The Cotter softball team enters the new season with the bar set high.

“ The goals this year are to win the conference, sub-section, and the section” coach Pat Bowlin stated.

The Ramblers only lost two seniors Kathleen Bowlin, an all conference player,  and Sarah Knepper. The team is bringing back 7 out of the 9 starters from last year’s successful team that was defeated by Zumbrota-Mazeppa to take 3rd in the section.

The Ramblers have a strong senior class this year which includes three all-conference members, Kaitlin Nachtigal, Hannah Spiten, and Hannah Kosel. Mckenna Marg and Felicia Dieterman are the remaining two seniors from last year’s team.

Katie has been a long time member of the team receiving her first call up in 8th grade. She is known around the area as a dominant pitcher that controls the strike zone. Nachtigal throws a number of pitches including a deadly curve that tends to leave opponents looking.

 Spiten a member of the varsity team since 10th grade offers a huge bat in the middle of the lineup. Her junior campaign included blasting three home runs. Spiten is also known as the vocal leader and will be needed to direct traffic from her first base position.

 Marg, Dieterman, and Kosel round out the strong senior class. Marg is primarily an outfielder with a sure handed glove. Dieterman is the second pitcher to Nachtigal, and will need to be utilized to make a deep run in the playoffs. Kosel is the final senior on the team and does most of the catching for the Ramblers. Kosel is a vocal leader behind the plate controlling the pitchers.

  Not only are the players excited about this season, but the coaches are fired up too. Coach Pat Bowlin says “We improved greatly last season and I am hopeful that the improvement rate continues. We only had 28 extra base hits last year, I am expecting that number to at least double.”

Spiten the leading batter from last year with an average of .370 said “I think that this year is a continuation from last year. We are just picking up right where we left off from last year. I believe the team is focused on defense and that will be our identity this year”

  Nachtigal added in “Even though we lost two key seniors last year, I feel that we are pretty strong all the way through the lineup”.

 The Ramblers are excited to enter the Three Rivers Conference this year and establish new rivalries. Caledonia, Chatfield, and Wabasha-Kellogg are looking like the teams to beat.

    The Cotter Ramblers look to introduce their winning ways to the Three Rivers Conference on Tuesday, April 1st against the Lewiston-Altura Cardinals.