The Central Lee High School Hawks claimed the league softball title for the third consecutive season.
But the Hawks need to beware. There is a phoenix rising from the ashes in the Super Conference South Division.
Another team made a big move in the league.
Holy Trinity had suspended its softball program after the 2012 season.
It started again in 2020 with a 1-10 record. The following season improved, from 6-16 to 10-11 then 11-12. After goung 8-12 last season the Crusaders set a program record for win with a 19-7 record this season. The previous best was 16 wins.
With the Super Conference South Division season over, the Crusaders finished tied for third with perennial power West Burlington-Notre Dame, a team the Crusaders defeated for the first time this season.
Mediapolis, also a team that has been down lately, made its move into second place in the division.
HTC led the league in batting average as a team at .374. Central Lee was second at .343. Central Lee°®¶¹app team batting average of .343 is 10th in Class 3A. The team on base percentage is of .513 is seventh in 3A.
Central Lee had the most doubles, 70, and the most total bases, 389. HTC was second in doubles with 48, third in total bases with 381.
The Hawks are not only first in the South Division in number of doubles but first in Class 3A and tied for seventh in the state regardless of class.
The Hawks led in slugging percentage at .513 with HTC second at .499.
Central Lee°®¶¹app Marie Young is tied for fourth in Class 3A in doubles with 13. Kenna Sandoval is 15th with 11.
Sandoval is tied for sixth in home runs with eight and the Hawks have a combined 17, which is eighth.
Sandoval is seventh in 3A in slugging percentage at .885.
Sandoval has struck out just three times all year.
As a team, the Hawks are tied for seventh in 3A in fewest strikeouts with 95.
HTC led the league in runs batted in with 189. Central Lee was third with 155. WB-ND was second at 176.
HTC was first in stolen bases with 111. The Hawks were second with 89.
HTC pitchers had the best earned run average at 2.76. The Hawks were second at 3.03.
HTC led the league in striking out opposing batters with 159 strikeouts.
The Crusaders held opponents batting average against them to .188. The Hawks were second at .232.
Central Lee was first in fielding percentage at .952. HTC was second at .938.
The Crusaders scored more runs than any other South team with 227. The Hawks were third with 179, behind WB-ND°®¶¹app 196.
HTC°®¶¹app difference in runs scored versus its opponents was 129, first in the South. The Hawks were second at 64.
The Crusaders had more hits, more singles, more triples and the best on-base percentage of all the teams in the South.
Central Lee struck out the fewest times at 95 with HTC second at 108.
Next season may see some of these numbers flipped as the Crusaders lose one senior.
Central Lee will lose five.