Welcome to a Battery specialist of the Draeger Battery
Brityn Kiser and Kristopher Lodes
BLACKDUCK — After earning the championship of the Upper Mississippi Conference last year, the Blackduck softball team has high hopes for this season.
“How well the team has meshed together really surprised me,” said head coach Sheena Reese.
This will be Reese’s second season with the Drakes, and after leading the team to a 13-4 record last year, she is very excited to see what this season has in store.
“We lost three vital seniors whom were a big part of the glue that kept the team working together and motivated,” Reese said with like Draeger MS14234 Battery , Draeger Medical GAMMA Battery , Draeger Medical MS18340 Battery , Siemens SC9000XL Battery , Siemens SC7000 Battery , Siemens Medical Syste SC7000 Battery , Comen CM-100 Battery , Comen ICR18650 Battery , Comen CM-1200A Battery , Comen G60 Battery , Comen G50 Battery , Comen HYLB-1010 Battery . “This year we have a senior that is a wonderful leader, Alex Arp. She is solid at leading communication on the field.”
Arp is the Drakes’ first baseman and only returning senior this year. Also returning from last year are juniors Meghanne Nattrass, Brianna Enger, Ceana Olson, Charlie Shocker, Kara Draeger, Sydnie Sorheim and sophomore Michaela Sparby.
Draeger will be the Drakes main pitcher for this season.
Kelliher-Northome
Kelliher-Northome will have an experienced squad this year, with six seniors returning.
And after finishing with an impressive 10-5 record last season and just missing the conference championship, head coach Matt Hanson is confident the Mustangs will make a playoff run.
“We finished last year with our best record since I started coaching in 2008,” Hanson said. “We had an unfortunate end to a good season with a first round playoff exit so we’re hoping to change that this year.”
Senior Jackie Pierson will be the Mustangs’ main pitcher. Fellow senior starters will be Shannon Head at first base, Bre Salmonson at second base, Teresa Weidenborner in left field and Bree Lindley in center field. Juniors Xena Hillman at shortstop and Sierra Heck at catcher and lone sophomore Alyssa Fisher in right field.
Ninth-graders Laechen Wagner and Brandy Hench will also see a lot of playing time this year, Hanson noted.
Bagley
Two games deep into the season and Bagley head coach Amanda Boring has been impressed with what she has seen out of her offense.
After taking a rough 15-5 loss at Park Rapids in their first game, the Flyers turned around and beat Northern Freeze 22-12 on Monday.
“Off the bat we’re hitting really well,” Boring said. “I wasn’t expecting 22 runs, but the team looked good batting in the cages during practices. I’m glad we are aggressive at the plate.”
New to the area, Boring doesn’t know what to expect out of her team let alone other teams. So she looking to worry about Bagley and Bagley alone.
“It’s hard to say what to expect from our team,” she said. “I don’t know about other teams so I came in with a clean slate. I’m not worried about other teams, I’m just concerned about what we’re doing.”
Leading the way for the Flyers is the senior battery of catcher Marye Carlson and pitcher Courtney Fultz.
Boring is expecting her seniors to lead while the little things on defense fix themselves through experience as the season progresses.
“We have some senior leaders,” she said. “We have some mistakes to fix on baserunning and on defense so we can start getting those opponents’ scores down.”
The Flyers will look to get above .500 at 4:30 p.m. today when they host Frazee.