winning the battle
Softball Team Gets Surprised at HAC
Alex Benson
IT’S NOT JUST A TEAM.
Sophomore Britny Davis aims to hit the ball during the HAC softball game against Grand Island. Davis
was excited and proud of her team for winning the HAC Tournament. “We finished strong,” said Davis. “I’m
very proud of them.”
During the Heartland Athletic Conference (HAC) Tournament the Varsity team
wanted to win, not just for themselves, but
for one of their coaches, Lis Brenden. The
team played against Southeast and Grand
Island during the tournament.
Brenden was absent for multiple
games due to the diagnosis of breast
cancer earlier in the season. She hadn’t
seen her team for a couple of weeks after
her surgery.
“We wanted to win it,” said head coach
Mark Watt.
Freshmen McKenzie Steiner and
Allison Bartz were just two of the girls
Brenden supported from the team. She
was there for all the girls when they needed
someone. In addition to support, Brenden
helped the team not only with softball, but
also with school.
During the game, the girls had been
losing to Grand Island but had just started
to pull ahead when Brenden walked in.
“She pushes us to do the best we can,
it was very motivational when she came
out,” said Steiner.
Steiner remembered there being a lot
of emotion when Brenden walked out to
the field.
The girls weren’t the only ones in
tears. Several spectators were in tears too.
Brenden remembers seeing sophomore
Amber Storer hit a home run and the girls
tearing up.
“It brought tears to eyes, not just the
players, but the parents too. It was very
emotional,” said Watt.
Brenden’s appearance motivated the
team to keep playing hard. It was a sign of
hope to the team to keep trying.
Brenden was proud of the team.
She could tell her team cared for her and
missed her during her absence. She was
proud they tried hard when she wasn’t
there.
“It was a mutual excitement. There
was a lot of emotion. It was very heartfelt.
It means a lot when your team cares,” said
Brenden.
The team won the softball game by run
ruling the other team, which is a mercy rule.
If one of the teams is ahead by 10 runs,
they automatically win.
The season was finished off by the
team winning districts 5-4, but losing to
Marian 11-2 and losing to Millard South 6-2
while playing at State.
“It was a good season,” said Watt.
After the season, sophomores Caelyn
Christiancy, Britny Davis, Carson
Fischer, Shelby Mullendore, and senior
Hailey Bartz were signed to play for the
All-Nebraska team. Brenden was proud
that the girls of the team decided to keep
playing softball.
“It means more when they care.
There’s a bond nobody can take away,”
said Brenden.
Story/Spread by Cassara Crosgrove
Ian Cuevas
SHINING BRIGHT
ON THE DIAMOND.
NO PITCHING PROBLEM.
Sophomore Kailey Jelinek pitches a ball to Lincoln High. This
was Jelinek’s first year on Varsity after competing on JV last year.
The bond between Jelinek and her coaches was strong and continued to grow throughout the season. “They really care about us,
not just in softball,” said Jelinek. “They push us to do our best.”
Freshman McKenzie Steiner
was one of two freshmen to
make the Varsity team. Steiner
looked up to seniors Hailey
Bartz and Taylor Marshall
because they always got the
team pumped up and ready to
compete in the compititions.
“They are good team leaders,”
said Steiner. “They push us
to try.”
SOFTBALL GOES
HARDBALL.
Sophomore Shelby
Mullendore pitches a ball
to Grand Island. Mullendore
pitched during the last game
of Districts, which the girls
won. “After the last pitch I was
very excited,” said Mullendore.
“Leading up to it I was very
nervous.”
Ian Cuevas
Taya Johnson
PITCH. RUN. REPEAT.
Sophomore Carson Fischer runs to catch a ball during the HAC
Tournament against Grand Island. The Varsity team was very diverse having
14 members from all grades, including two seniors, two juniors, eight sophomores and two freshmen. “They’re my girls,” said Fischer. “I love them.”
Ian Cuevas
FROM BABY TO BALLER.
Sophomore Alaina Lacy suits up with catching gear and heads out of the dugout. With 10 years of
practice, Lacy could perform most positions out on the field. “It’s always been a hobby of mine,” said Lacy. “I
fell in love with the sport at a young age.”
Taya Johnson
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3/1/16 9:58 AM