At Pius X, softball is one of the ten girls sports available to join. For the 2023 season, guidance counselor Tim Isaacs served as the head coach.
Prior to Pius X, Isaacs was head coach for nine years at Syracuse from 2005 to 2014.
“I have always been a softball fan and have always watched it on TV,” Isaacs said. “Even when I wasn’t coaching, I was following the team at Pius and got to know the players well.”
Isaacs started coaching softball at Pius X in the fall of 2020 as a JV assistant. After taking a year off from the team, he returned to coach again.
“A number one goal we had this season was to raise the expectations,” Isaacs said. “I wanted them to know that every game matters and to take it seriously. I also wanted them to do the best they could during the whole season and to enjoy the journey.”
This season, there were six seniors playing on the team – Elle Ackermann, Milan Gamez, Sara Iburg, Hayley Lutjeharms, Skylar Mailander and Grace Mueller. Not only have most of these seniors played all four years at Pius X, but they have also been playing since they were little.
Lutjeharms started playing at the age of seven and is continuing her love for the sport after she graduates, as she committed to Wayne State. Similar to Lutjeharms, Iburg has been playing softball since she was in kindergarten and is committed to playing at the University of South Dakota.
“These past four years I have grown to be a better leader and communicator with the other girls,” Iburg said. “I have also learned to always give it my all, whether during practices or games.”
Being seniors and leaders for the team, the girls encouraged the underclassmen to work hard, but to also enjoy their time on the field.
“I want to help the other players learn from their mistakes,” Ackermann said. “My main goal this season is to help lead the team offensively.”
This season, the seniors loved the energy on the field and enjoyed the team culture. Some of their favorite memories came from the bus rides to and from the games.
“I have enjoyed learning to grow as a player with the other girls these past four years on the team,” Lutjeharms said. “I believe that you should always play as a team, as you can’t get anywhere by yourself.”
For their last year of playing together, the seniors made goals for the ending of their season. The varsity team went 2-1 at HAC and 3-0 at Districts, qualifying for the Class A state tournament.
