Under long-time coach Patty Stockman-Sann, last year’s Cowgirl softball team fashioned a 3-19 record. New head coach Chace Pruismann steps into the position this year, and even though the team lost a number of seniors he hopes to build a team that can achieve some success.
“We have nine returning letterwinners out of 27 total girls,” stated the new coach. “We have been a young team for awhile, and now these girls have really come around as a team. However, in order to have success we must stay healthy, stay confident and both limit and learn from our mistakes. Those are the key things for our season.” He also admits that, with less games on the schedule due to the COVID-19 aftermath, it will also not give them as much time for improvement prior to the postseason and trying to make a run at a state berth.
The senior class includes some good talent that has potential to take the team to more wins. Those players include Courtney Harle, Emma Schluttenhofer, Quinn Hansch, Remi Johnson, Paige Willey, Hannah Tew and Hannah Jo Gustafson-Hodson. Harle will be counted on for a lot of the offense, and is more than capable of delivering after posting a team-leading .371 average a year ago. She had 26 hits, scored 15 runs and stole 20 bases, all top numbers on the team. She is projected to bat at the top of the order to set the table for the team. Schluttenhofer will try to compliment her with a potential to swing a stronger bat this year. She will join Harle, Johnson, Hansch and Willey in holding down spots on the defense as well. Both Tew and Gustafson-Hodson will look to find their chances to fit in where needed.
Juniors include Kendall Lienemann and Alaina Friesleben. Lienemann as third in batting average at .230, fourth in hits with 14 and third in runs scored with nine. Friesleben spent some time in the circle a year ago, and will likely get plenty of time there again as the returning pitcher.
The roster is rounded out by freshmen MacKenna Hasty, Clarissa Hasty, Kennedy Trca and Karlee Lehman.
Pruismann is assisted this year by Macoy Rohrer, with Addy Askelsen the team manager. When asked his take on the conference picture, the new coach admits that all the teams look to be tough. “We are a very hungry team, and believe we have something to show and prove to people this year,” concluded Pruismann.
