The Perry softball team will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes from last summer when the 2019 season begins tonight at the Perry Athletic Complex.
Perry lost nine of their final 10 games last season in falling to 10-22 overall while winning just one of 14 Raccoon River Conference games.
Five seniors depart, with head coach Tina Lutterman forced to find three new infielders, a new left fielder and, crucially, new pitching.
Perry surrendered 210 runs in 2018 while scoring 141 runs, with 16 games in which the offense scored three or fewer runs, offering little support for the defense. The team struck out 165 times while drawing only 93 walks, but all was far from doom-and-gloom, as the team hit .281 and was successful in stealing 62 bases in 67 attempts.
Senior Gabby West returns behind the plate. She hit .271 with 26 hits, including five double and a home run. Her total hits and 19 RBIs were both team-bests.
Senior Adriana Eastman will play first base, but could see time at third as well. She hit .218 with 17 hits (four doubles), with freshman Jayna Kenney batting .299 with 23 hits and four doubles.
Less than 24 combined innings returns to the pitching circle for Perry.
Kenney was 1-3 in 17-1/3 frame, with opponents hitting .346 while Peyton Tunink had two saves in 6-1/3 innings, with batters posting a .250 average. Both will need to be stronger to keep Perry in games.
Eighth grader Lydia Olejniczak will be a key addition. She will play shortstop and is a possible addition on the rubber while adding a solid bat to the lineup.
Kennedy Tunink, Cassidy Heck, Jasmine Shriver and Jasmyn Barck are also certain to see playing time.
Lutterman was quick to note the entire roster is in position to earn time on the diamond and in the lineup. Others out for the squad include Kathryn West, Taylor Atwell, Macy Kilmer, Kaylee Brock, Bella Nath, Libby Hastings and Laici Bushbaum.
“Whoever shows me they can help us win games is going to play,” Lutterman said. “No one is just being given a spot — they have to be earned. And we need to keep the attitude of being ready at all times, because you never know when you are going to be called on.”
Perry’s home opener with Des Moines Christian tonight is a varsity-only contest starting at 7 p.m. A Tuesday visit to North Polk follows, with Perry hosting Norwalk Friday.
