T-R FILE PHOTOS - East Marshall senior Morgan Neuroth, left, and West Marshall freshman Aubree Greenwood, right, both were named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s all-state softball first team in their respective classes for their standout performances in the pitcher’s circle this summer.

Two of the best softball pitchers in the state call Marshall County their home.

East Marshall senior Morgan Neuroth and West Marshall freshman Aubree Greenwood both were named first-team all-state by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association, leading the list of six area players honored.

Neuroth earned Class 2A all-state honors for the fourth time in her career, while Greenwood made the 3A squad for the first time. She’s West Marshall’s first first-team selection since Kallie Malloy in 2017.

West Marshall junior shortstop Jillian Karsjen was named second team all-state in 3A, while East Marshall senior third baseman Rayne McIlrath and junior catcher Bailey Grant both earned third team in 2A.

BCLUW senior catcher Callie Swanson earned the second all-state honor in her career as she was named honorable mention in 1A.

Neuroth has previously been named to the all-state second, third and honorable mention squads. In her senior season, she shared the 2A lead with 27 wins in the pitching circle, finishing the summer with a 1.70 earned run average and 289 strikeouts in 197 2/3 innings. Her strikeout total ranked second in 2A and seventh across all classes.

Neuroth also batted .416 with 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 30 RBIs for the Mustangs, who finished fourth in the 2A state tournament to cap a 33-6 campaign.

Greenwood ranked ninth in 3A with 16 wins in the circle this season, helping West Marshall to a 25-9 campaign that ended one win shy of the state tournament. She posted a 1.96 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 132 1/3 innings pitched.

Karsjen led the Trojans with a .424 batting average to go along with seven doubles, three triples, two home runs and 26 RBIs. She scored a team-high 37 runs while playing a near-perfect season at shortstop, committing just five errors in 107 chances (.953 fielding percentage).

McIlrath’s senior summer was highlighted by a .390 batting average that included 15 doubles, a triple and 44 RBIs. She scored 32 runs and reached base 48.3 percent of the time. Grant batted .395 with 11 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 34 RBIs while also throwing out 7-of-25 attempted base-stealers.

Swanson, who was a third-team all-state selection for BCLUW in 2022, led the Comets this summer with a .373 batting average. She hit four doubles and one home run while driving in 13 runs. She walked a total of 34 times to finish with a .573 on-base percentage, and she threw out 8-of-29 would-be base-stealers.

East Marshall head coach Jary Hoskey was named the Coach of the Year in 2A’s Northeast District. Neuroth and McIlrath both earned all-district honors, as did Grundy Center’s Lucy Lebo.

Greenwood and Karsjen were joined by West Marshall freshman third baseman Jenna Randall as 3A Central District selections, and Swanson was on the 1A Northeast all-district squad.

Swanson and West Marshall senior Josie deNeui both were named Academic All-State by the IGCA as well.