Comet HR leader Rachel Chambers, stolen base leader Lydia Staudt named to All-State Softball Teams

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Comets softball team will lose only two graduates from this past season.

But, boy!, those two are going leave some big shoes to fill.

Rachel Chambers and Lydia Staudt finished their softball careers while establishing Comet team records that will likely be around for years … if not decades … to come.

While leading her team in batting average (.494), on-base percentage (.590), slugging percentage (.976), RBI’s (41), walks (18) and let’s not forget home runs (12) her senior season, Chambers established herself as the Charles City’s all-time career home run leader (47) after catching a passing Mara Forsyth, who’s now a distant second with 37.

Staudt also had a “solid” senior season as she led the team in hits (49), runs scored (38) and stolen bases (49 out of 49 attempts).

With 170 career stolen bases, Staudt passed former All-State teammate Liz Fizer’s total (163) for the Comets’ all-time leader.

This week, both former Comet players were named to Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Softball Teams.

For Chambers, who was named to the Class 4A Second Team, it was her third IGCA All-State selection as she was a Second Team selection last season and a Third Team selection her freshman season — Chambers missed her sophomore season due to knee surgery.

For Staudt, who was a Class 4A Third Team selection, it was her first All-State honor.

Ashlyn Hoeft, who was a Class 4A All-State Third Team selection in both of her sophomore and junior seasons with Charles City before transferring to Central Springs this past season, was named to the Class 2A All-State Second Team as the catcher-turned-shortstop hit .427 with a slugging percentage of .748 while helping the Panthers advance to the State Softball Championship where they placed third in their bracket.

North Butler junior Kiya Johnson was named to the Class 1A All-State Second Team after leading the Bearcats in RBI’s (27) while batting .434 with a .614 slugging percentage. In the pitching circle, Johnson struck out 187 in 141 innings pitched.

Rockford senior Chloe Rooney was named Class 1A All-State Honorable Mention after leading the Warriors in stolen bases (11 out of 11 attempts) and co-leading the team in hits.

Nashua-Plainfield junior Lainie Bouillon was named Class 1A All-State Honorable Mention after leading the Huskies in hits (30), runs scored (29) batting average (.341) and stolen bases (41 out of 43 attempts).