Willmar
WILLMAR —The Willmar Cardinals got their feet wet under a new head coach in 2022. And while the results were a 2-9 Central Lakes Conference and 4-15 overall record, Christian Brown said he felt like a lot of progress was made.
“I am proud of the way we played last season,” said Brown, who returns for his second season as head coach. “We had a lot of hardfought games, but many of those hard-fought games didn’t go our way.
“As a result, our record didn’t reflect the success we had last season.”
Brown believes that teams may overlook the Cardinals a bit in 2023, but that’s fine.
“Instead of running away from that, I want us to lean into it,” Brown said. “I really want the girls to embrace the underdog role and have fun with it.”
Eight starters return, including seniors Grace Bjur at pitcher, Cadence Parker at catcher, Zoe Schroeder at first base and Hailie Smith at third. Schroeder and Smith are captains. Also a captain is Zadina Butcher, who’ll enter the lineup this season.
Also back are juniors Katelyn Garberding in right field and Lexi Owens in center. Sophomores Hannah Magnuson at shortstop and Madi Norsten at left field and second base also return.
“We have a lot of players that either started for us last year or saw significant varsity time,” Brown said.
CARDINALS: Page 5
From Page 2
Brown believes the conference will be tough. Brainerd (8-0 CLC) is defending CLC champion and Sartell (12-2) was right behind. Both are Class AAAA programs that will be hard to beat. Rocori (9-4) wound up winning Willamr’s section and the St. Cloud Crush (9-4) also has a strong program. Alexandria (4-9), Fergus Falls (4-8) and Sauk Rapids (0-12) will compete.
“I really think we are going to surprise a lot of teams this year,” Brown said. “Ultimately, we are looking to compete with more teams in the CLC and give ourselves a good chance at making a run in the section, which with what I have been seeing so far this season, is completely in the realm of possibilities.”
NEW LONDON — Despite losing four starters due to graduation, New London-Spicer has six starters returning to its lineup in 2023. The Wildcats, who held a 3-17 overall record and 1-13 Wright County Conference West record in 2022, will look to improve in 2023 behind experience its starters gained from the year prior.
NLS finished in eighth place in the Wright County Conference West Division in 2022.
“We are excited about the upcoming season and to a much improved team,” said NLS head coach Melissa Bergeson, who enters her ninth season at the helm of the Wildcats softball program. “The girls have been putting in work in the off-season and I’m expecting
that to payoff with big dividends.”
NLS’ returning starters include two seniors in outfielders Raeann Holmquist and Sydney Feist, a trio of juniors in pitcher Emily Ruter, outfielder Brianna Wileman and infielder Delaney Hanson, and one sophomore in outfielder Abby Knudsen.
Two pitchers to watch are sophomore Sarah Kraemer and freshman Addi Nelson.
“All of our pitchers are returning along with some great senior leadership,” Bergeson said.
Also noted as players to watch by Bergeson: catchers Dalayne Hatlestad and Mallory Johnson, infielders Aly Wendlandt, Maren Munsch and Jadyn Proehl.
“We will be a team with depth at pitching, a great blend of speed and power, and improved defense,” Bergeson said.
NLS hoped to open the season against Montevideo on April 11 and then had another game scheduled with Wright County West opponent Dassel-Cokato on April 13. Both were home games. The Wildcats then hit the road April 14 to play at Morris/Chokio-Alberta.
April 11 vs. Montevideo, 4:30 p.m.
April 13 vs. Dassel-Cokato, 4:30 p.m.
April 14 at Morris/Chokio-Alberta, TBD
April 17 at Litchfield, 4:30 p.m.
April 20 at Rockford, 4 p.m. (DH)
April 24 at Annandale, 4:30 p.m.
April 25 vs. Minnewaska, 4:30 p.m.
April 27 vs. Watertown-Mayer, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 1 at Dassel-Cokato, 4:30 p.m.
May 4 at Glencoe-Silver Lake, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 8 vs. Litchfield, 4 p.m.
May 11 vs. Howard Lake-WaverlyWinsted, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 15 vs. Delano, 4:30 p.m.
May 19 at Paynesville, TBD
May 22 vs. Annandale, 4:30 p.m.
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are proud to support our local high school athletes!Photos by Macy Moore/West Central Tribune Above: NLS junior Raeann Holmquist, 15, greets teammate Sydney Feist at the dugout after Fiest scored a run during a non-conference game against ACGC on Tuesday, April 13, 2022 at New London. Right: NLS sophomore Emily Ruter makes a throw to first for an out during a non-conference game against Montevideo on Friday, May 20, 2022 at Montevideo.
— Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City finished with a 2-17 overall record in 2022, but with nine starters returning the Falcons are optimistic entering the 2023 season.
GROVE CITY
“Many of our starters are returning with experience which will be very beneficial,” ACGC head coach Bradley Nelson said of his Falcons that held a 1-13 record in the Central Minnesota Conference in 2022. “Our pitching looks to build and continue to improve.”
ACGC brings back all of its pitchers except Abbie Kragenbring. Those pitchers are senior Haley Wilner, junior Mikaili Johnson and sophomore Kendall Miller.
Miller pitched the most innings for the Falcons in 2022 and earned their two wins. She pitched 63 innings with a 10.56 earned-run average and 58 strikeouts.
Wilner pitched 8-1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and Johnson pitched 5-2/3 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
On top of its experienced pitching, ACGC returns four batters who batted better than .300 in 2023.
Wilner leads the way, coming off a 2022 campaign where she posted a .559 average with a team-best 33 hits and 17 runs scored.
Miller (.341), Johnson (.339) and sophomore Mackenzie Powers (.308) also hit above .300.
Seniors Haley Barker and Jilyanii Sauceda and sophomore Kyla Bierwerth are also players to watch for the Falcons, according to Nelson.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
Left: ACGC freshman Mackenzie Powers smiles to the dugout after coming up with a leadoff double during a non-conference game against NLS on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at New London. Center: ACGC freshman Kendall Miller winds up a pitch during a non-conference game against NLS on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at New London. Right: Taylor Hoekstra, center, of ACGC laughs with teammates in a huddle in between innings while taking on Paynesville on Monday, May 9, 2022.
West Central Tribune
BENSON — Returning four starters into the fold, the Benson softball team looks to make a jump after a tough 2022.
Last season, the Braves were 4-16 overall and 2-10 in the West Central Conference. That included a first-round playoff win against MACCRAY after going through an 11-game losing streak to end the regular season.
Along with new players in the lineup, Benson has a new head coach. Mackenzie Dokkebakken takes over for Barb Schwarz, who was the Braves’ coach for seven seasons. Dokkebakken is also an assistant coach on the Braves’ volleyball team. Jeff Guest is back as an assistant softball coach for Benson.
Three of the infield spots are settled with returning starters. In the corners are seniors Brittany Flower and Ellie Krusemark. They will play first and third base, respectively. Then at shortstop, junior Presley Nygaard returns.
In the outfield, Emma Krusemark is back playing left field.
The battery will have a new look for Benson after the graduation of catcher Adysen Himley and pitcher Bella Wolter. Both were the team’s co-MVPs in ‘22. Wolter had a 4.77 ERA over 98 innings pitched. She also hit for a .436 average while earning All-West Central Conference honors.
After a four-win 2022, the Braves are hoping for a season closer to its ‘21 run. In ‘21, they went 18-8 and reached the Section 6A championship.
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BROOTEN — While Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa finished with a 3-18 overall record in 2022, the Jaguars will look toward experience to bring them more success in 2023.
“We return a lot of players that have had varsity experience for multiple years,” BBE first-year head coach Logan Funk said. “Each player will be able to contribute with their own unique style.”
The Jaguars return eight starters to its lineup for the upcoming season, in which BBE hopes to improve upon last year’s 2-12 Central Minnesota Conference record. Highlighting the returnees are juniors Faith Radermacher and Anna Jaeger.
Radermacher will serve as BBE’s top pitcher in the circle. Jaeger brings a lot of speed to the Jaguars’ lineup and will
Make this your best season ever!
serve as a threat, both offensively and defensively.
“Faith brings great velocity when the ball comes out of her hand along with consistency and being able to throw strikes,” Funk said. “Anna is able to cover a lot of ground in the outfield in any direction the ball is hit to her as her speed and agility is going to make her a dangerous outfielder and dangerous player to watch on the bases.”
Alongside Jaeger and Radermacher, Brenna Quade is the only other upperclassmen to return to the starting lineup. She will serve as a pitcher and outfielder for the Jaguars.
To round out the core group of returning starters, sophomore third baseman/ catcher/outfielder Taylor Shelton will be back. Four freshmen also return.
The four freshmen returning are infielder/outfielder Kacey Fischer, infielders McKenna Lieser and Kadynce Haider and infielder/pitcher Bree Radermacher.
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APRIL 4 ���� VS� LONG PRAIRIE-GREY EAGLE, 4:30 P�M�
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APRIL 17 ���������AT EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS, 4:30 P�M�
APRIL 20 ��������������AT KIMBALL, 4 P�M� (DH)
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APRIL 25 �������� VS� PAYNESVILLE, 4:30 P�M�
APRIL 27 ��� VS� HOLDINGFORD, 4 P�M� (DH)
MAY 1 ���������������������������AT ACGC, 4:30 P�M�
MAY 4 ���������������AT ROYALTON, NOON (DH)
MAY 9 ������������ VS� EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS, 4:30 P�M�
MAY 12 ���������� VS� MAPLE LAKE, 4 P�M� (DH)
MAY 15 ������������AT PAYNESVILLE, 4:30 P�M�
MAY 18 �������������������������AT BENSON, 5 P�M�
MAY 19 ��������������������������AT UPSALA, 5 P�M�
DANUBE — The Renville County West/BOLD softball team returns plenty of familiar faces on the field but an entirely new coaching staff for the 2023 season.
Jessica Aaseth will take over as the head softball coach for RCW/BOLD. She was a four-year starting catcher at Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II program.
Aaseth has had previous coaching stops at Northwest Missouri State University, University of North Dakota and University of Jamestown. She also coached club softball and high school softball in Michigan and North Dakota.
“We have a brand new coaching staff, but our girls are very open to learning new skills and drills,” Aaseth said. “The girls have been like sponges in practice and really want to learn. Our staff brings a great deal of softball knowledge with both collegiate playing experience and coaching experience.”
Aaseth’s assistant coaches are Lauren Oberle, Megan Ridler and Erin Flann. Oberle was a five-year starter at the University of Minnesota-Duluth,
earning a handful of honors, which included a spot on the NSIC All-Gold Glove Team. She coached club softball in the cities during her summers home throughout college.
Ridler played varsity softball at BOLD and also coached the West Central Storm legion softball team.
Flann will serve as a volunteer assistant coach. She was an All-MIAC and all-region pitcher, where she broke school records at Concordia College in Moorhead.
This coaching staff will look to help RCW/BOLD build upon its 10-11 overall record from 2022.
RCW/BOLD has three goals in mind: have a win ning record, finish in the topthree in the West Central Confer ence and make a deep run into the Section 3AA tournament.
For RCW/BOLD, it returns six start ers, all upperclassmen, to its lineup.
Seniors in center fielder Shay Skold and utility Kilee Elfering return. Aaseth expects “big things” from Skold this sea son and Elfering is making a comeback from a wrist injury.
Four juniors return to RCW/BOLD’s starting lineup: third baseman/catcher Breana Wizenburg, shortstop Delaney Tersteeg, catcher Laila Ridler and outfielder Hannah Savig. All will be looking to make strong contributions.
Erin Flann’s daughter, seventh-grader Kaitlyn Flann, will be RCW/BOLD’s starting pitcher.
“She throws a heavy fastball and has a mix of pitches that will help keep hitters
April 13 at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 4:30 p.m.
April 15 at Wabasso Tournament, TBD
April 18 vs. KMS, 4:30 p.m. (DH; Danube)
April 20 at Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.
April 25 at MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
April 27 vs. Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m. (DH; Olivia)
April 28 vs. Heron Lake-Okabena, 4:30 p.m. (Danube)
May 2 at Canby/Minneota, 4:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 4:30 p.m. (Danube)
May 5 vs. Ortonville, 4:30 p.m. (DH; Danube)
May 9 at Benson, 4:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. YME, 4:30 p.m. (Olivia)
May 16 at LQPV, 4:30 p.m. (DH) Check the schools
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Dawson-Boyd has basically the same lineup as it did in 2022
BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central TribuneDAWSON — Dawson-Boyd returns a plethora of starters as it will look to improve upon its 2022 season.
“With many girls coming back, I have high expectations for this season,” said Dawson-Boyd head coach Kelly Wente, who enters her third season at the helm for the Blackjacks and 12th year of coaching overall. “We
Taylen Jorgenson and sophomore Madalyn Wente.
Also returning are seniors Avery Peterson and MaKaylee Wente, juniors Lauren Larson and Madison Peterson and sophomore Mattie Gruwell and Natyah Ritter.
This core of Dawson-Boyd will look to find more success than it did in 2022, where it finished with a 2-16 overall record. The Blackjacks finished ninth out of 10 teams in the Camden Conference. Their wins came in doubleheader splits with Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and Lakeview. KMS ended Dawson-Boyd’s season with an 8-6 victory in the first round of the Section 3A playoffs.
“I am excited and have a lot of confidence in this group of young ladies,” Wente said. “We had some close games last year and are looking to come back with more wins this season.”
APRIL 11 vs. Ortonville, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
APRIL 14 at Benson, 5 p.m.
APRIL 17 vs. ClintonGraceville-Beardsley, 4:30 p.m.
APRIL 18 vs. Tracy-MilroyBalaton, 4:30 p.m.
APRIL 20 at MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
APRIL 25 at Russell-TylerRuthton, 4:30 p.m.
APRIL 27 at RCW/BOLD, 4:30 p.m. (DH, Danube Campus)
APRIL 29 at Red Rock Central Tournament, 9 a.m. (3 games; Walnut Grove Campus)
MAY 2 at LQPV, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
MAY 4 vs. Canby/Minneota, 4:30 p.m.
MAY 8 at KMS, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
MAY 11 vs. Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.
MAY 15 vs. YME, 4:30 p.m.
Check
BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune
MURDOCK — Behind long-time head coach Eileen Suter and eight returners, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg enters the 2023 season looking to climb up the Camden Conference standings.
KMS returns seven seniors to a Fighting Saints team that finished fourth in the conference with a 12-6 record and an overall record of 16-8 in 2022.
The Fighting Saints’ core is highlighted by seniors Shakira Olson, Josie Gjerde and Avery Joyce. The trio all hit for more than .350 at the plate in 2022.
Olson, a centerfielder coming off a junior season where she was a West Central Tribune All-Area First Team pick and an All-State First Team selection, hit .500 with 44 hits, 40 runs scored, 25 stolen bases and 21 RBIs. She was also an All-Camden Conference selection and an All-Section 3A pick.
Gjerde and Joyce were also members
of the all-area team in 2022.
Gjerde, a shortstop and an All-Camden Conference pick, hit for .371 with 24 RBIs, 23 hits, 21 runs and six stolen bases.
Joyce, a third baseman, hit for .394 with 26 hits, 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored. She was also an All-Camden Honorable Mention and an All-Section 3A pick.
Also returning as lineup regulars are seniors in catcher Katlyn Peters, first baseman Julia Carlson and right fielder Elsa Gjerde, and junior pitcher/outfielder Madison Anderson.
Peters hit for a .338 average with 25 hits and 24 RBIs. Carlson hit .261 with 15 RBIs and 12 hits. Elsa Gerde hit .140 with 25 runs, 11 RBIs and eight hits.
Anderson batted .258 with 20 hits and 11 RBIs and had an 11-4 record in the circle with a 3.73 ERA.
Emily Wagner, a sophomore left fielder, comes back as a starter. But she is not expected to be in the lineup until May as she recovers from a knee injury.
April 11 vs. BENSON, 5 P.M.
April 14 at BBE, 4:30 P.M.
April 15 at WABASSO TOURNAMENT, 9 A.M. (3 GAMES)
April 18 at RCW/BOLD, 4:30 P.M. (DH; DANUBE)
April 20 vs. YME, 4:30 P.M.
April 25 vs. TRACY-MILROY-BALATON, 4:30 P.M.
April 27 vs. LAKEVIEW, 4:30 P.M.
Schedule sponsored by:
BY MICHAEL LYNE
West Central Tribune
MADISON — Lac qui Parle Valley returns a strong nucleus of players to a lineup that brought the Eagles plenty of success in 2022.
Three seniors will lead the way for the Eagles, who are fresh off a 23-4 overall record and 16-2 Camden Conference mark. The big three are pitcher/shortstop Taylor Shelstad, outfielder Rylee Lund and catcher/outfielder Ayanna Gipson.
Taylor Shelstad returns as a Class A All-State Second Team pick and will likely be the Eagles’ No. 1 pitcher, according to Scott Sawatzky, who is in his second season as LQPV’s head coach.
Shelstad batted .440, with a 510 on-base percentage and a .631 slugging percentage off a team-high 37 hits with 43 stolen bases.
“(Taylor’s) softball IQ is second to none,” Sawatzky said. “Her instincts put constant pressure on the opposition.”
Lund returns as an All-Camden Conference selection. She batted .362 with a .440 on-base percentage and served as the anchor to LQPV’s outfield.
“(Rylee) makes great reads on fly balls, has a strong arm, and always knows what to do in given situations,” Sawatzky said.
Gipson returns fresh off a 2022 campaign where she recorded a batting average of .296 and on-base percentage of .377.
“She played a very important role last year,” Sawatzky said. “She quietly goes about her job, but it never seems to fail that she comes up with a big hit or a big play at a key point in the game.”
More returnees for the Eagles include juniors Claire Borstad and Isabel Gerdes, who is injured with a left torn ACL, and sophomore Kendyl Shelstad.
Borstad recorded a .219 average and Kendyl Shelstad held a .311 average with 14 hits — eight singles, five doubles and a home run in 2022.
Ayanna Gipson of Lac Qui Parle Valley swings at an incoming pitch while taking on KMS in Murdock on Thursday,
April 15 at Wabasso Tournament, 9 a.m.
April 18 vs. MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
April 20 at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 4:30 p.m.
April 25 vs. YME, 4:30 p.m.
April 27 at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 4:30 p.m.
May 2 vs. Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
May 4 vs. KMS, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
May 9 at Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.
May 11 at Canby/Minneota, 4:30 p.m.
May 13 at Marshall Invitational, 10 a.m.
May 16 vs. Renville County West, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
May 19 at Ortonville, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Schedule sponsored by:
Litchfield's Grace Braaten high-fives teammate Izzy Pennertz after scoring a run in the first inning of a Section 3AA playoff game against St. James on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at the Schwans Regional Amateur Sports Complex in Marshall.
West
Central Tribune
LITCHFIELD — Litchfield will look to build on its 12-14 overall record from 2022 behind eight players returning for 2023.
“We are bringing back many returners,” said Litchfield head coach Kristen Gotfredson, who enters her first year as the Dragons’ head coach. “Our team has a lot of varsity experience.”
Two players to watch for the Dragons are seniors in first baseman Izzy Pennertz and shortstop Olivia Holmgren.
Pennertz held a .384 batting average, .446 on-base percentage, .506 slugging percentage and .938 fielding percentage in 2022. Holmgren had a .342 batting average, .464 on-base percentage, .579 slugging percentage and a .773
fielding percentage.
“Both are great leaders for the team and great role models for younger grades,” Gotfredson said.
More seniors making their return to Litchfield’s lineup are center fielder Ryanna Steinhaus, right fielder Grace Braaten and third baseman Kaitlyn Palmer.
Rounding out the returnees for the Dragons include junior left fielder Olivia Olson, junior second baseman Cameron Iverson and sophomore designated hitter/right fielder Karlee Prahl.
This core group of returners will look to improve upon Litchfield’s 5-9 Wright County Conference West record that put the Dragons in sixth place. The Dragons finished behind Rockford (13-1 Wright County West,
17-5 overall), Glencoe-Silver Lake (10-4, 17-6), Annandale (9-5, 15-7), Watertown-Mayer (8-6, 17-9) and Dassel-Cokato (8-6, 13-9) in the extremely
competitive Wright County West. Litchfield was just ahead of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (2-12, 4-16) and New London-Spicer (1-13, 2-17).
April 13 vs. Rockford, 4:30 p.m.
April 17 vs. NLS, 4:30 p.m.
April 20 at GlencoeSilver Lake, 4 p.m. (DH)
April 24 vs. Watertown-Mayer, 4:30 p.m.
April 27 at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 1 at Rockford, 4:30 p.m.
May 2 at Morris/ChokioAlberta, 5 p.m.
May 4 vs. Dassel-Cokato, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 8 at NLS, 4 p.m.
May 11 vs. Annandale, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 13 at Concordia Tournament, 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
May 15 at WatertownMayer, 4:30 p.m.
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Gotfredson takes over the Dragons after a 12-14 season last yearJoe Brown / West Central Tribune
BY MICHAEL LYNE
West Central Tribune
CLARA CITY — MACCRAY enters the 2023 season with plenty of youth.
MACCRAY is fresh off a 2022 campaign where it finished with a 6-12 record. The Wolverines were eighth in the Camden Conference with a 6-11 record.
The Wolverines will also be without two of their West Central Tribune All-Area Honorable Mentions from the 2022 season due to graduation. They are centerfielder/shortstop Gabby Randt and first baseman Olivia Naatjes.
“We are very young,” said Nancy Thoma, who enters her 46th year as the head coach of the MACCRAY softball program. “We will be doing a lot of switching of positions because we will utilize multiple pitchers.”
MACCRAY returns six starters for the upcoming season. Lead ing the way are seniors Hady
Schoffmann and Layla Owen-Dobmeier. Schoffmann is a pitcher/outfielder and Owen-Dobmeier is an infielder/outfielder/pitcher.
Also returning to the Wolverines’ starting lineup are Erika Pieper, Greta Meyer and ninth-grader Reyna Mendoza, who returns at shortstop.
Those looking to make an impact from MACCRAY’s fountain of youth will be led by sophomores in pitcher/infielder Regan Aker and infielder/outfielder Addisyn Pederson.
Thoma also noted the following players as ones to watch: ninth grade pitcher/ outfielder/infielder Breanna Dirksen, eighth grade outfielder/first baseman/ pitcher Leia Colby and catcher/infielder Emersyn Pederson.
“(There is) great work ethic in this group,” Thoma said. “But we’re bound to make mistakes because we are so young.”
GLENWOOD — With many returning starters up the middle of Minnewaska’s lineup, the Lakers hope to have a more successful season than their 2022 campaign that saw a 3-12 record.
“The expectations for this season are to be better than last season,” Minnewaska head coach Jason Weber said. “We improved on both sides on the diamond last year, which with an entire summer season we are hoping for big things this year.”
Minnewaska placed second in the New London-Spicer summer tournament, which also marked the first time the Lakers played a summer tournament schedule.
Leading the Lakers in 2023 will be senior Leslie Murken and juniors Jenna Drewes, Grace Larson and Ally Mogard.
Drewes, a junior outfielder and
two-year starter, hit for .538 at the plate with five RBIs and 14 stolen bases to earn All-West Central Conference Honorable Mention honors in 2022.
Murken, a senior shortstop and twoyear starter, recorded a .395 batting average with 12 RBIs and five stolen bases.
Larson and Mogard both batted better than .200 last season. Larson recorded a .214 average and Mogard had a .231 average.
Newcomers expected to contribute include: freshmen Emma Poegel, Ava Staples and Ella Roering and sophomore Metaya Mix.
Weber wants to see his Lakers improve on pitching and defense entering the 2023 season.
“We allowed too many free bases on walks and hit batters and we didn’t play great defense all of the time in the field with errors behind our pitching,” Weber said. “We need a team effort to get better defensively.”
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Minnewaska establishes an off-season program that leads it to believe it’ll improve upon last year’s 3-12 seasonBrooke Kern / Stevens County Times Minnewaska junior Leslie Murken takes off to second after taking a pitch to the head to reach first. Brooke
Montevideo returns just three starters: Tenley Epema, Taya Weber and Lily Eisenlohr
BY MICHAEL LYNE
West Central Tribune
MONTEVIDEO — After posting a 2-18 record in 2022, Montevideo will have a fresh start and hit the reset button to its starting lineup in 2023.
“This will be an exciting year with a very new team, as we graduated six seniors with starting positions last year,” Montevideo head coach Maddie Sletta said. “We will have new players in most of our outfield positions as well as many of the infield positions, including catcher, third base and second base.”
But as the Thunder Hawks lose six starters, they return three players to their lineup. The trio is made up of senior first baseman Tenley Epema, junior pitcher Taya Weber and sophomore shortstop Lily Eisenlohr.
Eisenlohr returns as Montevideo’s lead-off hitter. She batted better than.300 in both batting average and on-base percentage in 2022. Epema returns as the Thunder Hawks’ wily veteran. She recorded a .942 fielding
percentage at first base with 60 putouts in her junior season.
“Lily is a staple asset to our team with the ability to be flexible in many positions after having played middle infield and outfield for us last year as a freshman. She is heads up, quick and intentional with her actions on the field,” Sletta said. “Tenley is our sole returning senior starter this season. She is a leader and role model on and off the team, and does not waiver in any situation.”
Other players to watch as noted by Sletta are sophomore Carlee Axford and freshman Peyton Dack.
Axford will be in the pitching rotation alongside Weber and Epema. It marks her first season at the varsity level. Dack will serve as Montevideo’s catcher.
“The girls are coming in with a positive, energetic, and determined attitude which is setting the standard for the type of season we intend to have,” Sletta said.
“This group of girls is very intentional about their goals on and off the field, and I am excited to see where that takes them this season.”
April 11 at NLS, 4:30 p.m.
April 13 vs. Morris/Chokio-Alberta, 4 p.m. (DH)
April 14 vs. Lakeview, 5 p.m.
April 20 at Sauk Centre, 4 p.m. (DH)
April 24 vs. Canby/Minneota, 4:30 p.m.
April 27 vs. West Central Area, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 2 vs. Redwood Valley, 5 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnewaska, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 11 at Benson, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 15 at Melrose, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 16 vs. ACGC, 4:30 p.m.
May 19 at YME, 4 p.m.
PAYNESVILLE — Paynesville is coming off a 2022 campaign where it had a .500 record in both the Central Minnesota Conference and overall.
The Bulldogs return six full-time starters and three part-time starters to their lineup for the 2023 season. Paynesville finished in fourth place in the CMC with a 7-7 record in 2022.
Paynesville will be led by four sophomores, all who enter their third consecutive seasons as starters. That core four is Kylie Pauls, Kaydence Roeske, Madison McNab and Arianna Messer. All but Messer were All-CMC selections in 2022.
“I am looking for them to really step up and lead us this year,” Paynesville head coach Zach Nelson said. “It will be nice to have Messer back and able to pitch after being hurt all of last year. McNab will team with Messer on the mound after winning six games last year and also looks to step into our three spot in the lineup.”
Messer will be the Bulldogs’ top pitcher. Pauls, Roeske and McNab all hit at least .340 in 2022. McNab also hit three home runs.
Also returning as starters are seniors Jada Belmont and Keyona Brooks. Belmont batted .150 and Brooks hit .227. Other players to watch as noted by Nelson are junior Katie Good, Charlotte Varrier and Sierra Rouser.
“I also look for Belmont, Brooks, Good, Varrier and Rouser to have strong years,” Nelson said. “They started to hit much better towards the end of the season last year and have shown great improvements in practice so far this year.”
April 11 vs. Melrose, 4:30
April 13 at Eden Valley-Watkins, 4:30 p.m.
April 17 vs. ACGC, 4:30 p.m.
April 20 at Holdingford, 4 p.m. (DH)
April 22 at Morris/Chokio-Alberta Tournament, 10 a.m.
April 25 at BBE, 4:30 p.m.
April 27 vs. Royalton, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 1 vs. Eden Valley-Watkins, 4:30 p.m.
May 4 at Maple Lake, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 8 at ACGC, 4:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. Kimball, 4 p.m. (DH)
May 15 vs. BBE, 4:30 p.m.
May 19 vs. NLS, 4:30 p.m.
GRANITE FALLS — Behind senior leaders Aria Peters and Hannah Stark, Yellow Medicine East will look to build on its 2022 season, where the Sting finished with a 10-13 overall record and a 7-11 mark in the Camden Conference.
Peters and Stark both return as fouryear starters for YME.
“(Aria and Hannah) are expected to lead the team both offensively and defensively,” said Jen Sneller, who enters her 11th season as YME’s head coach.
Peters, a catcher and shortstop, will serve as YME’s defensive leader. Stark, a third baseman, led the Sting offensively with a .323 batting average in 2022.
“(Aria)’s a smart ball play er, who under stands defen sive situations and has a great arm,” Sneller said.
“(Hannah) has a great glove at third base and is an aggressive base runner.”
Alongside Peters and Stark, YME returns five freshmen starters to its lineup in 2023. They include: pitcher Bayli Sneller, first baseman Hope Stark, second baseman Abbie Winter, shortstop/catcher Alana Almich and outfielder Ella Cherveny.
Sneller threw half of YME’s innings last season, striking out 80 batters in 51 innings. While she was not on the mound, the freshman hit for a .219 batting average.
Winter will also see a lot of innings this season when Sneller exits the circle. YME finished in seventh place in the Camden Conference in 2022. The top three teams in the conference were Lac qui Parle Valley (15-2), Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (15-3) and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (13-5).
YME junior Hannah Stark slides into home for a run during a first-round game in the Section 3A-North playoffs against BBE on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at Murdock. YME junior Aria Peters keeps an eye on the plate while getting a lead on second base during a Camden Conference game against MACCRAY on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Raymond. YME eighth-grader Bayli Sneller watches the ball go by during a first-round game in the Section 3A-North playoffs against BBE on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at Murdock.
Macy Moore/West Central Tribune
Sting intend to improve upon last year’s 10-13 record