Softball team has ‘a ton of talent’ this season

It’s a sure sign that spring is right around the corner when the yellow softballs start flying. The Lady Wolverine softball program has decided on teams, begun holding practices, has their first game coming up and they are excited for a successful season.
 Head coach Brad Cordes will lead the Lady Wolverines again in his third year at the helm. This year he will be assisted again by TJ Phillips as well as his brother, Wade Cordes.  Leading the JV squad will be returning head coach Annaka Wogan and assistants Cory McConnell and Cody Samson.
 Thirty talented young women came out to be a part of the 2020 Lady Wolverine softball program and following a week of practices the ladies participated in a red and white game, vying for their positions on either the junior varsity or varsity teams.  
 Cordes stated, “We have a ton of talent this year at both team levels, and it has been tough to decide.”  
 Therefore, the game was planned to allow the girls to showcase their talents for the coaches. When the diamond dust settled, it was determined that Cordes will be carrying a Lady Wolverine roster that is 17-players strong.
 According to Cordes, the talent is deep this year and he anticipates their best season to date. Cordes added, “Several girls didn’t play a winter sport and instead worked in the off-season with pitching coaches and/or in the batting cage.”  
 Cordes said the coaches attended clinics that have prompted a lot of changes in the program that he feels are going to be beneficial.
 Seniors Macy Moore, Alex Bittinger, Shalee Huggins, Madison Phillips and twin sisters, Makaela and Jakaela Ruiz will be returning varsity players for the 2020 season as well as juniors, Erika Tyree and Kali Branstetter.  
 Sophomores Mecarte Olsen and pitcher, Whitney Cordes will also return for the Lady Wolverines.  The Lady Wolverines will be adding seven newcomers to the varsity level, including juniors, Lindsay McConnell and Ivy Morris and five members from the freshman class, Macy Maloney, Grace and Hannah Swank, Alexa Lunstrum and Tobie Noyer.
 Seniors Alex Bittinger and Shalee Huggins and junior, Kali Branstetter will be co-captains this season and the trio, like their coach, is very excited about their chances this season.  
 Bittinger stated, “We are one big team, not JV and varsity.”  She added, “We’re more serious this year and everyone on the team has the same winning mindset and it makes for a good atmosphere.”       
 Branstetter added, “We are very versatile and unified this year and we all know our roles and back each other up.”  
 Huggins reiterated, “We’re a very cohesive team and we do everything as a team.”  This is evident as the team motto for the 2020 season is “Team Before Me.” All three captains state that the universal goal throughout the program this season is “to be the threat this year and be in the championship game at state.”
 The Lady Wolverines kicked off their 2020 season on the road against the Caldwell Cougars on March 9 and then host the New Plymouth Pilgrims for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 14, at Weiser High School. The first game will begin at noon.