PELLA—Center fielder Emma Johnson (junior, Davenport, Assumption Catholic HS) headlines three Central College American Rivers all-conference softball picks.
           
Johnson was a first-team selection while right fielder Franie Burnett (sophomore, Ankeny, Centennial HS) and designated player Lauren Birt (senior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) were second-team honorees. In addition, left fielder Megan Doty (junior, Grinnell) received honorable mention.
           
Johnson was the league's top hitter for the season with a .463 mark and ranked second in 16 conference games at 462. She had 57 hits in 39 games with a .504 on-base percentage, 28 runs scored, 16 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Also the team's top defensive player, Johnson had a 1.000 fielding percentage
           
Burnett ranked second in the league for the overall season at .427 with 47 hits, 31 runs, 25 RBIs and 24 steals. She had a .926 fielding percentage.
           
Birt, who also played five games at second base, batted .351 with 33 hits, 27 runs, 13 RBIs and 17 steals.
           
Doty hit .319 with 30 hits, including a team-high eight doubles, with 21 runs scored, 29 RBIs and 11 steals. She had a .978 fielding percentage.
           
A young Dutch squad finished with a 21-17 mark. Birt was the only senior in the starting lineup so Central will return a veteran squad for 2023.