It’s kind of a new era for Park softball, and it’s kind of not this season.
It’s a team filled with veterans, yet only three seniors are on the roster.
The head …
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It’s kind of a new era for Park softball, and it’s kind of not this season.
In other words, there are a lot of contrasts for this year’s Wolfpack team.
Park returns all but three seniors from last’s year 17-8 team, two of them starters.
But longtime Park head coach Bob Loshek was forced out at mid-season a year ago after serving as the Wolfpack head coach since 2009. Loshek directed the Wolfpack to a 282-78 record, several section titles and state tournament appearances.
New head coach Tony Young is no stranger to the program, however, having been a softball assistant coach for many years. Few coaches in Cottage Grove know the Park athletes as well as Young does, as he’s coached high school girls' basketball, youth football and wrestling in addition to softball.
Park went 12-6 in the always competitive Suburban East Conference last spring, tying for third in the league.
Missing from the lineup are graduated seniors Briana Lee, now playing at Augustana; Grace Conaway, how playing at Stonehill College and Alexis Novak. Lee and Conaway anchored the Park infield last sprint, Lee at shortstop while Conaway was at third.
Everyone else returns for the Wolfpack, including sophomore pitcher Stella Fritsche, an all-conference pick last season, freshman pitcher Mackenzie Darsow, junior pitcher/infielder Ava Youngquist, junior starting catcher Alayna Adamez, the entire starting outfield as well as first and second base.
More veterans back for the Wolfpack are senior outfielder Lauren Osland, junior outfielder Keira Brennan, sophomore outfielder Nora Thurmes, senior outfielder Peyton Moerke, sophomore infielder Addie Corkish and junior infielder Allyson Grobner.
“We do return a lot,” said coach Young. “But we don’t have many seniors and will be a young team yet again. We return three really good pitchers and our outfield is fully back.”
New to the varsity are freshman infielder Addison Jasper, sophomore infielder Maddie Booth, freshman outfielder Jenna Squillace and senior pitcher/infielder Averie Kurtzbein.
Young sees the wolfpack defense as being a key to the season.
“Our strength is going to be our defense,” said Young. “And we’re working hard on understanding situations a lot better than we did last year. We can’t leave runners on the bases like we did last year. Defense will be our cornerstone.”
The Suburban East Conference will be challenging once again, with few if any easy outs.
“The conference is always tough,” said Young. “Forest Lake will be up there again. Cretin Derham Hall returns everyone from a team which finished second at the state in 3A. Stillwater is always really good. Woodbury is retuning a lot. East Ridge returns a lot. All those teams are really, really solid.”
The Wolfpack won three games in Section 3 playoffs, beating Rosemount, Eagan and Rosemount before losing in the Section 3 Championship in a rematch with the Irish, 9-3.
“Our ultimate goal is to learn to accept their roles, learn to be part of something great,” said Young.” If we understand and accept out roles, we’ve got a really high ceiling.”
Park hosts White Bear Lake in its season opener on Monday, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The list of recent Park High School athletes who have played, or are playing college softball, is an extensive one.
Grace Conaway - Stonehill College
Briana Lee - Augustana University
Bryleigh Dana - Concordia University St. Paul
Noelle Krumrie - University of Minnesota Duluth
Emma Ambroz - University of Minnesota Duluth
Skyler Croker - Loyola University Chicago
Delaney Young - Augustana University
Gracie Bond - Hamline University
Riley Perryman - Valley City State University
Emilie Kell - Hamline University
Bryanna Olson - Concordia University St. Paul
Abby Gooch - Carleton College
Samantha Fohrman - University of New Mexico
Saren Croker - Creighton University
Corinna Loshek - Winona State
Lindsey Strom - University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Madison Meduna - Winona State
Amber Galloway - University of WI - River Falls
Rachel Suter - University of St. Thomas
Autumn Mortenson - St. Catherine's
Hanna Mortenson - Concordia University St. Paul
