WEBSTER CITY SOFTBALL TEAM MEMBERS FOR 2024 include, front row (left to right): Izzy Weinschenk, Alivia Burns, Cloe Savitski, Kenley Koop and Ellie Peterson. Middle: Bonnie Nohrenberg, Lydia Van Deer, Abby Blake, Hailey Brim and Adeline Tesdahl. Back: Ava Peterson, Breanna Bahrenfuss, Jaleaela Cherry, Morgan Hackbarth, Delainey Bargfaede, Ellie Weinschenk, Jaylyn Bahrenfuss and Briley Van Deer. (DFJ photo by Britt Kudla)

The Webster City softball squad will have plenty of ways to look for leadership as they head into the 2024 season.

The Lynx return a large senior class that has played hundreds of games together on the diamond.

Five seniors and four juniors will help guide the Lynx, who were one game over .500 last summer.

“I like our leadership and the fact that we have a big senior class,” said third-year head coach Brad Van Deer. “These girls have a lot of experience.

“The upperclassmen are working together and keeping our priorities in line.”

Through early practices, Van Deer likes the way his squad looks in the field.

“We’re going to rely on defense,” Van Deer said. “We have a really good pitching staff.

“We do need to improve on our hitting, though. We struggled with that last season.”

The pitching and hitting for the Lynx starts with senior Delainey Bargfrede, a Div. I Western Kentucky University signee.

“Delainey had an outstanding year (in 2023) and has had a great career here,” Van Deer said. “She is a strong leader who has mastered her craft by putting in the time. She has invested and sacrificed so much to get to this point.”

Pitching

Bargfrede will close out her high school career as one of the top hurlers in school history.

She enters the campaign with a career record of 45-18, sporting a 1.99 cumulative ERA. Bargfrede has fanned 514 batters in her three full seasons of work to date.

Last year, Bargfrede won 16 games while striking out 176 batters and finishing with a 1.03 ERA.

At the plate, Bargfrede led the Lynx in hitting a year ago at .357. She drove in 16, and seven of her 30 hits were for extra bases.

“She has really stepped up,” Van Deer said. “Our outfield is excellent to back her up, too, and she is a flyball pitcher.”

Also in the circle will be sophomore Jakaela Cherry — who pitched 39 innings in 2023 — along with junior Lydia Van Deer and eighth grader Briley Van Deer. Lydia is coach Van Deer’s niece; Briley is his daughter.

“Jakaela put in a lot of time in the offseason and has developed even more,” Van Deer said. “Lydia will throw some games for us and is going to be huge as far as practice goes, which adds depth that we haven’t always had. Briley will keep getting better as well.”

Infield

Junior Cloe Savitski will complete the battery with Bargfrede. Savitski batted .310 a year ago, starting 25 games behind the plate.

“She (Savitski) is one of the best,” Van Deer said. “She is as fast as you’ll see (16 stolen bases). She has a great attitude, too, and is tough as nails.”

Sophomore Morgan Hackbarth will back up Savitski and also play first base after lettering as a newcomer last summer.

“Morgan is doing a good job, given it’s her first time taking on the role,” Van Deer said. “She is doing what she needs to do.”

Sophomores Hailey Brim and Lydia Van Deer are vying for time at second base.

“They’ve both played second at the JV level,” VanDeer said. “They’ll get some time to work it out. They’ve been doing an excellent job.”

Senior Ava Peterson will be at shortstop. Last year, Peterson hit .244 with 16 RBI. She had 21 hits, including two home runs.

“Ava had been at third for a few years,” VanDeer said. “We moved her to shortstop out of necessity.”

Junior Breanna Bahrenfuss will be at the hot corner. A year ago, she batted .259 with 22 hits and 11 RBI.

Outfield

Manning leftfield will be senior Bonnie Nohrenberg, who batted .284 in 2023. She had a team-high 18 RBI, with 25 hits.

In center will be senior Adeline Tesdahl, returning as one of the top hitters for the Lynx. Tesdahl batted .320 with 14 RBI on 32 hits in 2023. She also swiped 26 bases.

Along with Bargfrede, Tesdahl is a returning first team all-North Central Conference player.

Senior Ellie Weinschenk will be in right. Weinschenk played in 29 games a year ago.

“Bonnie and Addie are very solid,” Van Deer said. “They’re multi-time all-conference players.

“Ellie was a first time starter last season. She brings speed to the outfield and can really run well.”

Schedule

The Lynx will once again be in the challenging North Central Conference.

“Everyone is probably looking at St. Edmond, who has a lot back from last year and added some key pieces,” VanDeer said. “Humboldt has some salty players coming back as well. Algona always competes, and Hampton-Dumont/CAL is getting better and is building something there.

“Clear Lake has a lot of young players and are well coached. They are bringing some baseball mentality to the softball side.”

The Lynx, who were the NCC runner-up a year ago, will open the season on Friday when they host Algona. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m.

2024 WEBSTER CITY SOFTBALL

Roster

Seniors — Adeline Tesdahl, Ellie Weinschenk, Delainey Bargfrede, Ava Peterson, Bonnie Nohrenberg.

Juniors — Cloe Savitski, Lydia Van Deer, Breanna Bahrenfuss, Abigail Blake.

Sophomores — Alivia Burns, Hailey Brim, Morgan Hackbarth, Ellie Peterson, Jakaela Cherry, Kenley Koop.

Eighth-graders — Briley Van Deer, Jaylyn Bahrenfuss, Isabel Weinschenk.

Schedule

May 24 — Algona; 28 — Storm Lake; 31 — at Clarion-Goldfield.

June 1 — at Perry Tournament; 3 — at Humboldt; 5 — Clear Lake; 6 — at Iowa Falls-Alden; 7 — Carlisle; 8 — Webster City Tournament; 10 — Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 11 — at Boone; 12 — at Algona; 13 — at Pocahontas Area; 17 — at St. Edmond; 19 — Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 21 — Humboldt; 22 — at Roland-Story Tournament; 24 — at Clear Lake; 26 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 27 — Eagle Grove; 28 — at Hampton-Dumont/CA: 29 — at Carlisle Tournament.

July 1 — at Roland-Story; 2 — St. Edmond; 3 — at North Polk; 8 — Southeast Valley.