By Araceli Galarza Posted March 20, 2020
Softball season has sprung its head around the corner once again. This year has all new players and all new strategies. Coach John Dunckhorst and assistant coach Sean Cooney are excited about the upcoming season.
“I’m excited to see the progress of the younger girls who made the team and to see them develop into varsity players,” said Dunckhorst. “I really don’t have a favorite part, but I guess I would say games because you get to see all the preparation that one does and see if the players took that into the game and if the players were able to retain it.”
The Lady Bucks opened the regular season with a split against Spring Creek. They took game one, 21-10, but lost the next 15-11.
Softball is a fast-paced sport that requires knowledge of all positions. Coaches Dunckhorst and Cooney understand this and try to incorporate this into the way they coach.
Jaylynn Smith, a sophomore on the team, appreciates the way the coaching this year is occurring.
“They are trying to play everyone in different spots and see what everyone is good at rather than keeping everyone in the same position, and they are a lot more open-minded,” said Smith.
Besides positional changes and the ability to play those different positions, the coaches are worried about the fundamentals. The main goal of JV is to prepare the players to play at a varsity level.
“Not many things will change at the JV level. We really are just focused on teaching the fundamentals,” explains Dunckhorst. “We focus a lot on organization and effort. I like to see my players put in a hundred percent effort.”
Looking back through all the hard work, it is important to have and to appreciate the game. Players Saige Kirchesh and Jaylynn Smith look back fondly on the away games.
“All the memories and experiences and the crazy hotel room time,” said Smith.
“I’m excited about our improvements and to see how well we do as a team and after practices,” said Kirchesh.
NOTE: This article was written prior to the announcement of the suspension of spring sports.
