SOFTBALL

Senior shortstop Anna Holloway hits a solo home run on April 28 against the La Porte slicers. Holloway has committed to play softball for the University of Notre Dame next year.

PHOTO BY EMILY HELMUTH

SWINGING UP THE RANKS

Softball team ranks 28th nationally in recent MaxPreps poll

BY KEELEY BERNARD co-sports editor

The softball team is currently ranked 28th in the nation and ninth in Indiana by MaxPreps. With stats like this, it’s no wonder why coach Angie Richwalski sees the potential for the team to become top contenders for the state tournament.

“This team, this year is poised to have a great season,” Richwalski said. “They’ve already started down the road to be a top contender in the state tournament at the end of the season, and I am truly excited to have the privilege to coach them and watch them succeed this year.”

A reason for the team’s success so far this season is their ability to improve. Richwalski highlights that ability as one of the team’s strongest qualities.

“These athletes are ready and willing to learn and improve every day,” Richwalski said. “They are constantly looking for feedback on how to do better and giving each other feedback on where there is room for improvements. To me that means the team we see at the end of the season, will be even better than the team we are seeing right now and I’m excited to see that.”

The team’s ability to improve them-

selves seems embedded in the team’s culture and in the goals set by the players. Senior Anna Holloway lists a few of these goals.

“I think the end goal for every high school team is to win state, but we have a lot of other goals. We try to just get better every game. We improve and learn from the last game, and try to just be better the next game. We also try to have fun. We play the best when we’re relaxed, so we try to find a good balance between having fun and also being focused,” Holloway said.

Learning from mistakes is also a goal set by Richwalski for her team.

“Our team goals for the season are to consistently push ourselves as a team and individuals to get better every day with every opportunity, play to the best of our ability and grow throughout the season,” Richwalski said. “If we can do both of those we should have a successful season and possibly bring home some hardware at the end. With a little luck, this team has the depth and talent level to go far into the post season and represent our school and community down at state.”

The depth of the team is a major factor to their success. Richwalski believes she has a reliable group of upperclassmen, and if one of the upperclassmen gets injured, she also has a strong group of underclassmen she can look to in those moments. This is especially important this season, as teams have to worry about not only injuries but also contact tracing.

“In this year, where injuries are so much more likely and anybody could be out via contact tracing at any given moment, the depth of our bench is what will keep us playing once we get late into the season,” Richwalski said. “We’ve already had to make some adjustments and fall back on some underclassmen due to minor injuries and to have those players ready and hungry to step in and step up is a huge privilege that not every team has this year.”

According to junior Gabriela Serratos, no matter who is playing, upperclassmen or underclassmen, the team is constantly encouraging each other.

“The strongest quality of the team is definitely the constant cheering and being loud in the dugouts during games and in practice,” Serratos said. “Being loud definitely has helped us win many games, it helps us stay up and be positive and get hyped up. Our seniors really help encourage the team.”

Richwalski agrees with Serratos about the role that the seniors play in pushing their team forward.

“We have a wonderful group of seniors this year who are great leaders and really showing our younger players the ropes of how to be all around great teammates,” Richwalski said. “Our seniors, even though they missed their junior year, are very experienced. Their ability to focus, perform and have fun is setting an awesome tone for the teammates around them who are also finding ways to settle in and step up to contribute.”

Missing an entire season due to COVID-19 undoubtedly affected this season. Richwalski believes that the effect is mostly on the players mentality.

“Our athletes missed an entire season of their high school career. We are feeling that now in the mental approach to the pressure of game day. I have no doubt that part will fix itself as the season marches on,” Richwalski said. “It’s also taken a few of the celebratory elements out of the game, but we are happy to have the opportunity to play at all this year. We will take what we can get and work through it.”

The lack of a season last year has given senior Grace Lucka a new outlook on every game she plays.

“COVID-19 changed this season for me in a way that made me want to work really hard because you never know when it will be your last game,” Lucka said.

Lucka hopes that her hard work will accumulate to her meeting her goals for the season.

“Our team goal is to win state,” Lucka said. “My personal goals are to just always be there for my team and be the best teammate I can be. I look forward to getting closer with all my teammates.”

Serratos shares similar goals to Lucka’s.

“My personal goals for this season is to become a better player all around and to also be a person that underclassmen can look up to,” Serratos said. “My team goals for this season are to bond well together, have a very successful season and win sectionals, regionals, semi-state, and state.”

According to Richwalski, the team is making progress everyday in order to achieve their goals.

“We have a lot of learning going on, but also many things that are working really well for us. The players are making adjustments and progress every day, and the team is looking stronger and more confident with each game,” Richwalski said.

Sophomore left fielder Aubrey Wroble catches a fly ball to left field on April 22.

PHOTO BY EMILY HELMUTH

‘‘ This team, this year is poised to have a great season. They’ve already started down the road to be a top contender in the state tournament at the end of the season, and I am truly excited to have the privilege to coach them and watch them succeed this year.