Lyman softball works toward another strong season

Rachel Runkel pitches for Lyman Memorial High School's softball team. Photos by Melanie Savage.

Last year, the Lyman Memorial High School varsity softball team posted a 12-8 record, and was knocked out of post-season tournament play during the first round. They lost two starters from last year, but still have some strong returning starters and a number of promising new players, including Becca Novotny, Sierra Ballsieper, Mikayla Luft and Rachel Runkel.

With starting pitcher Emily Vigue out on April 8 after surgery, Runkel took over the mound during the team’s first game against E.O. Smith. Runkel faced some tough competition in Smith’s Josie Borysevicz, and her teammates had trouble generating hits.

“Until today, the kids had been hitting very well,” said Lyman head coach Gary Hoyt. “I would have said that hitting was going to be our strength. But I think today said more about their pitching than it did about our hitting.” Lyman ended up losing the game with a final score of 7-2.

“Overall, I think we have a pretty good team,” said junior catcher Tori Lussier. One of the things the team will need to work on is maintaining a positive mindset. “We’ve got to remember to keep ourselves up with a good attitude,” said Lussier. Lussier said that her teammates were strong offensively during the team’s two scrimmages of the season. “We need to work on hitting against the stronger pitchers,” she said.

Hoyt agreed. “We’ll work on the hitting,” he said. “It’s still early in the season.”

Coach's Corner-

Lyman Memorial High School Varsity Softball Coach Gary Hoyt.

This is Hoyt's seventh year as head coach of the Lyman Memorial varsity softball team. “We’re hoping to qualify for the state tournament,” said Hoyt. “We’re going to have to play good defense and score runs.”