Colfax softball returning nine players

COLFAX — Colfax High School softball coach Rich Meredith says the strength of the girls’ team this year will be their defense.

With nine returning players, “we have the pitchers and the fielders that can make a difference in a ball game,” he said.

The Colfax softball team had a record last year of 9-11.

Out of the 2015 team, Lakken Meredith was First Team All Conference, Karina Wait was All Conference Honorable Mention, and Mikaela Leibfried was All Conference Honorable Mention.

Last year’s seniors were Kori Buchanan and Karina Wait.

Meredith described Buchanan as “an excellent third base player and hitter.”

The coach described Wait as “an excellent center fielder and solid batter.”

Players returning this year are Lakken Meredith, a solid pitcher and shortstop and a powerful hitter; Dailyn Mortenson, a good left fielder; Mikaela Leibfried, an excellent catcher, hitter and a dynamic base runner; and Amanda Christianson, a multi-purpose player with a lot of heart.

The team also includes returning players Hailey Durand, a strong player with a can-do attitude; Becca Lee, a solid second base with a fast arm to first; MaKayla Mattson, a strong and smart first base player; McKayla Moore, a good all-purpose player; and A.J. Ottinger, another good all-purpose player and a fast base runner.

Newcomers to the team are Tamara Huffman, described by Meredith as a pitcher, a good hitter and a base runner “who could bring a lot to the team.”

Kaitlyn Field, a freshman, “has what it takes to be a good player this season,” Meredith said.

Callie Christianson and Angela Smith “are our other newcomers who are just getting back into the game but are working hard to improve,” he said.

Bringing a strong defense built on both pitchers and the fielders, “with Leibfried catching there will be very few past balls. If there is a weakness, it is hitting, but we have been working hard to correct this,” Meredith said.

The softball team’s statistical goal this year will be to match up with the other teams in the conference on strike-outs, hits and so forth, he said.

“But stats do not win games. Never count us out of any game,” Meredith said.

Non-statistical goals include being “the best team we can be,” he said, adding that winning the conference title for the first time also is a goal, along with having a healthy season, not playing in the snow and going far in the playoffs.

The top competitors for the Colfax softball team this year will be Elk Mound, Durand, Boyceville, and Glenwood City, Meredith said.

“Every team in our conference has a really strong program. Every game will be a challenge,” Meredith said.

Roster

The 2016 softball team roster includes Lakken Meredith (senior) as pitcher, shortstop and catcher; Serena Secraw (senior) as an outfielder; Dailyn Mortenson (junior) as an outfielder; Angela Smith (junior) as an outfielder; Amanda Christianson (sophomore) as an outfielder and first base; Hailey Durand (sophomore) as third base, outfielder and catcher.

The team also includes Tamara Huffman (sophomore) as a pitcher and shortstop; Mikaela Leibfried (sophomore) as catcher and shortstop; Becca Lee (freshman) second base and pitcher; Makayla Mattson (sophomore) as first base and pitcher; McKayla Moore (sophomore) as an outfielder; A.J. Ottinger (sophomore) as shortstop, second base and catcher; Callie Christianson (freshman) as second base; and Kaitlyn Field (freshman) as third base and a pitcher.

Mike Dombrowski will be the softball team’s assistant coach.

Meredith is in his second year of coaching softball.