Coldwater softball enters rebuild in 2024
COLDWATER – Attrition is part of high school sports; it is just a part of the whole circle of life. Student-athletes make their debut, turn some heads, break records, and eventually graduate and move on. Others still move on to try new things, some battle injuries, some decide to focus on academics. Either way, attrition is a huge part of high school sports no matter where you are.
For the Coldwater Cardinal softball team, the 2024 season will be a little bit of a rebuild, as the team is battling through the aforementioned attrition, as the defending Interstate 8 conference champions suddenly find themselves short in numbers and noticeably short in experience. Returning in 2024 are only two starters from last year’s squad that finished 32-9 overall, and both are sophomores. Holding down the leadership roles in just their second year are infielders Rylie VanAken and Maren DeBeau, who go from their rookie season right to the role of team leader.
“We are a very young group this year across the board,” Coldwater coach Bill DeBeau said. “But those sophomores, Rylie (VanAken) and Maren (DeBeau) are amazing leaders. They are very skilled; they play a lot of travel ball, and they are solid at both hitting and fielding the ball. So, we have a solid core group to work with, but we are entering this year with a lot of inexperience, as there are several players who have never played the sport on our varsity roster.They are working so hard though to fill those roles and contribute to the team in any way they can.”
The duo of VanAken and DeBeau are not the only players with varsity experience however, as sophomores Mya Porter and Coley Burkhardt saw key innings down the stretch late last season. Also helping lead the Cardinals early in the 2024 season are Maddie Moore and Mackenzie Searing who have found their spot in the Cardinal lineup and have shown tremendous promise.
“We can definitely hit the ball, but our pitching is a little light right now and if that’s not on in the game we are going to struggle as other teams put the ball into play and some of that inexperience shows,” DeBeau added.
Young Cardinal squad swept by Marshall in early season Interstate 8 battle
That young Cardinals team still looking for the right lineup combination suffered two tough losses to rival Marshall on Tuesday, falling by scores of 14-3 and 13-2.
Game one saw Coldwater put up three runs in the first inning to lead early, only to see the Redhawks pound out 14 unanswered runs to take the win. Marshall out hit Coldwater 15-8 in the win, a number that included three doubles and two home runs.
Porter took the loss on the mound for Coldwater after throwing five innings in the start while allowing eight hits and seven runs with four walks and four strikeouts.
Coley Burkardt and Riley VanAken each recorded a double while Porter, VanAken, Searing, and Moore all added RBIs.
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Game two saw Marshall explode for seven runs in the fourth inning to put the contest away early, as the Redhawks took the 13-2 win. Marshall out hit Coldwater 12-1 in the victory and enjoyed three doubles and three home runs in the offensive onslaught.
It was Searing taking the loss on the mound for Coldwater after throwing five innings, allowing 12 hits and 13 runs with two walks and four strikeouts.
DeBeau notched the only hit for Coldwater in the game while Porter and VanAken both scored runs for the Cardinals.
Coldwater falls to 2-11 overall on the season as the young Cardinals will continue to look for the right lineup combination on Thursday when they travel to Union City to face the Chargers in a non-conference clash.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater softball enters rebuild in 2024, team drops two to Marshall
