Like many northern Minnesota softball teams, the Silver Bay Mariners struggled with unpredictable early spring weather that kept them from practicing on the field before the season’s series began.
“The first four games we played, those were the only times we were outside,” said Head Coach Mike Guzzo, now in his 26th year leading the program. “It was kind of rough at the start. We went 2 and 2, and everybody was a little restless and nothing was clicking yet.”
Expectations were high coming into the season. The team had won 37 games over the past two years and returned nearly all of its roster, graduating only two seniors — Brooke Velcheff and Katie Carpenter.
“Winning programs breed winning. Nobody is satisfied when you are losing when you’re on a winning team,” said Guzzo. “If you’ve been on a losing team… it’s kind of a habit to lose. So, then you just lose. Winning is kind of a habit. So, I think that’s kind of the habit and culture we’ve created in softball — we’re used to winning, and we expect to win.”
Despite the early shakiness, the Mariners quickly found their rhythm. When I caught up with Coach Guzzo, the team had won eight straight games and would win the following day against Mesabi-East.
“Ball is going pretty good for us right now,” he said. “They struggled for a few games and had to work hard to get better. I think that that’s made them a stronger team.”
While the roster may be smaller this year, the depth of talent across the team is undeniable, with each player bringing exceptional skill and potential to the field.
“We only have 22 players out for the team this year, which is a low for us,” said Guzzo. “We’ve had more other years, but they’re doing really well, both varsity and JV.”
Senior Alexa Harrison is the only 12th grader on the team and has taken on a new role as designated hitter after playing third base in the past.
“She’s a good spirit on the team,” Guzzo said. “She’s a good teammate. Hopefully she can keep hitting good for us.”
Two pitchers — junior Madison Ollman and sophomore Berkley Hoff — are at the core of the Mariners’ success this season. Both also play shortstop when not on the mound. Hoff holds a 6-1 record, while Ollman is 4-1 and currently leads the team with a .568 batting average.
“She’s having a heck of a year so far,” Guzzo said of Ollman.
He added, “You know, when you build a team, you got to have pitchers, and we’ve been really fortunate to have two. I’ve always kind of worked with two kids really hard to get two good ones.”
In previous seasons, standout pitchers like Hope Ernest and Danika Thompson, both Polar League All-Stars, set a high bar for the program. This year, Ollman and Hoff are stepping up and following in their footsteps, showing they have the talent to continue that tradition of excellence.
“They put the extra time in and they work hard at it, and we all know that’s where the game starts,” said Guzzo. “You got decent pitching, you’re going to be in the game. If you sit there and walk them all or your defense makes errors behind you, then you give up a lot of runs.”
Behind the plate is 8th grader Kinley Nelson, who’s quickly establishing herself as one of the team’s most dependable players. With a remarkable .514 batting average, she’s already proving to be a key contributor to the Mariners’ success.
“Playing varsity in 8th grade is pretty impressive,” said Guzzo. “She’s one of our best hitters on the team.”
The Mariners have shuffled positions this season to make the most of their roster. Anna Klemmer has stepped into first base, while Karly Nelson moved from center field to second base — a change that set off a chain of strategic shifts.
“That really strengthened our team up,” Guzzo said. “Then we took Lily Ernest and moved her over to third base. That really strengthened our infield up.”
The outfield is just as reliable, with junior Natalee Walker in right, sophomore Callie Ernest in center, and sophomore Michaela Lindgren in left.
“Michaela Lindgren is having a really big year for us,” said Guzzo. “She’s been hitting really good — hitting .486 — and she’s a pleasant surprise in left field.”
Freshmen Aiyana Lee and Emma Wilson have also made their mark at the plate, adding depth and power to the Mariners’ growing offense.
“We started really slow. Nobody was hitting,” Guzzo admitted. “It’s kind of hard to believe — about 10 games later we’re just hitting the crap out of the ball. We scored 70 runs in the last three games. The hitting came around and boom!”
That turnaround reflects a core part of Guzzo’s coaching philosophy.
“You got to be able to hit,” he said. “The kids always hear from me, ‘hit to win.’ I expect the other team to play good defense. If you want to win, you got to hit. That’s kind of where we tried to build our program on — to be a little better than everyone else in hitting.”
Supporting that program is a deep coaching staff: Mike Hoff works with the pitchers; Casey Frank and Hannah LeBlanc help with hitting; Jeff Asmussen and Kelly Ollila handle the outfield; and Guzzo focuses on the infield.
“Everybody’s working in their area to make those players better,” said Guzzo. “These kids are lucky to have that coaching, because sometimes teams can only have two coaches. They can only find two people to help, and then individual stuff doesn’t get worked on.”
That support system has “kept us strong,” Guzzo said. Currently, the Mariners are jockeying for playoff position — with seeds 1 through 5 still up for grabs.
“We’re living kind of in a good world right now,” Guzzo said. “So hopefully we can keep it going. Sometimes you get injuries and sometimes you get things that go bad. Knock on wood, we haven’t had to deal with much of that.”
Guzzo attributes much of the team’s success to the unwavering commitment and dedication of the players, their families, and the coaching staff, all of whom contribute to creating a strong and supportive program.
“People don’t realize how much extra time the coaches put in, and the players put extra time in,” he said. “They know you don’t miss practice. Families got to plan their vacations and weekends around a softball schedule that’s kind of always changing.”
Despite the unpredictable schedule and weather delays, one constant stands firm: the Mariners are always ready to take the field.
“When I say we’re going, my girls show up,” said Guzzo. With the next three games on the schedule being at home, the Mariners can count on their fans to show up, too!
Good luck to the Silver Bay Mariner Softball Team and congratulations on your current 9-game winning streak!
