Ashlynn Ellenbecker and Morgan Neuroth

Two members of area teams were selected for the 2021 Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association All-District softball teams, it was announced earlier this week.

East Marshall freshman pitcher/shortstop Morgan Neuroth reached this milestone as part of the Class 2A Northeast District in her first full season as a varsity player. Neuroth started 15 games as a pitcher, holding a 6-6 record and throwing a total of 106 innings. She gave up 57 runs (37 of them earned runs), 104 hits, 28 walks and struck three batters. Striking out 131 of 426 batters, her final ERA for the season was 2.44, and she carried a WHIP of 1.25.

At the plate, Neuroth led the team in batting average at .433 and collected 42 hits in 97 at-bats. Of those hits, 31 were singles and 11 doubles. She drove in 12 runs and scored 32 of her own. She walked seven times and was hit by four pitches.

In Class 3A, senior South Tama star Ashlynn Ellenbecker made the All-Northeast District team. Leading the way for the 3-34 Trojans, Ellenbecker was a two-way player. This season, Ellenbecker’s strength was in the hitting department, as she put up staggering statistics in the difficult WaMaC West conference. Ellenbecker hit .522 from the plate, collecting 48 hits in 92 appearances and finishing second in Class 3A with 17 home runs. Twenty-two singles, eight doubles and one triple rounded out her hitting output. She walked nine times and drove in 43 runs while scoring 31. She was second in Class 3A in homers and slugging percentage (1.185) and sixth in batting average.

On the mound she was 4-22 in 26 starts, facing 821 batters in 132 innings. Ellenbecker finished with a 6.42 ERA and a 2.43 WHIP, as she gave up 273 runs — but only 121 were earned. Allowing 261 hits, 60 walks and six batters hit, Ellenbecker struck out 105.

One area player also made the Academic All-State team — Maia McLean of Gladbrook-Reinbeck. A senior this season, McLean had a .273 batting average and drove in nine runs for the Rebels.