Gator Softball in a League of Their Own

Captains and coaches from both teams meet prior to the first pitch at home plate before North Star takes on Lincoln Southeast in September. Photo by Gator Galaxy Staff

By Mikaelah Molifua

In 2009, the Gator varsity softball team qualified for the state championships in Hastings, NE. They had one of the best pitchers in the state. Paige Policky was a very important asset to the program. Emily Weber and Mallory Nesson were also key players in their final season. They played in championship game against rival Lincoln Southwest High School. They played a competitive game, but couldn’t pull through with the win. They came home with a state runner-up trophy and banner that waves in The Swamp. No other team or individual sport has brought home a state trophy. This year, the Lady Gators are planning to put another state banner right next to it.

Originally the Gators were not rated in the Lincoln Journal Star, but were rated ninth in the Omaha World-Herald. The Gators knew they were better than their ratings and they knew they needed to prove it.

As of press time the varsity softball team is 17-6. They have defeated many top rated teams and have beat all of the teams they were supposed to beat. “I like how we have remained tough,” senior captain Amanda Walla said, “and we stay tough no matter how hard things seem.”

Head coach Todd LaVelle has really pressed the issue of becoming a unit. The team has done many things to improve the team chemistry. Before the season started, they got to know each other by going to many workouts and conditioning practices. They pushed themselves hard throughout the summer to get better. There was hitting and fielding practices for those who wanted to get better. They new they had to get better. There were more girls, just in the summer program alone, to fill three teams. This summer was the best turnout they’ve ever had.

The first day of tryouts, around 35 girls attended ready to show coaches what they were made of. They were split into three separate teams and started right away.

LaVelle took 16 players on varsity instead of 12 this year due to the hard work ethic of four sophomores. He felt that it would only be fair to give them a chance and so far they have proven themselves.

Along with those four sophomores, two freshmen were added to the group. Freshman Pilar Ahmann has impacted the team in a whole new way. On Tuesday, September 13, Ahmann broke the school record with four homeruns in one season. “It’s been a big challenge to be a starting freshman, but I learned to balance everything very well,” said Ahmann.

They also had a team all-nighter at Branched Oak. Coach Darren Ferguson brought his boat and a four-person tube. The team was split into three tents. Seniors captains Kylie Harpst, Emily Nelson, and Amanda Walla were each assigned to a tent and the team was split from there.

The morning started off as a scrimmage. They split up into two different teams and played it out just like a real game. After the game they went home, got ready and went back to the lake and took team pictures, went tubing, laid on the beach, cooked smores, ate dinner, made goals, and had “girl talk.” They laughed and cried. Personal stories about brothers, sisters, and family were told. They told stories about themselves and boyfriends. Harpst said, “It’s great that we can tell each other anything without being judged!” Walla and Nelson agreed that they have never been on a team that has such unity and passion and that the more they work the closer they all will be.

The Lady Gators are looking forward to the rest of their season and are hoping to host their own district and make it to the state championships.

Even if they don’t get farther, they know they will always look back at something special about this season–a new sense of family.

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Gator Softball in a League of Their Own