Contenders vie for softball pitching spots

The Panther softball team is looking for pitching help. Lost from last season is Ashlei Carpenter who did most of the pitching. First-year Head Coach Paul Skoglund has several girls, including senior Liz Rayman and juniors Lisa Bauer and Lindsey Daniels, working to fill that void.

“We’re not going to be overpowering but we will throw strikes,” said Skoglund. “I basically have no sophomores but I have 40 girls 7-12, so we have good numbers.”

What the Panthers need is playing time for the inexperienced players to develop.

Weather sidelines baseball

The Panther baseball game with Luverne, at Luverne, was postponed from Monday of this week because the Luverne field was too soft. With the problems brought on by inclement weather this spring it will become even more important for the Panthers to develop depth in their pitching staff. Early postponements will result in later double headers putting stress on the pitching.

Compounding the problem is the fact that all three of the Panther pitchers from last season have graduated. Matt Bauer, Derek Daniels and Derek Radke, all graduated, furnished most of the pitching last season. Tauer is looking to see Taylor Rignell, David Schmidt, Chris Swenson and Isaac Dolan pick up the slack. Isaac Dolan has had extensive experience pitching in VFW and some varsity action.

Track preparations continue

The Panther track teams have some big holes to fill this season. Gone from last year’s boys’ team are state champion high jumper Gary Knott and pole vaulter Chad Stibbe.

The girls have lost Bobbi Jo Buyck, Jillian Tholen and Sarah Fritz all of whom were major contributors last season.

Also stepping down is former Head Coach Al Landa. Landa has led the Panther Track Teams for many seasons and now will take a lesser role. He has been replaced by Monica Headlee but will continue to help out instructing the athletes.

The Panthers’ home meet on Tuesday was postponed because of bad weather.

Golf team lacks experience

The Panther golf teams will be very inexperienced this season. The boys’ team returns Kyle McIntire, David Nilius and Jacob Hoflock and the girls’ team returns only Courtney and Vicky Lau. The boys have good numbers of upper classmen trying golf for the first time and the girls have been bolstered by the presence of Elizabeth Jorde who has transferred from Win-E-Mac. Both teams have good numbers of junior high prospects to draw from.