The Blackhawk softball team won only one game last season, finishing with a record of 1-16. Despite their record, that team showed flashes of potential and what could be. “We struggled to put a …
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The Blackhawk softball team won only one game last season, finishing with a record of 1-16. Despite their record, that team showed flashes of potential and what could be.
“We struggled to put a full game together,” explains Head Coach Zach Feind, “We would be competitive for two or three innings and then let one really bad inning define us.”
In addition to losing All-Conference honorable mention catcher and shortstop Reina Arndt, the Hawks are also going to be without quite a few of their players from a year ago.
“We are also losing a good number of our upperclassmen who are choosing not to play this season,” says Feind, “Four juniors and two sophomores decided that softball is not something that they would like to do this year.”
Feind is counting on those who are returning to be major contributors this season. Those players include Isabella Lewallen, Lilli Stinson, and Lydia VanArk. Lewallen and Stinson will handle most of the pitching duties this year for the Hawks. Feind is hoping for them to contribute in more ways than one on the diamond.
“I would like to see the juniors become leaders,” Feind says about his returners.
In addition to the returning players, there are six freshmen who will have to learn on the go, no easy task when they will often be facing pitching from upperclassmen.
“The freshmen [need] to take steps to improve their games throughout the season,” says Feind.
To that point, Feind has already been impressed here in the early part of the season with his young team’s work ethic and willingness to learn.
Feind is hoping that that willingness and work ethic pay off this season with a few more wins, but also fewer bad innings.
“It is always my goal to be competitive in the games that we can compete in,” explains Feind.
Owen-Withee is scheduled to play in Bloomer on Thursday, April 17. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
