NIACC's Lienhard wins league player of week honor

MASON CITY – NIACC sophomore Laken Lienhard was selected as the ICCAC Division II softball player of the week for the week of April 17-23.

It is the fourth time in the 2022-23 school year that Lienhard has received the league's weekly honor. She was the league's women's wrestler of the week for the week of Nov. 7-13, was the league's pitcher of the week for the week of Feb. 20-26 and was the player/pitcher of the week for the week of April 3-9.

It is the seventh time this season that a NIACC player has earned the league's pitcher of player of the week.

Shortstop  Katy Olive was the player of the week for the week of March 6-12, Lienhard (pitcher) and Ravyn Krachey (player) won the award for the week of Feb. 20-26, Brynn Stalberger (pitcher), Emily Jones (player) won the award for the week of Jan. 30-Feb. 5 and Lienhard was the pitcher/player of the week for the week of April 3-9.

During the week of April 17-23, Lienhard was 10 for 15 with five doubles and two home runs in four ICCAC wins. She also scored eight runs and drove in seven runs as the Trojans saw their winning streak reach 15 games.

Lienhard has become the school's career leader in doubles (38), home runs (25), runs scored (112) and walks (53).

No. 16 NIACC (33-9 overall, 17-3 in the ICCAC) returns to action Saturday and Sunday at home in a four-game series against No. 12 Kirkwood (36-13, 18-2). Kirkwood leads the league while the Trojans are just a game back with four conference games remaining.