The sounds of a ball snapping into a leather glove and hitting off the bat can be heard filling the two diamond shaped fields directly behind the school. With spring in full swing, the Cannon Falls girls’ softball team started practice last week. The team returns with ten of the same varsity players from last year, which includes eight seniors. The Bombers look to use that experience to their advantage as they go into their season. Senior captain Gabby Heckmann adds, “I think that with this many seniors this year it will definitely help our team. We all seem to get along good and it translates well to the field when we play.” However, with the loss of the Bomber’s pitcher and catcher from last year, the team does have new cleats to fill.

Overall, the number one skill the girl leather mitters have to focus on is their offense. Heckmann states that, “The only thing that we as a team should work towards is consistently having at bats from all members of the team.” Every practice the girls work on hitting whether it be off a tee, taking a rip off the pitching machine or bunting off a live pitch. On the other end of the bat, the Bombers have been noted for their strong defense all around, and as the famous saying goes, “Defense wins championships” that’s exactly what the girls are going after. Heckmann explains that the team has high hopes of having a winning season and possibly a chance at state if all goes as planned. The softball athletes have the chance to prove their skill this Saturday, March 21st as they head to a scrimmage in Rochester. The team hits off their regular season on Tuesday, March 31st against the Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights. With the momentum building towards game day there is bound to be hits and catches filling the diamond fields.