T-R FILE PHOTO - West Marshall senior catcher Ciera Randall, left, tags out Nevada’s Avery Hinson (11) on a play at the plate during their Heart of Iowa Conference softball game June 14 in State Center. Randall was named first-team all-conference for the Trojans.

The role of the leadoff hitter is simply to get on base. West Marshall senior Ciera Randall took that a step farther.

Randall led the Trojan softball squad with seven home runs and earned a place on the all-Heart of Iowa Conference first team, West Marshall’s first top honoree since rejoining the league in 2020-21.

Randall batted .413 overall this summer, setting the table for the Trojan offense with a .544 on-base percentage and a whopping .787 slugging percentage. In Heart of Iowa play, Randall racked up three home runs to go with two doubles and seven RBIs. Her courtesy runner Savanna Davenport scored 11 runs, while Randall batted .389 against some hearty competition.

Conference champion Saydel defeated runner-up Greene County in the Class 3A regional finals to reach state. West Marshall went 5-9 in league play and placed sixth out of eight schools while avenging two regular-season losses to PCM by beating the Mustangs in the first round of regionals.

Randall was one of two catchers selected to the all-conference first team and West Marshall’s lone honoree on the 13-player squad.

Trojan sophomore shortstop Lillian Karsjen was named to the all-conference second team as an infielder. Karsjen batted .233 in HOAIC play with five doubles, a triple, seven RBIs and 11 runs scored, while defensively she committed just one error in 58 chances (.983).

Junior first baseman Josie deNeui and eighth-grade pitcher Aubree Greenwood were named honorable mention. DeNeui hit .333 in conference play with a double, a triple and 10 RBIs, walking eight times and scoring 10 runs. Greenwood, in 54 2/3 innings, compiled a 3-6 record with one save and a 2.69 earned run average. She walked 17 and struck out 28 in her time in the circle during conference play.