Vote: Des Moines Register Iowa Ortho Athletes of the Week for July 8-14

Last week saw postseason play for Iowa high school softball and baseball begin in all classes.

The regional finals for all five classes of softball were set up. The 1A and 2A substate final fields were also determined, while 3A and 4A baseball play began with their quarterfinal rounds on July 12.

Several players in both sports stepped up with outstanding performances on the mound, in the circle, at the plate and in the field during the week.

Here are the Des Moines Register's Iowa Ortho female and male Athlete of the Week candidates for the week of July 8-14. DesMoinesRegister.com readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week.

Girls

Ava Husak, North Polk

Husak was an overpowering force on the mound for 4A No. 1 North Polk during a 4-0 home victory over No. 5 ADM to close out the regular season July 10 at Alleman.

Husak fired a two-hit shutout against one of the best teams in 4A. Husak racked up 15 strikeouts against just two walks, and she also went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run to carry the Comets into the postseason with a lot of momentum.

Lauren Hagedorn, Adel-Desoto-Minburn

Hagedorn powered the 4A No. 5 ADM softball team past Indianola by a 9-2 score in the 4A Region 4 semifinals on Saturday at Indianola.

Hagedorn went 3-for-4 with two home runs in the victory. She drove in three runs and scored twice for the Tigers.

Addie Miller, Solon

Miller displayed tremendous power at the plate for the Solon softball team during victories over Vinton-Shellsburg and West Liberty in 3A Region 6 competition last week.

Miller hit two home runs and picked up five RBIs during an 8-2 regional quarterfinal victory over Vinton-Shellsburg on July 11 at Solon. In the regional semifinals at West Liberty, Miller was 3-for-4 with a double, three runs and four RBIs during an 11-1 victory over West Liberty.

Josie Nelson, Winfield-Mt. Union

Nelson hit three triples for the Winfield-Mt. Union softball team during a 10-9 loss to Holy Trinity Catholic in the 1A Region 6 quarterfinals on July 10 at Fort Madison.

Nelson finished 4-for-5 with one single to go along with her trio of three-baggers. The three triples are the most in a single game for an Iowa high school softball player so far in 2024.

Nelson also scored twice, and she drove in one run.

Sophie Miller, Dubuque Senior

Miller came up huge on offense for 5A No. 12 Dubuque Senior during a 10-0 victory over Davenport North as part of the Wildcats' doubleheader sweep of the Rams to close out the regular season on July 9 at the Art Wiegand Softball Field in Dubuque.

Miller was 3-for-3 with two home runs, three runs and seven RBIs in the victory.

Boys

Trever Baumler, Dowling Catholic

Baumler was sensational on the mound for the Dowling Catholic baseball team during a 1-0 Class 4A Substate 4 quarterfinal victory over Ames in eight innings on July 12 at West Des Moines.

Baumler went all eight innings to win a pitcher's duel with Ames ace Carter Geffre, who was also brilliant in a losing effort. Baumler held Ames to five hits and one walk, and he finished the night with 10 strikeouts to earn the shutout victory.

Adrian Broadus, Johnston

Broadus fired a no-hitter in five innings for the 4A No. 4 and defending state champion Johnston baseball team during its 10-0 4A Substate 3 quarterfinal victory over Des Moines North July 12 at Johnston.

Broadus struck out 13 Polar Bear batters, and he issued one walk and hit one batter during the game.

Mason Waterbury, Iowa City Liberty

Waterbury had an outstanding game on the mound for the 4A No. 9 Iowa City Liberty baseball team during a 2-0 4A Substate 8 quarterfinal victory over Waterloo East on July 12 at Iowa City.

Waterbury advanced the Lightning to the 4A Substate 8 semifinals by throwing a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and no walks.

Dylan England, Boone

England sparked the Boone baseball team on offense during a 9-0 Class 3A Substate 2 quarterfinal victory over Humboldt on July 12 at Boone.

England homered in his two official at-bats, and he also walked twice against the Wildcats. England ended the game with three runs and RBIs apiece.

Kain Killmer, Perry

Killmer had a productive night at the plate for the Perry baseball team during an 8-7 victory over Carroll to close out the regular season on July 9 at Perry.

Killmer went 4-for-4 with three doubles. He finished the game with three RBIs.

The Des Moines Register's Athlete of the Week is underwritten by Iowa Ortho, which is not involved in the writing or editing of this story.

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him atjrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at@JoeRandleman