July 31, 2012
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two incoming University of Iowa softball freshmen — pitcher Shayla Starkenburg and infielder Aspen Rhodes — have been recognized with the state’s highest honors.
Starkenburg was selected as the 5A Pitcher of the Year after leading Ankeny High School to the 2012 state title, finishing with a 39-6 overall record. Starkenburg, an all-state and all-district selection, posted a perfect 31-0 record with a 0.58 ERA, leading the state in both categories.
She finished the year with 222 strikeouts in 191.2 innings, while limiting opposing batters to a .147 batting average. She allowed 20 runs (16 earned), 99 hits and issued just 47 walks on the year.
Rhodes, the 2A Player of the Year, posted a .578 (59-of-102) batting average during her senior season at Van Meter High School. She had 23 extra base hits (nine doubles, eight home runs and six triples), and finished with a 1.020 slugging and .636 on-base percentage.
The all-state and all-district selection scored 57 runs, had 39 RBIs and was a perfect 18-of-18 in stolen base attempts. Rhodes led Van Meter to its first state tournament appearance in school history.
The pair will join a Hawkeye roster that returns 16 letterwinners, including seven positional starters and both starting pitchers.