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Apr. 18—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks Red River softball team finished unbeaten in conference play last season, ending the year with just five losses and taking fifth place at the state tournament.
Although the Roughriders are considered one of the North Dakota Class A state tournament favorites again this year, the first few games of the spring haven't been smooth sailing for Red River.
For Red River coach Hannah-Rose Rodriguez, the Riders need to adjust offensively to the 2025 personnel. Red River needs to play a small ball style, she said.
Red River's 2025 offense will be trying to fill the void of the graduation of all-state shortstop Rylie McQuillan and all-conference center fielder Ella Weippert.
"Our hitting hasn't been our best," she said of the 3-4 start that includes a loss to Class B Hillsboro-Central Valley. "The last couple of years, we've had a couple of powerhouse big hitters. We're working at more of getting on base and getting around. Our path to wins are different without expecting these blowout wins we had in previous years."
The Riders have excelled in the circle, despite the slow start. Red River lost 2-1 to West Fargo Horace in nine innings in a game in which sophomore all-state pitcher Jocelyn Berg struck out 19 batters among her 27 outs.
Red River pitcher Ella Speidel struck out 13 in the loss to the Burros.
The Riders hope to return to the state tournament this spring, which will be played at UND's Albrecht Field for the first time.
Coach: Greta Tetrault.
2024 finish: 5-13.
Key returners: Sr. P Ava Hensrud, sr. C Aubrey Hensrud, sr. OF Emiley Gereau; sr. IF Calleigh Carl; jr. OF-P Julia Biby; jr. OF Kaitlyn Raaum, jr. IF Sydney Tollefson; soph. IF Kharleigh Larson; jr. IF-OF Bailey Tebelius.
Top newcomers: Soph. SS Taylor Herman.
Coach Tetrault says: "I think we need to hit the ball this year because we play in a conference with good hitters. We need to play our defense well. I feel like we're still working out kinks. Hopefully, we can find that groove and mesh together. We hit our stride late May last year and hopefully we can find that again. We've got a heck of an outfield. It's one of the faster in the conference. We have good arms, too, and already thrown out some runners on the bases. The other thing is I know we have good hitters. It's stringing those together, and I know we can put up big numbers."
Coach: Hannah-Rose Rodriguez.
2024 finish: 18-5, fifth place at state.
Key returners: Sr. 3B-P Taylor Kilgore (.461, all-EDC); soph. P-IF Jocelyn Berg (all-state, 13-1, 1.41 earned-run average, .493, 4 HRs, 7 2Bs); sr. OF Brooklyn Soderberg (.400, 19 RBIs, all-EDC); jr. P-IF Ella Speidel (.385, 8 2Bs); jr. C-1B Ella Nelson (.478, 3 HRs); sr. 2B-SS Mya Mannausau (.327); sr. OF-2B Brooke Dorsey (.408); soph. P-IF Morgan Gilpin (.389); fr. OF-C Piper Clough (.250).
Top newcomers: Fr. IF Chloe Erickson.
Coach Rodriguez says: "Our defense has been great. We've got a good core there. There's some goals we have that are attainable but it's going to take us getting more base hits and being aggressive baserunning to get those runs across."
Coach: Chelsey Grassel.
2024 finish: 8-9.
Key returners: Sr. Karlee Walsh (all-section, 3.25 ERA, 148 Ks, .481, 24 RBI, 4 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 2 HRs); sr. Elliana Dumas; sr. Addison Kujawa; sr. Sophia Lukach (all-conference, .388, 5 2Bs); sr. Ellie Marcott (all-conference honorable mention, .408, 17 RBI); sr. Emma Marcott (.370); sr. Keely Riendeau; jr. Mollie Dauksavage; jr. Makayla Johnson; jr. Amiya Julien (.375); jr. Avynn Thorson (.375); soph. Maeve Dolan (.333).
Top newcomers: Fr. Emma Pieper; soph. Preslee Hartje.
Coach Grassel says: "We have a really solid senior class this year. We have seven seniors on the roster. We were able to come out and perform well against Sacred Heart to open the year and lost to Roseau on Saturday and that was a good gauge for us with where we match up and where we're at. Then we beat Mahnomen-Waubun 10-0 and Pequot Lakes 11-0. It was nice to see the bats come back alive. (Walsh) is off to a great start. She's thrown two no-hitters out of the four games. I think she's only given up four hits in four games. Her bat has been alive right away, too. I think that helps her relax in the circle. She's dynamic and fun to watch. To see that come together the last four years has been fun."
Coach: Samantha Bales.
2024 finish: 13-10.
Key returners: Jr. Izzy Cwikla; sr. Jillian Pulkrabek (all-conference, all-section, .475, 18 RBI, 8 2Bs, 2 HRs); soph. Lexi Lawrence (all-section, .350, 10 2Bs); jr. Lily Mueller (all-section, .355); sr. Avery Holthaus (.298); soph. Leah Sundby (.300).
Top newcomers: Eighth-grader Blake Brockpahler; fr. Jensen Stinar; fr. Megan Weiss.
Coach Bales says: "I think they have the determination to go far, and it's all about buying-in. The first couple of games were a little rough but they lit a fire, and it's now clicking. That's how it is for every high school team — the first couple of games you're still getting your feet underneath you. I'm pretty excited about what this group is going to do this year."
Continue reading...
Although the Roughriders are considered one of the North Dakota Class A state tournament favorites again this year, the first few games of the spring haven't been smooth sailing for Red River.
For Red River coach Hannah-Rose Rodriguez, the Riders need to adjust offensively to the 2025 personnel. Red River needs to play a small ball style, she said.
Red River's 2025 offense will be trying to fill the void of the graduation of all-state shortstop Rylie McQuillan and all-conference center fielder Ella Weippert.
"Our hitting hasn't been our best," she said of the 3-4 start that includes a loss to Class B Hillsboro-Central Valley. "The last couple of years, we've had a couple of powerhouse big hitters. We're working at more of getting on base and getting around. Our path to wins are different without expecting these blowout wins we had in previous years."
The Riders have excelled in the circle, despite the slow start. Red River lost 2-1 to West Fargo Horace in nine innings in a game in which sophomore all-state pitcher Jocelyn Berg struck out 19 batters among her 27 outs.
Red River pitcher Ella Speidel struck out 13 in the loss to the Burros.
The Riders hope to return to the state tournament this spring, which will be played at UND's Albrecht Field for the first time.
Coach: Greta Tetrault.
2024 finish: 5-13.
Key returners: Sr. P Ava Hensrud, sr. C Aubrey Hensrud, sr. OF Emiley Gereau; sr. IF Calleigh Carl; jr. OF-P Julia Biby; jr. OF Kaitlyn Raaum, jr. IF Sydney Tollefson; soph. IF Kharleigh Larson; jr. IF-OF Bailey Tebelius.
Top newcomers: Soph. SS Taylor Herman.
Coach Tetrault says: "I think we need to hit the ball this year because we play in a conference with good hitters. We need to play our defense well. I feel like we're still working out kinks. Hopefully, we can find that groove and mesh together. We hit our stride late May last year and hopefully we can find that again. We've got a heck of an outfield. It's one of the faster in the conference. We have good arms, too, and already thrown out some runners on the bases. The other thing is I know we have good hitters. It's stringing those together, and I know we can put up big numbers."
Coach: Hannah-Rose Rodriguez.
2024 finish: 18-5, fifth place at state.
Key returners: Sr. 3B-P Taylor Kilgore (.461, all-EDC); soph. P-IF Jocelyn Berg (all-state, 13-1, 1.41 earned-run average, .493, 4 HRs, 7 2Bs); sr. OF Brooklyn Soderberg (.400, 19 RBIs, all-EDC); jr. P-IF Ella Speidel (.385, 8 2Bs); jr. C-1B Ella Nelson (.478, 3 HRs); sr. 2B-SS Mya Mannausau (.327); sr. OF-2B Brooke Dorsey (.408); soph. P-IF Morgan Gilpin (.389); fr. OF-C Piper Clough (.250).
Top newcomers: Fr. IF Chloe Erickson.
Coach Rodriguez says: "Our defense has been great. We've got a good core there. There's some goals we have that are attainable but it's going to take us getting more base hits and being aggressive baserunning to get those runs across."
Coach: Chelsey Grassel.
2024 finish: 8-9.
Key returners: Sr. Karlee Walsh (all-section, 3.25 ERA, 148 Ks, .481, 24 RBI, 4 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 2 HRs); sr. Elliana Dumas; sr. Addison Kujawa; sr. Sophia Lukach (all-conference, .388, 5 2Bs); sr. Ellie Marcott (all-conference honorable mention, .408, 17 RBI); sr. Emma Marcott (.370); sr. Keely Riendeau; jr. Mollie Dauksavage; jr. Makayla Johnson; jr. Amiya Julien (.375); jr. Avynn Thorson (.375); soph. Maeve Dolan (.333).
Top newcomers: Fr. Emma Pieper; soph. Preslee Hartje.
Coach Grassel says: "We have a really solid senior class this year. We have seven seniors on the roster. We were able to come out and perform well against Sacred Heart to open the year and lost to Roseau on Saturday and that was a good gauge for us with where we match up and where we're at. Then we beat Mahnomen-Waubun 10-0 and Pequot Lakes 11-0. It was nice to see the bats come back alive. (Walsh) is off to a great start. She's thrown two no-hitters out of the four games. I think she's only given up four hits in four games. Her bat has been alive right away, too. I think that helps her relax in the circle. She's dynamic and fun to watch. To see that come together the last four years has been fun."
Coach: Samantha Bales.
2024 finish: 13-10.
Key returners: Jr. Izzy Cwikla; sr. Jillian Pulkrabek (all-conference, all-section, .475, 18 RBI, 8 2Bs, 2 HRs); soph. Lexi Lawrence (all-section, .350, 10 2Bs); jr. Lily Mueller (all-section, .355); sr. Avery Holthaus (.298); soph. Leah Sundby (.300).
Top newcomers: Eighth-grader Blake Brockpahler; fr. Jensen Stinar; fr. Megan Weiss.
Coach Bales says: "I think they have the determination to go far, and it's all about buying-in. The first couple of games were a little rough but they lit a fire, and it's now clicking. That's how it is for every high school team — the first couple of games you're still getting your feet underneath you. I'm pretty excited about what this group is going to do this year."
Continue reading...
