Posted on

Ciana Sonberg named to State Softball Class 4A All-Tourney Team

Press photo by John Burbridge Charles City catcher Ciana Sonberg attempts to tag out Oskaloosa’s Ava Vande Wall who safely scores during the Indians’ 8-run rally in the sixth inning.
Press photo by John Burbridge
Charles City catcher Ciana Sonberg attempts to tag out Oskaloosa’s Ava Vande Wall who safely scores during the Indians’ 8-run rally in the sixth inning.
By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

FORT DODGE — They call third base the “hot corner”.

And when Charles City’s Ciana Sonberg plays the position, the temperature is usually at its highest setting.

In a sport where many infielders don face masks — even some outfielders — Sonberg often plays up-close “in your face” defense without a mask.

Sometimes she gets burnt — or bumped — like when she took a liner off the forehead during the Comets’ victory over top-ranked Benton in their Class 4A regional final to earn Charles City it’s second-straight State Softball Championships berth.

Sonberg was able to bounce back, even during the play in question, but the victorious and state-bound Comets didn’t emerge from the regional unscathed. Starting catcher Kelby Katcher had broken her thumb during the game.

“I knew going in that there would be a good chance of me playing catcher during the state tournament,” Sonberg said. “So I was prepared.”

Though the hot corner is usually hot enough, having to don catching gear during an oppressively hot week in Fort Dodge didn’t make things any easier for Sonberg when she was called in to replace Katcher several innings into the Comets’ first-round game against Fairfield.

Sonberg, who was Charles City’s starting catcher as a freshman, was able to make the adjustment.

Aside from going 3 for 4 with a homer and 2 RBIs in the Comets’ 5-4 win over Fairfield, Sonberg managed to make several good plays from behind the plate during the tournament.

After the Comets placed fourth in the tournament by way of losing to Oskaloosa in the third-place game and No. 1-seed Winterset defeated Ballard in the championship game, Sonberg was named to the Class 4A All-Tournament Team.

“We should be able to get back here next year,” Sonberg said after she was honored with fellow all-tourney team members. “We just got to keep working.

“I spent a lot of the offseason working on my hitting. I’m going to do that again this offseason.”

Sonberg and Katcher will both be seniors next season and will likely return to their No. 1 positions. But the versatile Sonberg will also be ready to fill in at catcher when needed.

Sonberg also has other items on her plate. She will likely be one of the captains for the Comets’ varsity wrestling team this fall/winter.

Last season, Sonberg recorded numerous impressive victories — several of the come-from-behind variety — against male combatants.

Class 4A All-Tournament Team

Natalie Hansen, Winterset

Isabell Hobbs, Ballard

Macy Johnson, Winterset

Alyvia Dubois, Carlisle

Ciana Sonberg, Charles City

Chi Glaha, Mount Pleasant

Alexis Groet, Oskaloosa

Skylar Rigby, Ballard

Danny Barker, Winterset

Rachel Newell, Ballard

Sophie Stover, Winterset (Captain)

Social Share

LATEST NEWS