New coach for Longhorns softball

By Phil Cobb | August 20, 2015 |

CHRIS ROUSH/DAILY FORUM
The 2015 South Nodaway softball roster includes: front row, from left: Johanna Werner, Katelyn Kramer, Sydney Harlan, Maddisyn Pedersen. Back: Haley Nielson, Devanna Ostrander, Erin Salsbury, Sydney Murphy, Elizabeth Turpin.

It’ll be a year of firsts for the South Nodaway softball team. Northwest student Dillon Lowrey takes over as skipper and several girls on the squad will have to play different positions than what they’re accustomed to.

“My main goal for the girls this season is to always be improving,” Lowrey said. “I hope that this team is able to learn as they go, improve each game and enjoy the sport.”

Coming off last year’s loss in the second round of districts, the squad looks to make another run this season. But, there will be few pieces missing from last year’s squad that posted a 10-8 record.

From last year’s team, Allison Hilsabeck and Kristen Nielson have both graduated and the squad will miss the production from the first team All-District standouts. Hilsabeck posted a 9-8 win-loss record with a 2.68 earned run average last year, while Nielson tallied up 15 RBI and a .304 batting average.

The team will also be without Mallory and Meaghan McConkey, who instead will be running for the newly formed South Nodaway/Jefferson co-op cross-country team.

But, Sydney Murphy returns for her senior year to lead the Longhorns. Last year, she received second-team All-District accolades along with compiling a .380 batting average and 22 RBI.

As the first game approaches, Lowrey and his assistant coach Kortni McCreath will have to decide how to field their team.

“With only nine girls, it is vitally important to make sure that everyone is playing safe and watching out for injuries,” Lowrey said. “With that, it also means that we are having players fill positions that they are not used to playing. While several good players have graduated, I am very excited by the potential of these girls for this season.”

South Nodaway opens up the 2015 campaign Aug. 24 at home against Albany.