Suttons Bay softball is gearing up to take the field for the 2024 season, brimming with enthusiasm and smiles. Senior Minnie Bardenhagen, diving into her first high school sport, is thrilled to join the team.
“It’s honestly so cool. I’ve never been a part of a sports team before. I really love baseball. My family loves baseball and I’ve been having a really fun time,” Bardenhagen said. “I made some new friends and I feel like I’m improving every day.”
Bardenhagen is overcoming her fear of doing a sport. She is a self-proclaimed theater kid, but decided to try something new.
“I think it’s really important for people to take a chance, try something new and see if they’ve good at it,” she said.
Even though she is new to the sport, Minnie will be counted on for senior leadership for the majority underclassmen team. She is the only senior on the team.
“I think we’re all equal, age doesn’t really matter on this team ... I feel like just being supportive of everybody is great, the most important thing for this team,” Bardenhagen said.
The 2024 Norse softball team will be coached by Gary Galla, a longtime Glen Lake softball coach, who retired in 2022. All Galla wants out of this team is to come to practice and games with an attitude of getting better every day.
“We’ve got a lot to learn and they’re a very young team. They’re just going to have to learn on the fly,” Galla said.
The team mainly consists of freshmen and sophomores with one senior and one junior.
Suttons Bay sophomore Journey Braden is ready to hit the diamond and play new positions. Braden will be holding down the defense at shortstop, and can be expected at second base, catcher, and even pitching. This is her second year being on the varsity squad.
“We are just working on reps over and over again. Just working on it, helping each other out,” Braden said. “Successful. Lots of new people taking baby steps, coaches being really helpful ... but we’re getting there.”
The Norse kicked off the season Tuesday against Lake Leelanau St. Mary before traveling to Frankfort on April 16 to kick off Northwest Conference action at 4:15 p.m.
The Norse will be playing their next home game on April 30 against Buckley with all games starting at 4:15 p.m.
