By RYAN WALKER
Norwell strung together a positive softball season in 2023 despite having lost multiple key graduates and switching up leadership.
The Knights had a mostly underclassman-led group and a first-year head coach that netted two more wins than the previous season for a 15-11 record. They even made a good run in the sectional tournament, defeating Oak Hill 6-4 in extra innings and Maconaquah 11-1 before falling in the championship to Peru 12-4.
Baird was a travel softball coach before taking the head varsity gig at Norwell, which had surprising adjustments to be made in year one. He, along with several other underclassmen playing varsity for the first time, are even more prepared this time around.
“I strive to continue to learn and evolve as a coach,” Baird said. “There are definitely differences between high school ball and travel ball. This year, we have been more focused on more of the situational things that happen during high school games and what we can do to be better prepared this year. Hopefully, that will show this season.”
Now, Baird’s second season will have a familiar feel, returning players six of the nine starters, including recent college signees Jordan Markley (Bethel University) and Sami Lemler (Grace College).
There is no question that the pitching is the team’s strength, and the numbers prove that.
Lemler and sophomore Kayla Watkins saw most of the time on the pitcher’s circle last year. The two combined for 105 innings (Lemler threw 53, Watkins 52). In that workload, Lemler and Watkins served up a 2.40 ERA.
The only piece Norwell lost was Madyson Sonnigsen, who threw 40 innings for the Knights but followed her father, Tyler Sonnigsen, to Bluffton, where he is the new head coach.
To add to those two, Kara Brown shined on junior varsity as a freshman waiting behind three solid starting pitchers at the varsity level. She still managed to throw 17 innings for the varsity squad, blowing away the competition with a 0.81 ERA.
“All three of these girls can start and take us deep into games this year, so we should have fresh arms come playoff time,” Baird said.
Norwell should be able to pack a punch at the plate, too.
Of the returning starters, three stick out as the core hitters of the team and should expect them to do the most damage.
Markley will command the outfield with her speed and pop with the bat. As a junior last year, she had a .478 batting average, three home runs and 20 stolen bases — all are the team’s best out of all returning players.
The other two, junior Kaydance Clark and Reese Frauhiger, will sit in the middle of the lineup to drive in some runs.
Clark, who will catch and play third base, led the team with 33 RBI, hit .303 and had eight extra-base hits. Frauhiger, an outfield/utility player, came onto the scene as a first-time varsity starter as a freshman and could be poised to have a breakout campaign. She hit .266 and drove in 17 runs as a middle-of-the-order hitter.
Other contributions will come from Lemler, a .239 hitter who drove in 13 runs, and sophomore Leah Werling, who hit .312 with 10 RBI.
“I believe we have a talented group of hitters,” Baird said. “We’ve been working hard on our approach at the plate as a team and I think it will show when we start playing.”
The Northeast 8 Conference was a war last year that had Huntington North come out on top in a 7-0 season of perfection. Leo was second at 6-1 in the NE8, which then dropped off to Columbia City and Bellmont at 4-3. Norwell sat alone at No. 5 with a 3-4 conference record.
With the returning talent, it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the NE8 and the Knights seeking to move up a few spots in the standings.
ryan@news-banner.com
