Season of experience will pay off for Flyers

(Pictured are members of the Little Falls Softball team taking infield practice earlier this week. This was the girls four day being outside, which is about a week ahead of schedule. (040404-lfsoftball) Staff photo by Jason Olson)

In 2003, the team didn’t have a pitcher that had previous experience above the freshman level, but enter this season with three juniors who have another year under their belt and the program seems to be moving in the right direction. Junior pitchers Alison Ringwelski, Alison Gafke and Kim Dick look to be the leading ladies to pitch on opening day.

Preseason practice has been very productive, according to Hinnenkamp, as the girls have been able to practice out on the field earlier than in years past. “We’ve been really fortunate with the weather this spring. This is our fourth day outside and we aren’t just getting outside and freezing. We can actually get some work done.”

Jenna Koester and Jacque Klein will be the senior captains as Klein caps off a softball career that began in sixth grade. “We’ll be better than last year since we have three pitchers, but the biggest thing is that we go out there and have fun,” she explained. She is looking at playing at CLC or SCSU next spring.

The Flyers graduated five seniors last spring and are looking at starting seven underclassmen again this spring. But don’t think this team hasn’t upgraded its play. “We had several girls practicing in the halls after school. Six even went to area clinics. The team has been very excited and practices have been positive. We have some potential,” the head coach explained.

Royals looking sharp
The Royalton Royals are looking forward to improving their fourth place finish in the Prairie Conference (8-10 record) and to go deeper in the post-season (they lost in the second game of sub-sections to Isle) as they return all but one player from the 2003 team. “The mentality of this team is better than I thought it would be,” Royalton Head Coach Kari Verdeck said. “Last year, as a first year head coach, the girls weren’t as focused as I wanted them to be and we ended up in a losing streak. This year, the girls are very comfortable behind our starting pitcher. That makes a difference with any team.”

The lone non-returner is Steph Modrowski (starting first baseman) who the team lost to graduation. Returning will be seniors Andrea Goedderz and Liz Seviola at third base and shortstop, respectively. Seviola led the team in batting last year with a .423 average and knocking in 12 runs. Fellow senior second baseman Erin Presler will be looked upon to produce runs with her speed and ability to bunt in the role leadoff.

Senior outfielder Sara Reis will be out for the majority of the season with a recurring back injury.

The return of staff ace Leslie Warzecha will provide plenty of leadership in the field for the team. She collected 53 strikeouts in 68 innings of work last season as a freshman.

Coach Verdeck also noted last season was the first time in six years the Royals beat Browerville, a Prairie Conference foe. “I have high aspirations for this team because we have great senior leadership. They know how to take charge and play as a team. We’re just hoping the weather holds out.”

Bulldogs looking for wins
The Swanville girls softball team is looking to get their first win in over a year as they went 0-16 last season, which is Head Coach Tom Bzdok’s third season.

“Two years ago we struggled with hitting and had good pitching,” he said. “But last year we didn’t have good pitching and lost games 25-20. This year we’re hoping to straighten things out and have a successful year all around.” The team is looking at carrying five seniors, all who have three years or more experience at the varsity level.

One key component of the Bulldog’s success will come on the arm of Tracy DeFrance. The junior took the winter off from playing basketball to focus on developing her pitching skills. “She’s really devoted herself to pitching. She threw a lot of pitches this winter and we’re hoping for some rewards,” said the coach.

Junior Lizz Dold will share time on the mound with DeFrance.

The team is returning Senior Megan Sieben who has been the top hitter for the past two springs carrying a .400 average who can also hit for power, commented Bzdok.

Cardinals battling injuries
The Upsala softball squad enters the season without two upperclassmen infielders, Jean Koester and Janelle Kiley. Koester is out after back surgery and Kiley had surgery on her foot. Head Coach Marshall Doran expects to fill their positions with freshmen and sophomores. “But this year’s team is returning everyone, so that is always good,” he said.

Their 2003 campaign came to a crashing halt in Sections as Royalton came back from being down 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and two strikes to win. Doran described the game as, “It was really the game God had his hand on.” The contest ended when Royalton shortstop Liz Seviola made a leaping catch and then tagged out Koester to end the game.

The team will be relying on Pitcher Ashley Lange to repeat her quick start to the season as she compiled a 10-4 season record last year.

Coach Doran is also looking forward to seeing how Kristin Voss, Megan Doran, and Jenny Brockway will lead the team in their senior years.

The Cardinals will try to better their 2003 season record of 11-4.

Pierz improving each year
The Pioneer softball team has improved each year they’ve been together and this year looks no different for Head Coach Mitch Becker. “Our expectations are high for this year,” he said coming off a 9-12 season, finishing sixth in the Central Minnesota Conference. “When I say high I mean the main thing we need to do is to keep improving year to year as we have been doing.”

The team lost the services of Stacy Tretter and Kayla Pohlkamp, but Becker isn’t too worried. “I have noticed some girls have really grown up and I hope they will be able to fill their shoes,” he said.

Junior starting pitcher Amber Kummet and Freshman catcher Tina Pohlkamp return to Becker’s squad. Two-time team most valuable player Kristen Kapsner returns to start at shortstop as the entire infield of Kayla Meyer, Sara Kahl and Kelly Medeck return. Two of three spots in the outfield return in Robyn Roscoe and eighth grader Tammy Gruber.

Two of the top hitters on the team also return in Kapsner and Gruber as they hit .394 and .333 respectively, in 2004.