SWCC softball adds pitching depth

Despite having only three returning players, Southwestern softball coach Danny Jensen said this Spartan team should offer the most versatility and pitching depth he’s had as he begins his third year.

An Iowa Softball Hall of Fame high school at Murray for 40 years, Jensen said it’s taken time to build a roster with enough pitching depth and flexibility to compete over a full season in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.

Pitching was solid when the team opened the 2024 season Sunday at Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska. Now, it’s a matter of the offense catching up.

Central swept the doubleheader, 4-2 and 4-3.

“We outhit them 8-4 in the first game but couldn’t string them together,” Jensen said. “Overall, I was pleased. This will have the most versatility of the three teams I’ve been a part of here. It’s also the best hitting team, but we didn’t show that Sunday. We expect that will come along. Our defense was solid, which is something we emphasize.”

This year’s number one pitcher figures to be freshman Erika Kruse, an all-stater at Fort Madison who pitched in the 2022 state tournament as a junior. She also clubbed 12 home runs with 50 RBIs that year.

“EK had just one bad inning Sunday when they bunched three of their four hits, with a walk and our one error that game to score three runs,” Jensen said. “She can hit, too. She went 3-for-3 in the first game and had another hit in the second game when we played her at second base.”

The second pitcher Sunday was freshman Cora Ostrem of Adel. She was a club team pitcher and did not play for ADM. She allowed 10 hits in six innings Sunday, with two strikeouts and no walks. Jensen said her control has been refined since fall workouts.

Another freshman vying for one of the top pitching roles is Kirsten Streeter of Concordia, Missouri. Streeter had three hits and two RBIs in playing first base in the second game on Sunday.

“Streeter lost a 3-2 game in nine innings in the state championship game her senior year,” Jensen said. “Several of our pitchers will play first base when not pitching, but Kirsten can also play shortstop.”

Another pitcher with a club background but no varsity high school experience is freshman lefthander Jaisa Boos of Southeast Polk.

Remembering Barnes

While the pitchers will likely share time at first base, it’s a position that would have likely been held for a second year by the late Halsie Barnes of Mount Ayr. Barnes was one of three college students who died in a July auto accident near Afton.

“Halsie hit .338 as a freshman with only five errors in about 300 chances,” Jensen said. “She would have been first-team all-region this year. The team in Columbus did a nice job of honoring her before the game, when their player No. 27 (Barnes also wore 27) presented flowers in Halsie’s favorite colors, and a card signed by everyone on their team before a moment of silence.”

Among the catchers slated to work with this year’s pitchers is former East Union all-conference player Kaitlyn Mitchell. Bethany Wright, who backed up Peyton Rice last year, and Lily McCrae of Omaha are also projected to see duty behind the plate. Mitchell can also play in the outfield.

Last year’s infield was anchored by stellar shortstop Gabby Newman, now the starting shortstop at Lincoln University. Taking over for her is Kansas all-stater Brooklyn Hadl, who also started for the Southwestern women’s basketball team as one of its top 3-point shooters.

“Hadl has a lot of speed and is a great baserunner at the top of our lineup,” Jensen said. “She’s good defensively with a cannon for an arm.”

Sophomore Ashton Willis returns at third base eventually. In the early going she may fill in at second base as freshman Haley Keller of Columbia, Missouri recovers from surgery. Freshman Calie Allen and sophomore Bethany Wright can also play third.

New outfielders

There are a lot of new faces in the outfield, including former area preps Jayda Chew of Murray and Haylee Meyer of Orient-Macksburg. Both are slated for some time in left field, although Chew can slide over to play center.

In most games, freshman Julia Jones of Shawnee Mission, Kansas will play center.

“Jones reminds me of Julia Schechinger last year,” Jensen said, “in that she covers a lot of ground. Mitchell or Chew can also play in center.”

Freshman Jayliegh Robins and Wright will play in right field. Robins had two hits in Sunday’s doubleheader.

The season resumed Wednesday in a trip to North Central Missouri College, adjusted from Thursday on the schedule because of forecasted rain. The home opener is a doubleheader against Ellsworth on March 19.

Jensen is assisted this year by Dan Gibbons, his assistant at Murray in 1999 and 2000. The former Murray resident and Osceola business owner has resided in Creston in recent years, but remained involved in Jensen’s teams at Murray and Southwestern.

Roster

Sophomores — Ashton Willis, Maysville, Mo. (3B/SS); Haylee Meyer, Orient (OF); Kaitlyn Mitchell, Afton (C/OF); Bethany Wright, Canberra, Australia (CB/C/OF). (Honorary member, the late Halsie Barnes, Mount Ayr, 1B.)

Freshmen — Caitlyn Sloss, Panora (Util); Cora Ostrem, Adel (P/OF); Jayda Chew, Murray (OF); Erika Kruse, Fort Madison (P/1B); Haley Keller, Columbia, Mo. (P/2B/SS); Sadie Thompson, Sidney (3B/OF); Astazia Watson, Osceola (P/IF); Jayliegh Robins, Eagleville, Mo. (C/1B/OF); Julia Jones, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (OF); Brooklyn Hadl, Ottawa, Kan. (SS/2B); Calie Allen, Omaha (C/1B/3B); Lily McCrae, Omaha (C/3B/1B); Kirsten Streeter, Concordia, Mo. (P/1B/SS); Jaisa Boos, Runnels (P/OF).