Kirkwood Community College recently held a volleyball camp in Belle Plaine for girls in grades 2 – 4 and 5 – 8.

Coach Trena Dodd’s comments on the camp: “During camp the girls learned about passing, setting and serving. They all did a really nice job during the week.  It was fun seeing them improve in those few days.  I look forward to watching them compete in the future!



Those attending the camp included, front row, from left: Carly Varo, Macy Dodd, Hannah Eichhorn, Blake Weber. Second row: Kailyn Pettitt, Danielle Montgomery, Kendra Alcott, Shaylee Dodd, Hope Brecht, Kenzie Mantz, Rhylee Stone. Back row: Trena Dodd, Coach, Kayla Chizek, Bailey Kuba, Katherine Andersen, Alexa Stull, Rachel Montgomery, Shannon Murray, Shiloh Murray, Jill Alcott, Volunteer Coach. Not shown: Hannah McLennan.

Melissa Janss fires to first base Thursday in the regional opener at Belle Plaine.

Belle Plaine’s softball season came to a halt Thursday night, as Iowa Valley sidelined the Plainsmen, 13-2 in a six-inning regional opener at Belle Plaine.

The Tigers scored five runs in the second, five more in the third, one in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth. The Plainsmen scored their two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Belle Plaine, which was riding a six-game winning streak, ends the season with a 10-13 record. Iowa Valley moved to 22-9 overall, after tying Lynnville-Sully for the SICL Conference title with an 18-2 record.

As they enter the final stages of the regular season, it’s been a rough go for the Belle Plaine varsity softball squad so far. Through Wednesday night, the Plainsmen are 5-13 on the season, according to QuikStats.

Fans of offense have not been disappointed so far, as one team or the other has scored at least 10 runs in 10 of those 18 games. The offensive highlight for the Plainsmen so far was a 12-2 win over Montezuma. They have been shut out just three times this season, but North Mahaska put 22 runs on the board earlier in a 22-4 decision.

In most recent action, the Plainsmen stopped a five-game losing string with an 8-3 win over Sigourney. Junior Joy Cronbaugh has pitched 85 innings in 12 appearances this season. She has 55 strikeouts and 22 walks and a 2.96 earned run average.

Through the first 16 games, Melissa Janss led the team with a .375 batting average. Brenna Ford was hitting .356.

Regional play begins Thursday, July 8, when the Plainsmen host Iowa Valley at 7 p.m. The winner moves on the next night to face either North Linn or Iowa City Regina at Regina at 7 p.m.

By: Brad Cook

A young squad of Belle Plaine girls traveled to Tama on Saturday June 26^th to compete in a 12 and under softball tournament. Facing some of the top softball programs in the state the Plainsmen girls battled older more experienced teams while gaining valuable experience for the future.

Game one pitted the Plainsmen against the sterling pitching of BCLUW.  Savannah Meeks pitched in a losing effort against the Cobras of BCLUW. Kylie Hegwood had the only hit for Belle Plaine as the girls fell 9-0.

Game two saw the Plainsman bats start to heat up against a tough East Marshall girl’s team. Kalli Grieder began the game pitching giving way to Madison McIntire after suffering an injury. Kalli Grieder, Savannah Meeks, and Shaylee Stanerson all had hits for the Plainsman in a 17-4 loss.

Fighting a 100 degree heat index the girls left it all on the field against South Tama in a hard-fought 10-9 loss. Savannah Meeks returned to the mound and the Plainsmen capitalized on numerous bases on balls given up by the Trojan pitching staff. Leading 9-8 going into the bottom of the last inning the Trojans manufactured two runs to get the win. Scoring runs for the Plainsmen in the finale were Savannah Meeks, Kylie, Shaylee Dodd, Shannon Murray, Madison McIntire, Amanda Cook, Dawn Toney, and Shaylee Stanerson.

Also competing for the Plainsman were Lakota Stanerson, Ashton Bohlen, Kendra Alcott, Lilly Papesh, and Kaitlyn Plumb. Phillip Stanerson and Megan Ehlen coached the team with Todd Bohlen helping and umpiring.

The summer parks and recreation season comes to an end next week with the Benton County League tournament taking place Monday through Friday at sites to be determined.

Players huddle with coach Stanerson between innings.

Belle Plaine City League

Red Wheel Red Sox 8 Grieder Standard Magic 2

Brodie Bohlen had a single and a homerun for the Magic.  Cole Hamilton also had a single for the Magic.  For the Red Sox’s Tanner Meeks had a double and a single, while Jordan Reineke had 2 singles and 2 RBI’s.  Keegan White pitched 5 strikeouts for the Red Sox’s while Magic pitcher Pierce DeJoode had 4.

Midwest One Mets 7 Ehlen Plumbing and Heating Phillies 3

Will Mengler led the Mets going 3-3 with 3 singles.  Brandon Zumbach went 2-3 with a double and an RBI.  Wyatt Parizek went 3-3 with a homerun and had a great game in the field.  The Phillies leading hitters were Zac Slaymaker who went 2-2 with 2 singles and Jon Stone who had a homerun and 2 RBI’s.

Grieders Standard Magic 7 Midwest One Mets 6

For the Magic, Brant DeMeuleaneare went 2-3 with a single.  Wes Pippert also went 2-3 with a single and a RBI.  Brodie Bohlen went 2-2 with 2 RBI’s and 2 singles. For the Mets it was Brandon Mantz who had a big day at the plate going 2-2 with a triple and 3 RBI’s.

Red Wheel Red Sox 11 Midwes One Mets 6

Tyler Arens led the Mets at the plate with a homerun.  Brandon Mantz followed going 2-3 with 2 singles.  For the Red Sox it was Tristen Checak who had a big game with 2 homeruns.  Dylan Fry also went 3-3 at the plate.

Ehlen Plumbing and Heating Phillies7 Grieder Standard Magic 5

Braden Parr went 2-3 for the Phillies with a triple and a single.  Jacob Ehlen went 3-3 with 2 singles and a homerun.  For the Magic, John Reekers went 1-2 with and RBI single and Pierce DeJoode went 2-2 with 2 singles and an RBI.

Grieder Standard Magic 5 Midwest One Mets 5

Wyatt Parizek had a big game for the Mets going 2-2 with a double and a 3 run homerun.  Brandon Zumbach had a good game on the mound pitching 3 inngs striking out 6.  Cole Benton led the Magic going 2-3 with a single and homerun.  He also had 3 RBI’s.

Red Wheel Red Sox 6 Grieder Standard Magic 5

Wes Pippert led the Magic with 2 doubles and a single while Dakota Henry had 2 singles and an RBI.  Jakob Longnecker had 2 sinlges for the Red Sox, as well as Tristan Cecak.

Red Wheel Red Sox 16 Ehlen Plumbing and Heating Phillies 4

Trey Alcott had 2 triples and a single, while Dylan Fry had a homerun and a double for the Red Sox.  Zac Slaymaker had a homerun for the Phillies while Brandon Van Nevel had 2 singles.  Keegan White pitched 5 strikeouts for the Red Sox while Jon Stone had 5 for the Phillies.

Belle Plaine Traveling Team

Belle Plaine 12 HLV team one 2

Cody Northrup had a big day going 3-3 with 2 singles and a double.  Try Alcott also went 3-3 with 3 singles and 2 RBI’s.  Brandon Zumbach had a great day pitching striking out 8.  Zac Slaymaker went 2-2 with 2 singles and had 2 RBI’s.

Belle Plaine 9 HLV team two 5

Jon Stone led the Plainsmen going 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI’s.  Jordan Rieneke pitched great throwing 4 inngs while striking out 9.  Chance Baburek went 2-2 with 2 singles and Brodie Bohlen went 2-3 with 2 singles as well.

Williamsburg 15 Belle Plaine 1

Jordan Reineke was one hit shy of the cycle.  He went 3-3 with a triple, a double and a single.  Will Mengler went 2-3 with 2 singles.

Girls Softball

Belle Plaine 15 Van Horne 1

Ashton Bohlen had 3 runs, 2 RBI’s and 3 hits.  While Shaylee Dodd had 3 RBI’s on 3 hits.  Cassidy Mumby had an RBI.  Lakota Stanerson had 4 RBI’s on only 3 hits.  Mackenzie O’brien pitched great striking out 6 and only allowing 1 run.

Belle Plaine 5 Atkins 4

Mackenzie O’brien had 2 hits with one being a homerun.  Lakota Stanerson had 3 RBI’s on 2 hits.  O’brien pitched great again for Belle Plaine striking out 6.  Kenzie Mantz had the game winning hit.

Atkins 3 Belle Plaine 2

Shaylee Stanerson had a hit and a run.  Kalli Grieder had a double and an RBI.  She also pitched well striking out 8.  Emily Thill also scored a run and had a hit.

Two members of the 2009-10 Belle Plaine High School wrestling squad have been selected to the National High School Coaches Association Academic All-America Team. Recent grads Jack O’Brien and Zakk Buch were the only Iowans from the class of 2010 and took two of the 64 spots for the team that represented 39 states.

O’Brien finished 42-5 and fifth in Class A state tournament at 125 pounds for Coach Bob Yilek at Belle Plaine High School; three-time state placewinner; career record 155-31. Earned 3.8 GPA, scored 28 on the ACT and ranks No. 10 in a class of 68; will attend Coe College.

Buch finished 32-6 and seventh in Class A state tournament at 103 pounds two-time state placewinner; career record 107-21. Earned 3.5 GPA and scored 25 on the ACT; will attend Coe College.

It’s been a rough start for the Belle Plaine baseball squad and their first year head coach, Scott Janss. The Plainsmen have a 1-6 record so far against a conference slate that the coach says should be pretty balanced this year.

After a 4-2 loss in the season opener to Keota, the Plainsmen dropped a 12-5 decision to Tri-County, a 16-6 loss to Iowa Valley and a 7-6 loss to HLV. Then came the offensive highlight of the season as the Plainsmen pounded out 17 hits in an 18-14 decision over North Mahaska.

Dustin Drexler had three hits, including a homer and drove in three runs. Devon Parr also had three hits with four rbis and a double. Cooper Northrop drove in two with a homer. Lance Hinschberger had three rbis and Scott Wheeler doubled and drove in two.

Two days later, BGM handed the Plainsmen an 11-0 defeat and then Sigourney also prevailed, 8-5.

Janss, who spent the last five years as the assistant coach, says he has always wanted to have a shot at the head baseball coaching position. He said he would have taken the job even if his kids weren’t playing. But it is a real family affair, as graduated senior Chris Janss is the ace on the mound and his older brother, Brandon, a Coe College student and Plainsman grad, is the assistant coach.

There is a lot of experience on this team, as 11 of the 22 men on the roster are returning lettermen. But the coach says he realizes that a good program is built on nurturing younger talent. The Belle Plaine junior varsity has had a winning record for the last six years. He says positive attitudes and supportive parents are key to bringing success to the Plainsman program.

This year, the SICL could be a very balanced league. Currently, Sigourney and BGM sit atop the conference with seven wins each. Two other teams have five wins and three have just one win each.

If the Plainsmen are able to turn it around in the next three weeks, they could have some success in the postseason. In the last two years, in district action they have had to face Solon on the Spartans’ field. Each year, Solon went on to advance to the state tournament. This year, the Plainsmen will travel to Brooklyn on July 10 to face East Marshall in the first round of district action.

Members of the 2010 Belle Plaine girls’ track squad met one more time last weekend to receive their season awards after a spectacular season. They took six events to the state meet including Megan Abernathy in the 100 meter dash, Dani Coover in the 200 dash and the 100 meter hurdles, Taylor Schafbuch in the 400 meter hurdles and the shuttle hurdle and 4 x 100 meter relay teams.

Coover and Schafbuch were co-winners of the Most Valuable Player Award. Abernathy and Melissa Janss were Coaches Award winners, Sarah Hafner was the Most Versatile Award winner, Jamie Rich received the Guts Award, Julie Long was the Most Improved Award winner and Darian Griffith received the Rookie of the Year Award.

Belle Plaine girls’ track award winners included, front row, from left: Megan Abernathy, Coaches Award, Sarah Hafner, Most Versatile and Taylor Schafbuch, Most Valuable. Back row, from left: Melissa Janss, Coaches’ Award, Jamie Rich, Guts Award, Julie Long, Most Improved, Darian Griffith, Rookie of the Year and Dani Coover, Most Valuable.

They’ve received well-deserved acknowledgement for a second straight conference title, district championship and third place in the team totals at state. Last week, members of the Belle Plaine boys’ track squad gathered with family and fans one last time to receive team awards.

Seivon Steward was named the team Most Valuable Player. Coaches’ Awards went to John Long and Brian Crow. Chris Janss claimed the Plainsman Award, Ben Ehlen was the Most Improved Award winner and the Rookie of the Year was Chase Bryant.

Coach Mark Tegeler announced that Brayden Morrow, Keegan DeMeulenaere and Ehlen will be the 2011 co-captains.

This year’s squad featured 11 seniors and 10 freshmen. Their third place finish at state was the highest finish for a Belle Plaine team since the 1971 state championship team.

This year’s BP boys’ track award winners include, from left: Ben Ehlen, Most

Improved; John Long, Coaches’Award; Chris Janss, Plainsman Award, Brian Crow,

Coaches’ Award, Seivon Steward, Most Valuable Player and Chase Bryant, Rookie

of the Year.

By Coach Mark Tegeler

Belle Plaine boys’ track team ended the season on a very positive note at the state track meet this season.  As a team we ended up placing third overall.  Madrid ran away with the team title scoring 59.50 points, Belmond Klemme scored 36 to finish second, Belle Plaine scored 35 to finish third and Lisbon scored 34 points finishing fourth.

Going into the state meet I set our team points goal at 34, so we certainly were spot on as to what I expected out of our guys.  We ran a very good meet, we weren’t perfect but we were awfully close.  When your chance at a state title is depending primarily on hurdling and sprinting relay events you know that you are going to have a nerve-racking weekend.  It was well worth it however!

We broke the state meet record in the Shuttle Hurdle relay, a relay that we really wanted to win going into the state meet.  We had held the fastest time in the event for most the season so we knew we would have a target on our back.  We got through the pre-lims with the best time and broke the meet record.  We came back in the finals on Saturday and broke that record running a 58:79.  It was a time we needed since AHST Avoca broke our record in the finals.

Our 4×200 relay placed second breaking the school record in the process.  We ran a 1:32.06 with a shaky last hand-off, it slowed us down a little, but most likely didn’t cost us the title.  Northwood Kennsett had been running 1:31 flat for most of the season so it was going to be real tough to catch them.  Going in we figured second place was the worst we should do.

Our 4×100 relay placed third and this really probably was a little disappointment just because the guys ran it so well.  We just didn’t nail our hand-offs like we needed to.  We had a chance to beat Madrid in the finals and just came up short.  Our guys were probably a little more pumped up than normal and that probably threw our steps off a little bit and that can be huge in the 4×100.  The wind was blowing so hard by then that we really thought we should just keep them close to normal to make sure that we didn’t get outside the exchange zone and play it safe and see if any other relays made the mistakes.

Both Keegan DeMeulenaere and Seivon Steward did a nice job in the finals of the 110 High Hurdles.  Going in both were shooting to win the event and we went 3-4.  Keegan didn’t have one of his best blocks, but he did an excellent job of catching up to the main field to grab fourth.  Keegan went into the finals with the fastest pre-lim so he was a little disappointed. Seivon had a great block but clipped a few hurdles and that really slowed him up but just his raw speed was able to keep him in the top three.

Our events that did not score at the state meet did a real nice job as well.  Cooper Northrop moved up a couple of spots in the Long Jump placing 17^th.  It wasn’t Cooper’s best performance of the year, but considering it was his first trip to the state meet we thought he handled it very well.  Chris Janss also competed in the Long Jump and was unable to improve his place or distance.  Chris just looked real tight and couldn’t get his steps down.

Our 4×400 relay ran our best time of the year, so we were real happy with their performance.  We went in as the 24^th ranked 4×400 relay and we finished 16^th so that was a major improvement.  Brian Crow also failed to get to the finals in both the 100m dash and 200m dash.  Brian won his heat in the 100m dash, which was the event we really thought we could advance to the finals in.  Unfortunately Brian finished 10^th overall and failed to advance.  It was however the third best time that Brian had ran all year so he put out an awfully good performance.  The 200m dash we knew would be tough to get through and it was.  Brian moved up a couple of spots and ran his best 200 time of his career, so that was certainly good to see.   Brian had really been battling some knee and hip issues late in the season so he wasn’t at 100 percent.  He wasn’t practicing much and you could tell he just wasn’t 100 percent, but Brain battled really well we thought and gave himself and the team a chance to score more points.

It was a great season that concluded on a very positive note.  Conference champs for the second straight year and four out of the last five, district champs, not sure when Belle Plaine boys track has done that last and a top three showing at the state meet and again not sure when Belle Plaine boys track scored that high.

This was a great way for our seniors to go out, they have worked so hard over the past four years and we have had our share of disappointments at the state meet so I think they’ll look back on this weekend and be very pleased with the outcome.