Softball season…..might happen…..someday. Despite the weather, the Agates are hard at work preparing for an eventual season.
I am entering the first of what I hope are many seasons coaching the Agates. I can’t speak for the girls, but I am hopeful they are having half as much fun as I am. Fortunately, the team has several returning coaches whose experience is invaluable: Zac Vieau, Mike McGrath, and Ric Hoganson.
For all the years I have been involved in spring softball, I haven’t found any great ways to make working in the gym a thrilling experience, but we are trying some different drills and goofy contests to break the monotony.
Casey Underdale and Mackenzie Highland are the captains this year. They are great and positive leaders for the team and have been an enormous help to me as first year coach. The other two seniors are Ella Donahue and Maddy Carlson. What I appreciate most about these four is that whenever they are asked where they have played and prefer to play they consistently answer, “Wherever you need me Coach.” Other than pitcher, I expect the four of them, who I refer to as our “Swiss army knives”, to play all of the remaining positions from time to time.
Underdale believes her team has a lot of potential. “We are a close-knit team. My favorite part of softball is the feeling I get when I get a hit or when we are celebrating a teammate getting a hit. Cheering in the dugout leaves great memories.”
While there are the four seniors, this is an extremely young team. In addition to juniors Harper Powell and Jocelyn Seagren, there will be a large number of girls in eigth and ninth grades who will either be starters or will make significant contributions. These young ladies are all quality athletes who have the potential to be top players.
At this time, the first game is set for April 20th on the turf at Mesabi East when the Agates face perennial Polar League powers Esko and Moose Lake. Warm weather this week should mean rapid development in the game schedule. As their coach, my goals for the team are to play hard, get better each and every game and practice, and do it with a smile. So far, so good.
