softball: Hoyle cracks All-Conference list as HOIC second-teamer

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor
sports@beeherald.com

Greene County’s best power-hitter and most-trusted pitcher was honored with a top-flight distinction following the shortened 2020 softball season.
Freshman Emma Hoyle was selected to the Heart of Iowa Conference second team thanks to another steady year. Hoyle ranked fourth in the league in ERA (4.41) while she was fifth in total strikeouts with 44. ‘
North Polk’s Chloe Dougherty was a cut above everyone else in the pitcher’s circle, tallying a conference-best 14 wins to go with a massive 107 strikeouts and an HOIC-low 1.92 ERA.
Hoyle also led the Rams with four wins while she also was quite the force on the mound.  The second-year player was quite the force at the plate as well, securing the Rams’ only home run in 16 games, smashing a grand slam in Greene County’s dominating first round win over Kuemper Catholic. Hoyle finished the season with a .326 average, which tied for the team-lead, 14 hits (T-1st) and eight RBI (3rd on the team).
Roland-Story’s Reagan Faber led the league in batting with a .508 average to go with 33 hits. North Polk’s Sydney Anderson was tops with 27 RBI while Gilbert’s Bella Nelson smashed a league-best five home runs.
The Rams finished the year 5-11 overall and 2-6 in conference play after starting the year 1-7, tying them for seventh with PCM. North Polk won the outright regular season HOIC crown with an 11-2 record.
Seniors Izzy Bravard and Kyla Beyers were both named as honorable mentions as well.  Bravard led the Rams with 10 runs scored while Beyers drove in a team-best 11 runs to go with her .326 average.