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Softball team: Pitching, experience return
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · May 25, 2017


The 2017 West Branch Bears softball team has a lot going for it, including athletes with great attitudes, the return of most of 2016’s pitching staff, and a senior leader with five years’ experience.


“I’m excited about this group,” West Branch Head Coach Kevin Kaalberg said. “It’s been that way during spring ball with their ASA (Amateur Softball Association) coach. A ton of enthusiasm. It’s not fake. They’re happy for each other.

“They encourage each other to help each other get through practice. We’re going to push them in practice. They’re working hard. By picking each other up, it helps them get through it and makes practice easier for them.

“I’m excited about the kind of team chemistry and senior leadership we have this year.”

But it’s a long season, an the team will face many challenges, including playing in the River Valley Conference.

“Regina has two great pitchers back,” Kaalberg said. “Durant is talented with outstanding coaching.

“In the north half (of the RVC), Cascade is going to be good again. And, there’s always a surprise.

“I think we’re going to have growing pains, but I like our chances. I think there’s a different mindset, and that will benefit us as we go.”

“We lost six or seven starters (from last year’s team),” Kaalberg said. “It is a big loss. It’s not easy to replace veterans that have been through it for multiple years.”

But one of the returning starters will be a key to this season’s success. DaLana Kron is a fifth-year starter.

“That’s rare,” Kaalberg said. “She’s taken a huge step forward in her leadership. I think she’s always had that, but she’s let those who were older than her take over. This year, DaLana’s really stepped up.”

Kaylee Montgomery is the team’s other senior. “The two seniors are doing a great job,” Kaalberg said. “They both put the team first.

“It’s not about them having a great senior year. They want to have a good year and a fun season as a team.”

That attitude is reflected in the younger players as well. “It’s allowing our juniors, our sophomores, our freshmen to take on more of a role,” Kaalberg said. “And they’re doing it. Then we have a group of eighth graders that have had success at a lower level. They’re bringing a positive attitude in as well.

“The kids are taking advantage of opportunities. Last year we came. We had a veteran team. I think some people accepted it. This year, everybody knows everything’s open. It was open last year, but I don’t think people took advantage of it.

“The younger people are stepping up ready to take on a bigger role.”

“We’re not going to state tomorrow,” Kaalberg said. “We’re working toward that goal. It’s tough, mentally. We play a lot of games in a short amount of time.

“As the season progresses, (the question is) how are the newer players going to adapt to that? They have to accept it’s going to take time. I understand if they get disappointed but are they learning from it and moving forward? Am I progressing? Or am I just getting down on myself? (They should be asking themselves)

“With new starters, there will be mistakes. If they are physical mistakes, we’ll get through it. Mental mistakes, let’s cut down on those.”

Helping to cut down on mental mistakes will be the Bears’ pitching. “(We) have most of pitching back from last year,” Kaalberg said. “(Hanna) Tisinger’s back, (Kaiya) Luneckas is back, (Caitlin) Hamer is back. They’ve been working hard. They’ve been throwing a lot.

“I’ve seen improvement. I have a lot of respect for Tisinger. She was thrown into it as an eighth grader. We didn’t have an option. Was she ready for it? Probably not. Has she learned from it? Absolutely. She just keeps growing as a player, as an individual. She brings a level of experience that won’t allow her to get rattled.

“Luneckas has taken a huge step forward. She was just an eighth grader last year, so she went through growing pains. That happens. She’s taken a huge step forward. She’s getting stronger. I think she’s getting stronger mentally.

“And the best part of it is (they are) two totally different (types of) pitchers. Luneckas is going to come in and throw hard. She’s going to get the ball up. Tisinger’s going to come in. She’s going to change speeds. She’s going to keep the ball down. It’s nice to have that. In the middle of the game you can just switch. And Hamer will be able to come in and give them a third option.”

One area of less experience is catching. “Right now we’re probably looking at a couple of eighth-grade catchers,” Kaalberg said. “I think we have two really talented eighth-grade catchers.

“I ask a lot out of our catchers. I got spoiled. I had (Bailey Lukavsky). She would take charge of a field. There wasn’t any question. We have to bring these eighth graders along to where they have the confidence to do that.

“Just getting them to relax. They’re both very talented. We’ll have more versatility at catcher, but we’re young.”

A strength of the team is speed. “Overall, I think we have more team speed,” Kaalberg said. “The younger kids give us not only versatility but speed.

“Taylor Thein (is a key returning player),” Kaalberg said. “I worked her hard last year. (She) gives us speed and experience. She played a lot of innings, and she hit well.”

Kaalberg summed up his team. “They’re not cocky, but they’re confident.”