The shift to one a divisionless North Iowa Cedar League meant fewer opportunities for all-conference accolades.

The East Marshall softball team still got its due.

Senior pitcher Peyton Grabenbauer was named to the all-conference first team for the fourth year in a row while junior infielder Ashtyn Wheater earned her second consecutive first-team honor, headlining a Mustangs squad that shared second place in the 13-team NICL this summer.

Grabenbauer was a three-time first-team selection in the NICL’s West Division before the league went to a round-robin format this year. Dike-New Hartford, led by conference Player of the Year Faith Gray, claimed the league crown at 10-2, followed by East Marshall, Sumner-Fredericksburg and Wapsie Valley at 9-3.

Grabenbauer pitched all 73 innings for the Mustangs during conference play, posting a 2.21 earned run average with 106 strikeouts and only 27 combined walks. She ranked second in league play with an opposing batting average of .191. and led the way with her 0.95 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched).

Offensively, Grabenbauer contributed three doubles and team-highs of two home runs and 15 RBIs, batting .324 with a .400 on-base percentage.

Wheater tied for the team lead with a .486 batting average during NICL games, hitting five doubles one home run with eight runs scored and 12 RBIs. She posted a .568 on-base percentage to share the team lead with Gianna Boswell.

Boswell, a freshman catcher, was named to the all-NICL second team. She joined Wheater with a .486 average that ranked seventh in the conference. She ranked second with 19 runs scored and led the conference with eight doubles while also driving in 11 runs from the leadoff spot. Defensively, Boswell made just one error and threw out 1-of-8 attempted base-stealers.

East Marshall junior shortstop Libby Atcher earned third-team honors after batting .324 with three doubles, a triple, seven runs scored and nine RBIs during league action.

Freshman first baseman/outfielder Miyah Grabenbauer was an honorable mention selection for the Mustangs after batting .270 with three doubles, nine runs and eight RBIs in NICL play.

East Marshall went 23-10 overall this season, falling in the Class 2A regional finals to Wapsie Valley.