Glen Lake softball is ready to hit the diamond with something to prove.
Laker coach Lauryn Pleva is excited to enter her second season at the helm with a mix of underclassmen and seniors.
“They were making great contributions, conversations whenever they are on and off the field to make sure things are taken care of,” Pleva said. “They are setting that example for this next group coming up. That’s what I’m really excited about.”
The Lakers will be dressing 15 players on the varsity squad.
Glen Lake will hope to compete with Frankfort and Kingsley in the race for a Northwest Conference championship.
After once-in-a-generation talent Olivia Mikowski stamped her name into the Laker record books, Glen Lake must rebuild after the three-time Enterprise Dream Team MVP graduated.
“Every year I feel like the whole dynamic of a team will change both in terms of personnel but also in terms of how you have to structure your offense to your defense,” Pleva said. “With the group of girls that we’ve got now both returning and new, there is just a ton of speed throughout the lineup. We might not have the power, but if they can get themselves on base and they can move themselves without needing that big production to make things happen.”
Jessie Pugh is returning for her junior campaign after claiming a Dream Team nomination. She was a lead-off hitter with nearly half of her plate appearances resulting in a run scored, and she averaged just under a stolen base per game. In one game last season against Brethren, Pugh scored four times along with four hits, four runs, and five stolen bases.
Glen Lake defeated Suttons Bay in the district semifinal last year. The Lakers lost to Lake Leelanau St. Mary 10-4 in the district final The Lakers will be led by three seniors Elodia Peplinski, Paige Flores, and Ella Flores.
Peplinski is focused on having the team communicate efficiently on and off the field.
“We have a bunch of leadership traits in the team itself. Even the younger classmen are stepping up and making sure we’re pushing ourselves,” Peplinski said.
Paige said the team is focused on learning new positions across the board to field the best team possible. Her favorite thing about softball is the relationship made while playing the sport.
“We’re gonna have to work hard and we’re just gonna have to be patient with each other. It’s definitely gonna be a learning experience,” Paige said.
Ella Flores said she’s soaking it all in with this being her last season playing softball.
“Getting to know the new girls that come up is what I’m looking forward to … just by being a senior I feel we include everyone. I feel like that’s how we always have gotten the team to really bond together,” Ella said.
