Despite challenges, Central softball season one of positivity and growth
Audrey Palas hits the ball in Central’s postseason loss at Kee. (Photos by Bev Hamann)
Kendall Wagner catches a pop out against the Hawks.
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
The 2024 softball season has come to an end for the Central Warriors, who were defeated by Kee High 10-0 in the first round playoff on July 8.
Despite a season in which the Warriors went 3-20, the team comprised of mostly younger players with a first-year head coach in Abby Cummer had a season full of positivity, fun and growth.
“As a team, this season was full of learning and overcoming adversity. We showed to be a young team, however, we showed up every day to learn and play hard,” Cummer said.
Showing up and playing hard were expectations this season, as was growth as players, which Cummer believes was shown in improvements in fielding, communicating and especially hitting. The Warriors struggled with the latter early in the season, but Cummer noticed marked improvement as games continued.
“Obviously, there are always things to improve on, but each girl made steps toward improvement in some way,” Cummer said.
Cummer also experienced growth as a coach, especially in learning the small things about the game and players, allowing her to identify player strengths as the season went on, make adjustments and give more opportunities to younger players to pinch run or be a designated hitter. She also learned more about stats, substitutions and how to challenge umpires calls, and gained pitching knowledge with help from assistant coach Kristen Tenge.
While learning on the job, Cummer had to overcome the inexperience of the team, which featured just three upperclassmen with varsity experience, but she was proud of how the underclassmen stepped up.
Among those underclassmen were freshmen Crystal Goodrich and Audrey Palas, sophomores Oakley Armstrong and Ayden Schutte and eighth grader Blair Scherf. The group started all 23 games for the Warriors.
Goodrich finished the season with a .237 batting average, 14 hits, five RBIs and eight runs scored, while Palas had five hits, three RBIs and five runs. Armstrong collected 12 hits, four RBIs and 16 runs and Schutte had five hits, two RBIs and two runs. Scherf hit .206 with 13 hits, five RBIs and 12 runs and, as a pitcher, recorded 18 strikeouts in 36 innings.
As for the upperclassmen, junior Reese Berns finished with 13 hits, one RBI and 16 runs, while senior Gracie Kennicker had six hits, three RBIs and four runs scored. The other senior, Ashlyn Scherf, led the team in hits with 20 and RBIs with seven and, among starting players, had a team high .294 batting average. Scherf also pitched 57.2 innings for the Warriors, finishing with 38 strikeouts.
Cummer said of the seniors, “These two were great leaders the entire season no matter the outcome, and that shows a lot about their character. I appreciate everything that they did for the team and I will personally miss watching them as athletes.”
Though the record doesn’t reflect it, the season presented some positives. The games the Warriors won showed what hard work, staying fun and remaining positive can accomplish. Even in the losses, Cummer found ways to build a team culture that speaks well for the future.
“I would like to mention that, even in our losses against MFL MarMac or South Winn, for example, we were all having fun and working hard. Even though we lost those games, it was amazing to see my players having fun and being positive,” Cummer said.
Heading into the offseason, Cummer is looking toward open gyms in late fall and winter to focus on pitching, fielding and hitting. She also took a moment to look back on her first year and the people and support that made it possible.
“I would like to thank my assistant coach Kristen and my volunteer coaches Jamie Scherf and Tony Smith. Your time is much appreciated. I would also like to thank the parents of the players for being supportive and helpful throughout the season,” Cummer said.
