The Cannon Falls Girls Softball team had a successful season with many exciting wins. Ending their season with a record of 17 wins and 7 losses. The team grew very close this season, everyone lifted each other up and supported one another. In team sports like softball, having good team chemistry is the first step to a successful team, and the girls this season proved that. They had many goals set for this season, and many of which were accomplished. After talking to Chloe Sjoquist, Emma Templin, and Josie Sjoquist, it is evident that, even though the season didn’t end the way they had hoped, the team has lots to be proud of.
Senior Chloe Sjoquist was the team’s second baseman and a crucial part of the team’s atmosphere. She was a great leader to the many young players on the field and helped maintain a positive atmosphere throughout hard games and practices. Sjoquist explained that one of the most exciting wins this season was the game against Kasson-Mantorville at the beginning of the season. In this game, the team came back in the last inning to win it. The other game that was an exciting win was the 2nd game of the playoffs against LaCrescent. The team won in the 8th inning, 2 to 1. The team had many positive aspects to their team and Sjoquist explained many of those. “Our team’s greatest strength was our defense. Whether it was Ally or Emma pitching, everyone on the field was ready to go. We also were close as a team, which I think brought us together even more on the field.” Along with strengths, all teams have their weaknesses, some greater than others. Sjoquist noted that the team didn’t have many significant weaknesses. It took a little bit for the team to get their bats going and make contact with the ball, but when it was important, the girls came through.
Freshman Emma Templin was another important player for the Bombers. She is the team’s shortstop and pitcher, and is an aggressive hitter at the plate. This is Templin’s second year on varsity and she has lots of experience on the field. She is a smart, reliable player, and an asset to the team. Templin emphasized her love for playing with the team and the girls and the bond they all have. This year’s softball team grew very close, and you could tell just by watching them that they loved playing alongside one another. The team had many goals set for the season, and Templin explained one of the big ones: “Our main goals for the season were to improve and set a new standard for bomber softball. I definitely think we achieved both of those things, and I’m excited to see what the upcoming years bring.”
Lastly, junior Josie Sjoquist was this year’s third baseman. She has a super positive impact on the team, and you can tell she enjoys playing on the field. Sjoquist emphasized her love for playing with the team. “My favorite part about playing with the team was just spending time with each other. These girls have become some of my closest friends, and I think we created a really fun environment no matter what we were doing.” The team’s love for playing with one another was definitely one of the reasons this team is so special. The way they cheer each other on and support one another no matter what is special. Sjoquist explained “I think our biggest strength is our positivity and ability to not give up. We’ve had many close games this season that came all the way down to the seventh inning, so this definitely helped us get a few of these wins. This year I didn’t think we had any major weaknesses, it was mostly things like consistently scoring runs, knowing your approach in the box, and communication when baserunning that could’ve improved some. Overall, though, we were a pretty strong team.”
In conclusion, this year’s Cannon Falls Girls Softball team was something special. Their constant love and support of one another is something that is hard to find and that many teams put so much effort into. Although the season may not have ended the way they had hoped, they have so much to be proud of, and talking to Chloe Sjoquist, Emma Templin, and Josie Sjoquist proved that.
