The 2026 version of the Cleveland Clipper softball team will be remembered in a couple of significant ways.
First, with a narrow 11-inning, 1-0 loss in the section elimination bracket to eventual state champion United South Central—and a 3-2 loss to Martin County West in the third round in the game before—the Clippers knocked hard on the state tournament door.
Secondly, with no seniors on the team, they are poised to pick up where they left off when a new season starts next spring.
The Clippers wrapped up their season and recognized the players who made it happen during an awards banquet in the school commons on Monday (July 20).
“Both of those games could have easily gone our way,” said head coach April Thompson. “Unfortunately, they didn’t go our way, but it was a very good day of softball on that Saturday. The best part is there is not a senior sitting in front of us; we’re all back next year.”
The Offensive Player of the Year award went to junior shortstop Kaitlyn Flowers (above center).
The junior led the Clippers in both OPS (on-base slugging; calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage) and slugging percentage (.643) and was tied for the highest on-base percentage (.515). She had the Clippers’ second highest batting average (.429), racked up 26 hits, including a dozen doubles and two home runs, batted in 22 runners and scored 41 runs, the most for the Clippers.
“She consistently put pressure on opposing defenses. and was one of the toughest outs in our lineup all season,” said Thompson.
Junior catcher Keira Schipper (third from left) took home The Defensive Player of the Year award. She caught almost every inning and posted a .981 fielding percentage. Across 131 innings this player only allowed two passed balls and teams only attempted stealing on her 16 times.
“Defense wins games, and this player was the anchor of ours all season,” Thompson said.
Schipper was a force beside the plates as well as in back of it. She had the team’s second highest batting average (.455) and slugging percentage (.625). She totaled 40 hits, including a dozen doubles (tied with Flowers for the second most) and one homer. She batted in 29 runs and scored 20 herself.
Natalie Flowers (left) won the Breakout Player of the Year award.
Just an eighth grader, her .467 batting average was the team’s highest. She tied her sister for the highest on-base percentage (.515) and was second behind her in OPS (1.126) and slugging (.611). She totaled 32 hits, the most for the Clippers, including eight doubles, one triple and a home run. She batted the most runs for the Clippers (37) and scored the second most herself (35).
“After seeing limited varsity action a year ago, she seized her opportunity and made the biggest leap,” Thompson said. “She became one of the top hitters in our lineup.”
The Pitcher of the Year award went to junior Delaney Thompson (third from right). She threw 128 innings, finished the season with an 18–4 record, a 1.37 ERA and broke her previous single season school record with 226 strikeouts.
“She gave us a chance to win every time she stepped in the circle,” coach Thompson said.
Thompson was a factor at the plate as well. She batted .356, had a .425 on- base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage. She totaled 23 hits—including seven doubles and two homers—batted in 22 runs and scored 25 runs herself.
Freshman Brooke Bosse (second from right) won Utility Player of the Year award. She played both center field and third base and pitched 30 innings over seven games for two wins. She totaled 29 strikeouts. She only committed one error. She had a .347 batting average with 21 hits, including four doubles and a triple.
“The Utility Player of the Year recognizes someone who is willing to do whatever the team needs,” coach Thompson said. She contributed valuable innings in the circle while also playing both center field and first base at a high level. Her versatility and team-first attitude were invaluable to our success.
Taylor McCabe (right) earned the Competitor Award. McCabe typically played second. At the plate, she batted .333 with 24 hits, including four doubles. She batted in 23 runs and scored 18 herself.
“The Competitor Award goes to the player who brings toughness, grit and a relentless competitive spirit every day,” coach Thompson said. She consistently competed in every at-bat, every inning, providing strong production on both sides of the ball, whether a clutch hit or a diving play to catch a ball.”
Eighth-grade outfielder Hadley Thompson (second from left) won the Spark Plug Award. She had a .313 batting average with 21 hits, including five doubles, and had a .909 fielding percentage with only three errors.
“The Spark Plug Award recognizes the player whose energy and enthusiasm elevate everyone around her,” coach Thompson said. “Hadley provided strong middle-of-the-order contribution and solid play in the field. As an eighth grader in her first varsity season, she became an everyday player while bringing positivity, humor, and confidence to our dugout every day.”
Selected by conference coaches as members of the All-Conference team were the Flowers sisters, Schipper and Delaney Thompson while McCabe and Hadley Thompson were All-Conference Honorable mentions.
Section 2 representatives chose Delaney Thompson as a member of the All-Section team while state coaches chose her and Schipper to make the second All-State team.
Along with the award winners, letters went to junior Taylor Wolf; sophomores Kiya Sohn and Cecelia Gair; and eighth graders Kylie Wobbrock, Addison Sandhurst and Anistyn Dauk.
As a sophomore or higher with a GPA of 3.75 during the season, All Conference Academic awards were presented to Delaney Thompson, Kaitlyn Flowers, Schipper, McCabe, Gair, Sohn and Wolf.
With the top-10 GPA average of 3.946, the Clippers earned an All-State Academic Team Gold (3.75 or higher) award.
The Clippers finished their season with an outstanding 20-5 record with two of their losses by only one run in the playoffs. They also lost to USC by just one run in an eight-inning game during the regular season. Splitting with Martin County West for their only conference loss (W 9-2, L 8-2), they tied the Mavericks for first place in the Valley Conference with a 9-1 record. Their only other defeat was by New Ulm Cathedral 4-1 in the season opener.
Next year will be a changed Section 2A landscape with USC losing its ace pitcher to graduation, but it is always competitive with the likes of NUC, Sleepy Eye, MCW and Nicollet.
“The work for next year started the last day of the season,” Thompson said.
Letter winners: from L-R, Anistyn Dauk, Addison Sandhurst, Natalie Flowers, Kylie Wobbrock, Taylor McCabe Hadley Thompson, Kaitlyn Flowers, Taylor Wolf, Keira Schipper, Hadley Thompson, Brooke Bosse and Kiya Sohn. Missing is Cecelia Gair.
Conference award winners: from L-R, All-Conference Honorable Mention award winners, Hadley Thompson and Taylor McCabe and All-Conference award winners Natalie Flowers, Kaitlyn Flowers, Keira Schipper and Delaney Thompson.
Keira Schipper and Delaney Thompson made the All-State second team while Delaney Thompson also was picked for the All-Section team.
All-Conference Academic Award winners: Kaitlyn Flowers, Taylor McCabe, Keira Schipper, Delaney Thompson, Kiya Sohn and Taylor Wolf. Missing is Cecelia Gair.