches the clock and produces. "Gabe can be counted on to get on base … or drive in runs," noted Columbus coach Terry Goerdt. A starting right fielder for the Sailors, Drewelow is currently hitting .352 with a .435 on-base percentage. He has also fanned 12 hitters in eight innings of relief. The three-sport star plans to toil on the soccer pitch for Loras College next fall.

Cole Welter

Don Bosco

Junior

Baseball

Every time Welter takes the mound, his passion is apparent. And his desire has helped fuel Don Bosco's run to a No. 2 ranking and 14-2 record thus far. Welter is 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA to date, but he's always hungry for more, said coach Corey Carlson. "Every time he goes out on the mound he gives us a chance to win," the coach said of Welter, who's also hitting .528 with a team-high 31 RBIs. "He can throw any pitch on any count." The junior also hit a key homer last weekend at Iowa City Regina.