NRHEG grad Camerer takes over
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
A new head coach takes over for the NRHEG softball team this spring and, like her Panther counterpart in baseball, she's no stranger to the system.
NRHEG graduate Kayley Camerer, who not long ago was hitting home runs for the Panthers, is now in charge of the program, assisted by 18th-year coach Nate Jensen and third-year coach Cloie Arndt, another former Panther.
Last year's squad, the final season for longtime NRHEG coach Wendy Schultz, finished 9-8 overall and 6-6 for fifth in the Gopher Conference. They lost their sub-section opener.
The Panthers graduated three players off that squad in Sydney Schultz, Bree Ihrke and Trinity Smith-Vulcan.
Schultz, daughter of Wendy Schultz, was all-conference, all-section and honorable mention all-state. She and Ihrke were the captains.
Plenty of players return including seniors Payton Bunn (OF), Faith Nielsen (P/IF), Preslie Nielsen (IF), Erin Peterson (utility), Tayler Schmidt (IF) and Isabel Stadheim (OF), juniors Aryana Howe (U) and Aspyn Stenzel (IF), sophomores Kyera Eustice (OF), Adalyn Stadheim (C/IF), Chloe Stork (U), Tatum Thibodeau (U), Sam Possin (U) and Claire Robran (OF), and freshmen infielders Olivia Berg, Izley Boerner and Faith Phillips.
Coach Camerer expects a big season from the Panthers' sister tandems, Faith and Preslie Nielsen and Izzy and Addy Stadheim. Peterson or Berg could also have a breakthrough season.
"We hope to keep improving and getting better throughout the entire season, and be playing our best softball around playoff time," said Camerer. "Our team strengths include being hard workers with a great team chemistry, great attitudes, and our speed. One thing we need to work on is getting experience and growing confidence levels for players who are stepping into starting varsity spots."
Returning state entrants Randolph and Bethlehem Academy are the preseason favorites in the Gopher Conference.
The top teams in Section 2A, according to Camerer, are New Ulm, Belle Plaine and returning state entrant LeSueur-Henderson.
NRHEG 2024 Softball Schedule
April 2 at Blue Earth Area, 5 p.m.
April 4 at Randolph, 4:30
April 5 at Austin Packer Dome, 7 p.m.
April 8 vs. Southland, 4:30
April 11 at United South Central, 4:30
April 12 vs. Blooming Prairie, 4:30
April 15 at Granada-H-EC/ML, 4:30
April 18 vs. Bethlehem Academy, 4:30
April 19 vs. Waseca, 4:30
April 22 at Blooming Prairie, 4:30
April 25 vs. Hayfield, 4:30
April 26 at Caswell Park, TBD
April 27 at Caswell Park, TBD
April 29 at JWP, 4:30
May 2 vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 4:30
May 7 vs. United South Central, 4:30
May 9 at Maple River, 4:30
May 10 vs. Tri-City United, 4:30
May 13 vs. Medford, 4:30
May 16 vs. WEM, 4:30