Something old.
Something new.
It’s a marriage, but not a wedding.
The Montezuma Bravettes return nine of their 10 starters from last year as they launch into their new season.
That was off a team that was 10-17 overall.
Something new: They’re being joined by quite a bit of young talent that has been coming up through the ranks.
“I am really excited about the team the Bravettes will be putting on the field this summer,” said head Coach Jeremy Van Zee. “It should be an excitng summer of softball in Montezuma.”
Those returnees: Start with graduated senior pitcher Kallie Robison, who is entering her fifth season in the circle for the Bravettes. Robison is an off-speed, corner-nipping pitcher who tries to keep hitters off balance with varying speeds and locations.
Last season, she had an earned run average of 2.95 over 166 innings, with 123 strikeouts. On offense, she was a .256 hitter with 25 runs batted in.
Robison has a reliable battery mate in sophomore catcher Ellen Cook, who was a .219 hitter with 15 runs batted in.
A key to the offense last year was outfielder Madison Van Zee, now a junior, who led the team with a .389 batting average last year. She scored 23 runs and stole 13 bases.
Junior shortstop Izzy Roorda hit .318, with 18 RBIs and nine stolen bases. She also plated 20 runs.
Freshman Chloe Snook hit .333 for the varsity as an eighth grader last year. She had 11 stolen bases. She’s a utility player on defense.
Shortstop Jadyn Sharer returns for her junior season. She hit .284 last year, with 12 runs batted in.
Senior Kalynn Wanders, an outfielder, hit .237 last season.
Others who started last year include junior outfielder Laila Kercheval (.212), and first baseman Abby Pope (.153).
Some of Montezuma’s younger talent figures to make itself heard before the season is far along.
Van Zee sees Sigourney as the team to try and take down in the South Iowa Cedar League. They return a standout pitcher, Carly Goodwin, who led the Savages to a 23-8 record last summer.
“I believe they return eight starters from last season,” Van Zee said.
‘There are a handful of new coaches in the conference, so it will be interesting to see how some of the programs respond to that,” Van Zee said. “I honestly believe there are going to be some great battles on the field this summer.”
The Bravettes
Seniors – Abby Pope, 1B; Kallie Robison, P, Kalynn Wanders, CF/OF.
Juniors – Jadyn Sharer, SS, Laila Kercheval, RF, Madison Van Zee, CF/OF, Jordan Ranfeld, Utility, Izzy Roorda, 2B.
Sophomores – Willow Young, INF, Ellen Cook, C, Haley Burnett, OF.
Freshmen – Carrie-Ann Maxwell, OF, Chloe Snook, Utility, Lily Ferry, OF.
8th graders – Vivian Cook, Utility, Syd Burgess, 1B, Leah Urfer, P, Cam Schmidt, Utility.