While hard rain, hail and then heavy snow pummeled Cleveland’s softball fiends on Friday evening, inside the Maverick All-Sports Dome, on the campus of Minnesota State University, the Clipper varsity softball team kept warm and dry during scrimmages against Randolph and United South Central.
Gaining experience from the action on the artificial turf, the Clippers are hoping to improve their overall 10-11 record from last year, move up in the conference and play further into the section playoffs.
“We are looking to be in the top two in the conference and make it to Caswell Park on Memorial Day weekend in section play,” said second-year head coach, Mike Barten.
While Barten knows his team can play solid defense and post respectable offensive numbers, including runs, the big question mark for the Clippers is in the circle, where, after the departure of last year senior Emily Kern, who pitched the bulk of the Clipper innings for the last couple of seasons and made the All-Conference first team in 2021 and again in 2022, they really need someone to step up.
But on the glass-is-half-full side, Barton has several arms to choose from, including those of senior Hailey Plonsky, junior Lilly Lamont, sophomores Jocelyn Bartell and Maya Lassiter and eighth grader Delaney Thompson.
“It is a wide-open competition with any of these kids in the mix to be the starter or get significant innings.”
The Clippers will field six seniors this season: Plonsky (P and 3B), Harley Connor (C and 3B), Kaylee Karels (CF and LF), Sophie Shouler (SS and 3B), Emma Sweere (CF and LF) and Lexi Waldron (SS and LF).
“We will rely on our entire senior class to motivate and carry the team,” Barten said. “All six will be in the starting lineup whenever we get on the field. Emma and Cassie are returning as our all-conference players, so I look for them to continue to lead the team.”
The Clippers also have six juniors on the roster: Lamont (P and 3B), Cassie Connor (1B and 3B), Greta Hahn (LF and 2B), Laci Hollerich (1B and 3B), Mariah McCabe (LF and SS) and Olivia Shouler (LF and RF).
Sophomores include Bartell (P and 1B), Lassiter (P and 2B), Lacey McCabe (OF) and Ava Hahn (LF and RF) while eighth graders who made the upper ranks are Thompson (P and 3B) and Keira Schipper (C and 3B).
A dozen returning players earned letters last year, and the Clippers have a number of players who can play infield or outfield, Barten said.
“We will be able to move them around and give them chances at different spots on the field.”
Last year, the Clippers were third in the Valley behind class AA Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial and class A state champion Nicollet. They lost their first playoff game at home to Madelia, up big but then falling hard after Kern departed with an injury.
On the plus side, the 2022 Clippers hit a school record 13 home runs and averaged 7.5 runs per game while giving up just under 7. Besides Kern, other seniors lost to graduation were Grayce Kortuem (1B) and Ashley Connor (2B).
LCWM will be hard to beat in the conference as the Knights return almost everyone and have two or three players who pitch really well, Barten said, while the usual suspects, New Ulm Cathedral, Springfield, and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, are always tough in Section 2 and will be among the leaders again this season.
Close to 50 girls are out for softball in grades 7-12, Barten said, and there are great numbers at the 10U and 12U levels with two teams at each age and a number of talented kids playing.
“I like what the future of the program looks like and the commitment that all of the parents and players are putting into it to work on making us successful every year.”
Assisting Barten are Sandi Hollerich, who is now in her seventh year as assistant, and Rich Kern, who is in his second year.
The Clippers had a season-opening round-robin tournament scheduled for Saturday, but when Southern Minnesota fields are thawed and dried enough to play on is anyone’s guess.
Above: seniors Kaylee Karels and Lexi Waldron field a throw to second.
Olivia Shouler chases down a hit in right field.
From her position at second base, Mariah McCabe coils for a putout throw to first.
With Cleveland fans on the watch, Lacey McCabe scoops up a hit to left field while Lexi Waldron comes in for backup.
Hailey Plonsky takes a cut.
Sophie Shouler eyes a pitch.
Harley Connor fouls a ball back.
Lilly Lamont winds up in the circle.
Eighth-grade pitcher Delaney Thomson starts a downward motion.