Softball ready to face new challenges

It will likely be a challenging season as COVID-19 has caused many changes to high school sports, but Holyoke High School softball coach Sherman Kage said the team is ready to adapt and excited to play.

Kage emphasized the importance of ensuring that players are masked in the dugout. The active roster of 20 players includes five from Haxtun and one from Sedgwick County, and changes to game day roster rules have gone into effect this season. These changes limit the game day roster to 12 players. Kage said the roster limitation will likely pose the greatest challenge to pitching depth and substitutions for potential injuries.

“We’re a team and have a family atmosphere,” he said. “We don’t leave anyone behind.”

Returning letter winners for the 2020 season are seniors Rylee Lundgren, Emali Torres and Haley Van Overbeke; juniors Lauren Herman and Correy Koellner; and sophomores Clover Adler, Aliyah Engle and Destanie Engle.

Also on the team are senior Rylee Oakley; junior Elyce Talavera; sophomores Skyler Lundgren, Jimena Nuñez and Emma Thompson; and freshmen Leslie Carrasco, Adison Goldenstein, Hannah Lindholm, Jessica Owens, Mia Reed, Samantha Seger and Audrey Talavera. The team is led by head coach Sherman Kage, assistant Kendra Schlachter and volunteer Alyssa Metzger. Team managers are Isaiah Rueter, Parker Steggs and Alicia Torres.

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