Several ADM softball players and head coach Rick Dillinger were honored by the Raccoon River Conference on Monday. Dillinger was named the league’s coach of the year, while junior pitcher Molly Jacbosen and senior shortstop Kenzi Sutton were named to the first team.
Other Tigers receiving all-conference recognition included two second-teamers in junior outfielder Gabbie Glenn and sophomore second baseman Kate Collins, and honorable mention to senior third basemen Taylor Boorn.
In two seasons, Dillinger has transformed a once-dormant program into a perennial conference heavyweight in one of the state’s premier softball league. The hall of fame head coach of 39 years at the high school inherited a program with 12 combined wins in the 2012 and ’13 seasons and has lead it to back-to-back appearances in the regional finals and a 57-16 record.
[Link: Complete RRC All-Conference list]
Sutton was named second team All-State by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in each of the previous two seasons. Given her numbers this year, she’s likely to earn first-team distinction: Sutton lead the team in batting average (.449), on-base percentage (.575), slugging (.867), home runs (10), RBI (33), runs (37) and walks (19).
A starter in left field as a sophomore, Glenn captained the outfield from center field while setting the table as the Tigers’ leadoff hitter. She hit .254 with an on-base percentage of .377.
Collins got hot in the second half of the year to put together an impressive sophomore campaign. After having been hit for by the Designated Player last season as a freshman, Collins was invaluable to the offense from the two-hole. She lead the team with 16 sacrifice bunts, while hitting .288 with three home runs and 18 RBI.
Boorn took a significant leap forward both in the field and at the plate from last season, when she hit just .198 and posted a .782 fielding percentage. In 2015, Boorn hit .242 with five homers (all coming with runners on) and 21 RBI, along with a .933 fielding percentage.
The Tigers finished second in the conference to Carlisle with a 10-3 record against league opponents. ADM finished 32-5 overall, reaching the Class 4A regional final, where the Tigers were defeated by Creston, 4-3.