The Cotter softball team is young this year, but that isn’t hindering a championship mindset heading into the 2015 season.

Kelly Vaselaar,  is taking on the role of team leader this year along with fellow seniors Kate Duellman and Alex Strelow. Her goal is to make sure her team is prepared for a late season playoff run.

Despite losing the talents of Hannah Spiten, Katie Nachtigal, Hannah Kosel, Mckenna Marg and Felicia Dieterman to graduation, the team is still hopeful. Katie and Felicia were last year’s feared pitching duo.

Most coaches would see this heavy underclassmen roster and call it a “rebuilding year,” but coach Pat Bowlin says that a “young team” should not be an excuse for a poor season.

“I told my team the first week of practice that although we lost five seniors who were all conference, our expectation to be a championship program has not changed,” said Bowlin, ”Although we will likely start two eighth graders and a freshmen, we will never use the excuse that we are young, we have enough talent to be a championship team.”

Two young players will alternate pitching duties for the team this year, a position that Coach Bowlin knows is key to winning games. “You don’t go far in the playoffs without good pitching,” stated Bowlin, “Morgan Palubicki and Isabelle Northrup will be our two pitchers. I am excited about the potential of both and believe they will give us a chance to win every game we play.”

Key returning contributors include Vaselaar at second base,  Gabby Bowlin at shortstop,. Mikala Nelton catcher, and Kirsten Weifenbach at center field.

Look forward to the Ramblers key games against Caledonia-Spring Grove and Fillmore Central, two of the top teams they will face all season. April 7 is Opening Day for the Cotter Softball team. They will be hosting LaCrescent at Bowlin Field.