Lady Loggers softball gearing up for great season
<p>Madisen Monigold with a base hit bottom of first inning vs. Eureka. Lady Loggers prevail 13-2 in five innings, 4-11-15.</p>
The Lady Loggers softball team is in a bit of flux as the season opener approaches.
“It’s hard to say where we are because we’re so young,” said head coach Dean Thompson. “With all the seniors we lost last year, but it’s not a rebuilding year. We’ve got great kids, we just need to figure out where we’re going to put them all.”
The early uncertainty doesn’t deter Thompson from having high expectations from his girls. Last year’s Lady Loggers finished in the state’s Class A top six and he’s looking to improve upon that finish with this year’s squad.
“We’ve moved down to Class B this year, but it isn’t going to be any easier,” he said. “There’s some really good pitching in this division, and only four come out of each division to state. But I think we’ll compete well.”
Thompson said his pitching staff is solid, fronted by returning starters Khalyn Hageness, Madisen Monigold and Ashley Walker. Freshmen Jayden Winslow and Lindsay Wallace will also be pitching for the Lady Loggers, giving Thompson a solid, five-deep rotation.
In addition to work on the mound, Thompson said he also expects strong leadership from Monigold, who was one of last year’s better hitters. The batters will have to work extra hard this season, as slugger Abby Ennenga was lost to the team when she blew out her knee in the last basketball game of the season.
Thompson said the team also has great experience in the outfield, with players like Bailey Rosling, Kyra Lauer and Hailey Cannon all returning.
“They’ve all been starters, so there’s valuable experience in that group,” he said.
Assisted by coaches Jeremy Hageness, Ruth Fenn and Mandy Foss, Thompson has been working the team hard to get ready for the coming season.
“The girls are working hard,” he said. “I’ve got a great coaching staff and great, great girls who are working hard.”
The Lady Loggers open the season at home against Anaconda April 1 and then travel to St. Ignatius for a two-game afternoon on Saturday, April 2 against Mission and Deer Lodge.