South Eugene softball is back for the season.

As the softball season is in full swing, players are staying in high spirits despite starting off the season without a pitcher. They are led by Head Coach Philip Matern, Assistant Coach Cora Ferguson, and JV Head Coach Erik Stiller. As the team gets deeper into the season, players have started to fall into place, but at the beginning of the season the team faced the hard task of finding a pitcher. 

“A challenge we definitely faced this season was when we started off the season without a pitcher,” senior captain Brynn Zeigler stated. “Eventually we got a new student, Nora, and she is amazing, so she became our pitcher.” Sophomore Nora Borgquist Heulitt, who transferred to South just before the start of second semester, expressed her excitement, as well as how it felt to step into the position of pitcher. 

“My favorite part about the team is definitely the people,” Borgquist Heulitt said. ”They’re all really welcoming and nice. Becoming the new pitcher was definitely scary, but I found it really fun and enjoyable.” Talking through goals Borgquist Heulitt wants to “grow skillswise with the team.”

 Senior captains Brynn Zeigler and Catia Ransford have really kept the team together. While Zeigler specifically has been playing softball since she was 10, she believes that there is something special about being on South’s team. 

“I think something that differs from playing on South [compared to] other teams I’ve played on is that we just get to be with each other so much more often every day,” she remarked. “And so you get really close and build those connections.” 

As for the team’s goals for the season, Zeigler expressed her willingness to move forward in a good direction, even though sometimes it is tough. 

“We don’t have a ton of experienced players,” Zeigler said, “so we’re really trying to build the program, but it can be tough and we have some of the best teams in the state in our league. So just sticking together when games are tough is something we’re working on to keep a positive attitude.” 

The South softball team has six home games coming up at the Amazon Fields so show up and give your support! On May 3 varsity is playing Willamette at 12 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. On May 6, which is also Senior Night, varsity will take on South Medford at 4:30 p.m.. The junior varsity team plays a doubleheader at Willamette on May 3 at noon, and takes on their final home game against South Medford on May 6 at 4:30 p.m.

Article by Sofia Bell