The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn softball team was just a few days away from the season’s first pitch but the spots in the starting lineup were still up for grabs. “Everything is open and everyone is earning a spot!” emphasized new head coach Stephanie Bronstad. Barb Haag takes over the assistant coaching position that had been held by Bronstad.
Some of the players vying for those lineup spots bring experience to the table. “We have some returning starts that are being great leaders and upper classmen,” noted the head coach. “We had a few players that saw some varsity time last year that will also be beneficial this year.”
The Hawks have five returnees who started double digit games last season. They are seniors Taya Mason, Darby Mastbergen, Elle Mastbergen and Jessica Riedemann and junior Bailey VerHelst. Senior Maggie Ohrt returns after a year’s absence. Paige Gehrke is the other senior on the team.
The roster includes five sophomores: Morgan Grooters, Cadence Klein, Abigail Kunzman, Emily Mutombo and Emma Schmillen. The freshmen are Alexis Grover, Meghan Larson, Delaney Murphy, Abby Otto, Annika Overmire and Kinsey Schirmer. There are also a pair of eighth graders, Gracie Knobloch and Eliza Tewes.
Bronstad offered a brief assessment of her team. “Fielding has come a long way since we started practice and I have a lot of girls I can rely on deep in the dugout if I need. Our pitchers will be strong and our bats I am hoping have improved from last year.”
A lot of effort is being expended toward making that pitching a strength. “We have pitchers who have been putting in a lot of work,” said Bronstad. “Taya and Gracie will see a lot of the varsity time while Abby Otto will be pitching JV and may see a little varsity along with Kinsey Schirmer pitching JV. They have all been working hard.”
Bronstad has been enthused about the preparation for the season. “Practices have been great,” declared the coach. “The girls chose to practice early mornings and have been giving 110 percent. We are really working on basic fielding and hitting drills, breaking things down.”