52nd article at the Independent

SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Minneota/Canby softball

CHRIS DRUMMOND cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

MINNEOTA — The Minneota/Canby softball team continued its winning ways in 2021, earning victories in 12 games. With a solid group of returning players, the Vikings will try to maintain that consistency under coach Heidi Boerboom, who has more than 30 years of experience coaching sports, including the past six as head softball coach in the Minneota/Canby program.

The Vikings bring back 10 players from last year’s roster including pitchers Ava Larson and Madison Hennen, catcher/shortstop Lexi Sanow, outfielder Summer Hennen, utility players Ashlee Ann Cole, Tylee Groenhoff and Tessah Overgaard, third baseman Faith Myhre and outfielder/first baseman Zhandra Bordewyk. They also have five seniors in Larson, Sanow, Morgan Moorse, Hennen and Bordewyk.

Boerboom advocated that the team’s strength this season will be their pitching and overall depth, but added they hope to improve on playing complete games and limiting bad innings.

“Pitching looks really strong,” Boerboom said. “We also return all but three positions on the field.”

Boerboom also spoke on expectations for this upcoming season.

“We hope to have a better record and finish all games,” Boerboom said. “One bad inning got us in a few games that I thought we should of had. I expect the girls to compete and improve in every game. I want the girls to have fun and continue to grow the sport.”

Minneota/Canby opened its season on April 11, defeating Lakeview 14-0.