NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Trojan senior third baseman Madison Hitchcock earned WaMaC West recognition honors for her play this summer.

The WaMaC conference announced its annual end-of-the-season softball honors on Tuesday, July 8. A pair of South Tama seniors earned a spot on the WaMaC West ‘Recognition’ list of athletes: third-basemen Madison Hitchcock and outfielder Madison Wiese. According to statistics for the season recorded on Bound, both Hitchcock and Wiese contributed significantly to the Trojan team this year. Hitchcock finished seventh on the team in RBIs (2), eighth in hits (5), and eighth in runs (2). Hitchcock also played a solid third base all season long. She was second on the team in assists (41) and only committed seven errors on the season. Her fielding percentage of .912 was sixth on the team. Likewise, Wiese was solid defensively in the outfield for the Trojans. Her fielding percentage of .907 placed her just behind Hitchcock. Wiese was third on the team in defensive putouts (38) and only committed four errors. Offensively, Wiese was second on the team in RBIs (7), fourth in hits (9), and fourth in runs (5).

In other honors, Williamsburg junior pitcher Jersey Metz took home the WaMaC West player of the year. She was one of four Williamsburg players to make the first team of the WaMaC West. Williamsburg won the western side of the conference with a 21-1 conference record.

STC’s season came to an end on Thursday, July 10 with a loss at West Liberty. Facing the Comets in the first round of the Class 3A post-season, the Trojans jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Wiese recorded the RBI when freshman Sydney Arp came into score. But it would turn out to be the only run of the game for the Trojans. West Liberty scored three runs in each of the first three innings and ran away to a 10-1 victory. STC was able to scratch out only two hits on the night, both by freshman: Shelby Johannsen and Maylee Rucker. Following their victory over the Trojans, West Liberty went on to win two additional games and qualified for the state softball tournament in Fort Dodge. The Comets finished with a 22-7 record and earned the #5 seed in the tournament, which will be held on July 21-25.

The Trojans finished their season with a record of 1-27 overall and 1-21 in the WaMaC conference. On June 16 STC defeated Vinton-Shellsburg 11-1 in game one of a doubleheader. The win snapped two long losing streaks by the Trojans. It had been nearly four full seasons since STC’s last win (June 26, 2021 vs. Eagle Grove) and nearly eight seasons since a victory inside of the WaMaC conference (June 27, 2016 vs. Williamsburg).

“The win was nothing short of amazing for the girls and the program,” said first year head coach Kodi Hillman.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC senior outfielder Madison Wiese earned recognition in the WaMaC West for her play during the 2025 season.

With half of their starting position players being underclassmen, and with their top two starting pitchers being freshman, the Trojan softball program will look to build in the years to come.