As the snow starts to clear out and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, the long-awaited spring sports season has arrived. The softball coaches are ready to step up to the plate, holding a lot of confidence in what their teams can do this year.

Returning starters/contributors

Spring Valley Head Coach Matt Ducklow: “Junior Megan Harvey 1B and leading hitter from last year will move to our number 1 pitcher. She hit .353 last year, the highest average on the team. Junior Evah Butts started in the OF, may play outfield as well as some infield as well. Hit .268 last year. Senior Zoe Larson started in the OF, hit .245 last year. Junior Reese Vivoda mainly as a DH last year, hit .314 and look for her to play some outfield as well. Junior Addison Nelson started at 3B last year, hit .250. Junior Addison Neidermyer saw playing time at first base and will more than likely play at 1B and will pitch a little. Junior Danika Schmitt started some games in the infield and hit .286. Sophomore Kate Cipriano saw some action as a freshman and will be a key player for us on the infield.”

EPC Head Coach Paige Saniter: “EPC is returning all its starting players this year except for one. We are excited to watch them continue to come together and grow as a team.”

Prescott Head Coach Nick Johnson: “Returning starters: Leah French C, Rory Zuehlsdorf 1B, Cadyn Hillebrand SS, Jeanne Rohl 3B, Lydia Feran LF, Kelsey Sterud CF, Grace Ptacek P/RF, Talli Roth C/3B. Returning contributors: Maria Mercord IF/OF, Kennedy Holub OF, Izzy Thoen IF/OF.”

Ellsworth Head Coach Tom Diercks: “Returning seven letter winners: Aliza Acker (senior) first team all-conference and all district, Delaney Johnson (senior) first team All-conference and all district, Karli Gutting (senior), Aaliyah Huppert (senior) first team all-conference, EmmaJo Meier (senior), Maggie Pechacek (junior) and Brooke Olson (sophomore). Overall numbers are tight so we will not be able to carry a lot of extras on varsity for depth.”

River Falls Head Coach Leah Fletcher: “We have a handful of returners that have been with the program for the last few years and are ready to make an impact. We have two returning seniors with a lot of varsity experience, Jorgia Bengtson and Alexis Ralston. We also have some juniors that are returning and ready to contribute: Ava Larsen, Audra Adermann, Morgan Kivel. We have a large class of freshmen that are coming in and trying to find their place as well. I suspect that a few of them will be contributors at the varsity level.”

Who are you looking to for leadership?

Saniter: “We will be looking heavily to our two seniors, Britta Link and Riley Ginsbach, to lead our team this year. These ladies have been working hard to make sure their senior year is a good one! I’m very much looking forward to watching them guide our younger athletes!”

Johnson: “Our six seniors are great leaders. It will be this whole group who we lean on for leadership.”

Diercks: “[Captains] are Aliza Acker, Delaney Johnson and Karli Gutting… no matter who is captains, all of our returning letter winners show leadership qualities.”

Fletcher: “Our seniors, Jorgia Bengtson and Alexis Ralston have been absolutely crushing their leadership roles on and off the field. We will continue to look to them for leadership throughout the season. We will also be looking to Audra Adermann in the circle for on field leadership.”

Team goals

Ducklow: “Goals for this year is to just get better every day, have fun playing the game. We went 4-15 last year, we hope to improve on that record.”

Saniter: “My goal for the team is to continue to increase their game knowledge and apply it to proper situations within the game. I want them to read when a ball is going to be in the dirt, get aggressive running the bases, and seeing the ball at the plate. I want the girls to have fun while continuing learning the game!”

Johnson: “Our goals stay the same. Win a conference championship and make a deep playoff run. To be a much better team at the end of the season than we were at the beginning.”

Diercks: “Be in mix for conference championship, regional championship and if we stay injury free and some younger ladies step up the sky is the limit.”

Fletcher: “The goal for the team this year, simply put, is to compete. Overall, the goals are to continue to create a competitive culture, showing up every day to put in the work and grow as athletes and as a program.”

Team strengths

Saniter: “Grit. Our team last year battled hard in every game. Unfortunately, we would play strong for the first 4-5 innings and tended to lose in the last few. It never stopped them from giving it their all though! So this year I hope to see that true grit pay off!”

Johnson: “We return eight starters so our experience will be a huge strength offensively and defensively. They have played in huge games the last 2-3 years.”

Diercks: “Strong pitching and a good core of hitters with some power.”

Fletcher: “So far our strengths have been being consistent and putting in the time to get better and be prepared to perform at our best. On the field, I suspect this group will be gritty and competitive.”

Conference favorites

Ducklow: “Conference favorites I think will be Colfax, Boyceville, Elk Mound, Durand-Arkansaw.”

Saniter: “Colfax obviously had a solid team last year and I envision that to be true this year as well. Along with Boyceville and Mondovi. I liked watching their scrappy play within our games. They are aggressive and hungry to win and get better. I think we will definitely see that this year playing them. They are forces to reckon with!”

Johnson: “Ellsworth is expected to be very good again who won the league last season. The MBC is always challenging and it returns 17 All-Conference players and I think it will be a very competitive league once again.”

Diercks: “Baldwin-Woodville and Prescott will be strong again and although St. Croix Central and Somerset lost some key players they cannot be taken lightly. We should be right in the mix to compete for conference despite losing six starters from a strong senior class.”

Fletcher: “I haven't coached in the conference for a few years, but I would consider Chippewa Falls a steady leader in softball. New Richmond is also a leading force, making deep playoff runs. They always produce quality athletes and compete hard in all their games. Eau Claire North has been pretty solid as well. Hudson is always our next-door rival and have historically been pretty strong. Overall, the BRC is a very competitive conference which makes it a fun place to play.”