Bluejay Softball Seeks to Rebuild Behind Youth Movement

Northeast Nodaway’s girls softball team lost MaKayla Adwell (graduation), Maggie Schmitz (graduation), Paige West (moved) and Blair Stoll (moved), but have good numbers this year and good opportunities for new faces to compete for playing time.

Mandy Adwell returns to the helm and is once again assisted by Drew Bruner (no relation to the late Worth County superintendent). “Everybody is working well together,” said Adwell. “The older girls are really helping the younger girls out.”

This year, the Bluejays are hoping the Anne Schieber can anchor the mound and Cassy Redden can anchor the defense. The goal is to improve every single practice and every single game.

On Friday, the team didn’t get a lot done because the field was muddy from last week’s rains, but they still got some reps in. Anne Schieber impressed with her bat, crushing almost everything thrown at her. Maribeth Lamb also showed some pop in her bat. Cassy Redden, Maribeth Lamb, Lauren McIntyre, and Rachelle Rodriguez impressed with their gloves, the latter making a pair of impressive backhanded catches.

Also returning with experience will be Angela Standiford and Kiersten Morrow. Kami Adwell has played town ball before and has shown some pop in her bat. NEN figures to have some speed on the basepaths this year as Anne Schieber outran everybody in running drills, with a pair of freshmen, Ruby Wilmes and Lauren McIntyre, pushing her hard.