Wildcats excited for new season

The youth throughout the roster of the Gresham softball team would worry some coaches.

With five returning sophomore starters, fourth-year head coach Amanda Reindl hopes to see a large spike in production this season.

“Last year was their first experience on a varsity sport,” Reindl said. “I’m hoping this year will get some of the jitters out because they are used to it now.”

Reindl will rely on three seniors — pitcher Taylor Hoffman, entering her fourth year on varsity, River Otradovec (first base) and Alison Reyes (outfield) — to provide leadership, along with junior catcher Makena Arndt. The remaining positions will be filled by sophomores.

“We have a lot of underclassmen that have been playing since they were in summer league and stuff, so I think we are going to do a lot better this year,” Hoffman said. “It’s going to help us to have a team that knows what we’re doing, and we also have a lot of incoming freshmen that are going to be good.”

Hoffman, who Reindl praised for her work ethic, will be the team’s the starting pitcher.

“What she doesn’t have in speed, she makes up for in her knowledge of the game,” Reindl said. “I think that will really show. Her four years of being on varsity is really going to come out this year.”

The sophomore starters are Mackenzie Hoffman (catcher/shortstop), Kamille Davids (pitcher), Dani Huntington (outfield), Hailey Hoffman (pitcher/infield) and Kiersten Fischer (outfield).

With 22 girls trying out for the team, Reindl is working on fundamentals, building familiarity with each other, and communication.

Last year, the Wildcats (4-15, 4-14 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) struggled with communication. Reindl hopes that will improve with more experience across the board.

Reindl also said the team will have to focus on not beating itself with mental errors.

One of the team’s goals, Reindl said, is to double last year’s win total, which could be difficult in a league with strong programs such as Almond-Bancroft and Menominee Indian, which sat atop the CWC last season.

The Wildcats, though, will be ready.

“They are just excited for softball to start,” Reindl said. “I think they are excited because they had some wins last year, they want to get out there and beat some more teams.”