Two-time state champion Avery Kies is thriving as a senior for Iowa City Regina softball

"We ball."

That was the phrase printed on the forearm of Iowa City Regina’s Avery Kies as she sprinted to her teammates in the outfield to celebrate their second-straight state title.

Last July, the pressure, noise and hype that surrounded the state softball tournament came to a head as Regina defeated Van Meter, 6-2, to win its second-straight Class 2A state crown.

Only a select few get the opportunity to lift a state championship trophy, but Kies has earned that right twice. She wants to make it three times at the end of this season.

"We're (eighth) ranked, which is pretty good for losing four starters (from last year)," Kies said. "We definitely still have what it takes to be up there and be a competitor in the state championship."

The road to state title glory dates back to Kies’ days in sixth grade. Back then, she watched her older brother Jayden, a former Regina baseball player, compete in the state title game. It showed her a competitive stage that she aspired to compete in one day.

“It was just surreal for them to be there,” Avery Kies said. “Being a lot younger than my brother, I’ve always followed him. I’ve always wanted to do what he did.”

A fierce competitor

Angela Kessler, who took over as Regina's coach in 2020, was first introduced to Kies’ game during her first week on the job.

It was the first Wednesday of practice and Kies, a then-freshman, laid out to make a play on the ball.

“I noticed that she was kind of favoring (her wrist) a little bit,” Kessler said. “I asked her about it and she said, ‘No, it’s fine, it’s fine.’”

For many, the setback would’ve affected them. But Kies is just built different, especially with that ' Let’s ball' mentality.

“I made her go ice it; I called her dad after practice and she was already home, showered, and didn’t say a word about it. She cracked a bone inside of her wrist and just wanted to play,” Kessler said. “She played through the pain, didn’t care— she’s that tough.”

Kies went on to start in 23 games as a freshman. Two state titles later, she has become a staple in the Regals’ starting lineup, hitting .505/.551/.598 with 42 singles and 26 stolen bases in 30 games as a senior. As of July 1, Regina (19-11) is the No. 8 team in Class 2A while Kies is ranked fifth in hits (49) in the class.

That productivity can be best described through her bio on social media.

" Slapper + Speed + Triple threat"

Those are traits that any team would want in a leadoff hitter. Kies has lived up to all of them as an elite left-handed bat for the Regals.

“She’s amazingly fast, she reads the ball well, she can read a changeup quick, so she knows when to take off right away,” Kessler said “She does a great job at reading the defense.

"Her base running ability and speed allow you to do things on the field that you couldn’t do without her softball IQ.”

Being raised in a sports family, it’s hard not to be a student of the game. Her dad, Jody Kies, a former college baseball player, helps her scout against other teams. Her brother has helped with her on-field work. Her mom Chanda Kies, a former high school softball player, helps with the mental side of the game.

"It's just nice to know that they have my back with whatever. (Whenever) I play a game, they're always there," Kies said. "It's kind of nice to have my brother; I used to watch him play when I was younger, and I looked up to him. He still helps me, goes to the cages with me and fields with me whenever."

Aside from her individual success, the Indian Hills commit is known for her leadership in a sport that demands team chemistry.

Whether it's sharing advice to batters down the order or setting the tone in right field, Kies is known to lead by example. She powers a winning culture, especially for a close-knit Regina team looking to add more state hardware to its trophy case.

"We've always been about having fun (as a team) but this group of girls, I feel so much more closer and connected, and not just on the softball diamond," Kies said. "Half of these girls didn't actually play in the last two championship games so it'll mean, I think, a lot more to them than to me to do it again...I want them to feel that (same state experience) like me and many of the other seniors have felt."

Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn .

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Two-time state champion Avery Kies is thriving as a senior for Iowa City Regina softball