TMB SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: SOFTBALL
The 2025 TMB softball season ended about as badly as possible with a first-round loss to Murray County Central in the section tournament. However, it looks like the Panthers will have enough firepower and pitching to make that day nothing more than a distant memory.
“Whatever we did didn’t work,” TMB coach Karl Campbell laments. “The wheels definitely fell off; we couldn’t find a way to hit against a pretty good pitcher. We just weren’t able to get it done. That was extremely frustrating against a team we have a pretty good rivalry with.”
While TMB lost some key outfielders to graduation from last year’s 9-12 team — Kendra Timmerman, Katelyn Ruppert, Brianna Duscher — the dugout this spring will be filled with a number of experienced veterans at some very important positions.
Returning are starting pitchers Melaina Ankrum and Gretchen Lanoue — also two of TMB’s top hitters last year — and their battery mate Piper Freeburg. Another player who Campbell will look out to round out what has the potential to be a potent pitching staff is Bella Martinez.
“We’ve got to get our pitching right,” Campbell said, knowing whatever happens in the circle will be a huge indicator of how this season will go. “We did struggle with that at times last year, putting up strikes from the circle. The girls have been working hard at it.”
The pitchers got their first outdoor work in last Wednesday. Defense, of course, is also important in softball, and the key there will be not letting one mishap lead to a big inning for the opponent.
“I told the girls, you’re going to make mistakes, your teammates will make mistakes, but you can’t let that snowball lead to a bunch of mistakes,” said Campbell. “There will be days when you’re just not hitting the ball, but you need to play good defense every single day.”
The hot corner will once again be manned by Aliyah Loftness, who will be joined behind the circle by experienced players like Braelynn Kirk and Alli Dolan.
“We’ve got a lot of players back from last year,” said Campbell. “A lot who played infield for us, we’ve got our starting catcher back. We’ve got a lot of experience coming back; it’s just a matter of turning that into some successful softball.”
LEFTY MELAINA ANKRUM will help anchor the Panthers’ pitching staff this spring.
Other players who had an impact last year and will be looked at for some good things this spring include Avery Torgeson and Rosa Vang. They are joined by returning letterwinners Hallee Roggatz, Alexis Brey, Ary Schultz, Cheyenne Hoffman and Bella Martinez.
Once again, the section is loaded with strong teams such as MCC, Edgerton, BOLD, RTR and 2025 section champion Wabasso and making it past the first round won’t be easy.
“We have a really strong sub-section,” Campbell said. “There’s something to be said with having success and moving on in the playoffs to that double-elimination. We’ve had some really good games in those opening days in the playoffs and have come up short.”
The Panthers are scheduled to open their 2026 season Tuesday in Granite Falls. After another road game at Windom, TMB will play in front of their home crowd for the first time on Friday, April 10, against Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove.
2026 TMB SOFTBALL ROSTER Seniors: Piper Freeburg, Aliyah Loftness, Avery Torgeson, Rosa Vang Juniors: Melaina Ankrum, Kaylie Danielson, Braelynn Kirfk, Andreala Oeltjenbruns, Ary Schultz Sophomores: Alexis Brey, Gretchen Lanoue Freshmen: Sophia DelAngel, Alli Dolan, Mesa Edwards, Aleya Johnson, Bella Martinez, Adyson Morgan Eighth-graders: Adalynn Brey Seventh-graders: Kamryn Burns, Anika Connor, Allie Duscher, Gabby Facio, Willa Fransen, Brynn Grunden, Ladyn Jenniges, Skylar Johnson, Shelby Knott, Caroline Lanoue, Peyton Luckhardt, Audrianna Nelson, Aynsley Oeltjenbruns, Vanida Vang
