Vote: Des Moines Register Iowa Ortho Athletes of the Week for July 15-21

Last week saw the Iowa high school state baseball and softball tournament fields get set.

There were several standout pitching, hitting and fielding performances during the regional finals in softball and substate finals in baseball. Some players in both sports stepped up to help their respective teams qualify for state, and others gave heroic efforts in defeat.

Both state tournaments take place this Monday through Friday.

The state softball tournament for all five classes will be at the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Athletic Complex in Fort Dodge. State baseball is at two locations, with the Class 3A and 4A teams competing at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, and the 1A and 2A teams playing at Merchants Park in Carroll.

Here are the Des Moines Register's Iowa Ortho female and male Athlete of the Week candidates for the week of July 15-21. DesMoinesRegister.com readers vote to determine the winners, who will be announced at the end of the week.

Girls

Audrey Heller, West Des Moines Valley

Heller played a big role in No. 1 Valley's decisive 12-0 victory over Ames in the 5A Region 1 softball final on July 16 at the Valley Softball Field in West Des Moines.

Heller doubled and homered in her two at-bats. She finished with one run and three RBIs.

Izabella Mulder, Dallas Center-Grimes

Mulder was part of an explosive attack for the No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes softball team during its 10-0 victory over Perry in the 4A Region 3 final on July 16 at Dallas Center.

Mulder doubled, homered and had a sacrifice during her three plate appearances against the Bluejays. She finished the game with five RBIs.

Laeni Hinkle, Solon

Hinkle helped Solon make a surprise run to the state softball tournament with an 18-24 record.

The Spartans defeated Center Point-Urbana by a 4-3 score during the 3A Region 6 final on July 16 at Solon. Hinkle was 2-for-4 with one run, and she drove in the winning run during the bottom of the seventh inning.

Sadie Jager, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

Jager helped Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont head into the 2A state softball tournament with a 3-2 victory over Pleasantville in the 2A Region 5 championship game on July 15 at Eddyville.

Jager went 3-for-3 with one run, steal and RBI apiece to help send the Rockets to state as the No. 7 in 2A.

Carly Goodwin, Sigourney

Goodwin was a workhorse in the circle for the No. 6 Sigourney softball team during a 2-1 victory over Wapello in the 1A Region 8 championship game on July 15 at Sigourney.

The game lasted 11 innings, and Goodwin went the whole way as the winning pitcher. Goodwin racked up 22 strikeouts, and she gave up seven hits and one walk.

Goodwin also doubled twice at the plate.

Boys

Sam Kemmer, Johnston

Kemmer helped Johnston return to state for a shot to defend its 4A state championship after leading the No. 4 Dragons past Cedar Falls, 1-0, in a 13-inning marathon during the 4A Substate 3 title game on July 17 at Johnston.

Kemmer earned the win on the mound in relief. He threw five scoreless innings and gave up just one hit and two walks with six strikeouts.

Grant Mather, Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Mather was hitting his spots on the pitching mound for the No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy baseball team during its 5-1 4A Substate 5 championship game victory over North Scott on July 17 at Ceda Rapids.

Mather held North Scott to two hits over seven innings as the winning pitcher. He struck out 11 batters and walked one.

Kyle Bixby, Central DeWitt

Bixby led Central DeWitt to a 10-2 upset win over No. 6 Davenport Assumption during the 3A Substate 5 championship game on July 17 at Davenport.

Bixby was the winning pitcher after giving up one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in seven innings. He also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and one RBI.

Garrett Luett, Underwood

Luett helped Underwood advance to the state baseball tournament as the No. 1 seed in 2A with a 3-0 victory over Clarinda in the 2A Substate 8 final on July 16 at Underwood.

Luett tossed a three-hit shutout for the Eagles. He retired 14 batters on strikes and had one walk in seven innings.

Carson Maston, Lynnville-Sully

Maston was masterful on the mound for Lynnville-Sully during its 1-0 1A Substate 7 final victory over Ankeny Christian on July 16 at Sully.

Maston retired 12 batters on strikes in just five innings of work to get the win. He gave up two hits and one walk.

Maston also singled and drove in the only run of the game.

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