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Alyssa Spry up to bat (with no bat) giving the pitcher a target to throw by. Staff photos Brian Larsen
Vikings’ fastpitch softball coach Marlene Zimmer welcomed eight returning starters and a total of 24 softball players to the 2022 Vikings fastpitch softball team.
This year’s squad fuses a mix of youth and upperclass players. “There are 12 seventh and eighth-graders on the team,” noted Zimmer.
With pitching being a key component, Zimmer said as of now, Kallie Anderson and Maggie Smith will pitch, with several other players working into the rotation. Last year’s primary starter Kate Peck will play this year, but she will be in the outfield or DH due to a shoulder injury, said the coach.
The entire 2021 infield is returning. Morgan Starkey is back at shortstop, Charolette Waver will play second base, Emily Myers first and Anna Helmerson third. But of course, if one of those athletes pitches, other people will shift to fill the opening in the infield. Zimmer said that just who will be the starting catcher is up for grabs, “but there are a couple of good prospects working behind the plate in practice that I’m excited about.”
Assistant Viking coach Haley Scott hit grounders to the kids in the gym.
While the girls are only in their second week of workouts, they looked good, taking grounders off the bat of Haley Scott, the varsity assistant coach. Also helping to coach this year’s team is Alyssa Spry, a former Viking player.
As far as hitting, the batting cage has been a busy place for players to get their swings in; still, playing outside is very different from practicing in a gym.
Just when the team will get outside to practice is entirely weather-dependent. Three days of snow this past week doesn’t help, but Zimmer said the kids would do the best with gym practices until the softball field in the Rec Park clears.
The Vikings are scheduled to play 16 games. “We have a couple tight in a row, and then we play away a lot and then end with some games in a row here at home,” Zimmer said.
“We will play three games a week. Our first three games are all away. We play Moose Lake, Silver Bay and Esko on April 14,15 and 16. We try to cram a lot into a short schedule. I’m impressed with what our girls can do playing and practicing in our conditions here. They have to overcome a lot, but they do,” Zimmer said, adding, “I’m excited for the season to start.”
The batting cage was busy, and pitchers were working on their location at practice last week.
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