Spring Grove Softball

04/06/2025

Softball Lions Turn Back Bulldogs, 8-5
By Lee Epps
Kendal VanMinsel batted 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, and Claire Sherburne went 2 for 4 with a home run and a double while driving in three runs for Spring Grove during an 8-5 home softball win over Grand Meadow/Le Roy-Ostrander/Kingsland on a chilly April 4 Friday. Seventh grader Sherburne was also the winning pitcher, in the circle for five and two-thirds innings without giving up a base hit. Sophomore Brinley Middendorf earned the save. Spring Grove improved to 2-1 (2-1 SEC) while handing the Bulldogs (2-1, 1-1 SEC) their first setback.
GMLOK’s only hit, a batting-ninth Candice Hanson single, came two outs before the game ended, but with 19 walks, there was plenty of action on the basepaths for the Bulldogs. GMLOK took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the next four Lion batters scored with five hits including back-to-back two baggers from VanMinsel and Joelle Halverson (2 for 4).
Emerson Ingvalson (2 for 4) led off the Lion third with a single and scored on an RBI single from Halverson, and Grove led 5-1. But the Bulldogs converted 11 more walks into four more runs, and it was 5-5 before GMLOK left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth.
Sherburne led off the bottom of the inning with a home run, and Spring Grove was ahead to stay. The Lions added two unearned insurance runs in the sixth, highlighted by a Sherburne double and a two-RBI single from VanMinsel.
When the Bulldogs batted, it was mostly the Lion pitcher and catcher (Izabel Kaufmann) playing catch with 19 walks and 11 strikeouts. Only three balls made it into the outfield – catches by Sydney Holland and Ingvalson before the lone base hit. When a Bulldog batter did put the ball in play, Lion fielders performed without error.
GMLOK pitcher Aspen Kolling issued only four free passes (three walks, one hit batter) while striking out 10. However, Spring Grove batters put the ball in play, belting out 10 hits, four for extra bases, along with three Bulldog errors. The Lions left nine on base, while the visitors stranded a dozen.
After three losses during the past two seasons, it was the Lions’ first win against GMLOK.

04/04/2025

Articles from our first two games - curtesy of Lee Epps!

04/03/2025

03/27/2025

Spring Grove Expects Further Progress in Third Softball Season
By Lee Epps
The 2025 Spring Grove girls are anticipating their third stand-alone softball season with a roster that is both experienced and inexperienced. There were seven wins last year (7-13) following a six-win inaugural campaign (6-10). After one season as an independent, last year’s Lions went 7-7 with a fifth-place finish among eight teams in their first conference race. In the 15-team Section 1A Tournament, they received the No. 13 seed and fell at No. 4 seed Hayfield.
Graduation claimed Lion MVP Katelyn Kraus, who received Honorable Mention All-SEC. But coaches Taylor Elton and Kelsey Morken welcome back eight of 10 letter winners, including both all-conference selections – senior Emerson Ingvalson and sophomore Jada Strinmoen.
Ingvalson, at third base last spring, also has experience in the outfield. She ranked second on the team with 12 runs batted in while batting .281. Strinmoen, the lone outfielder on the All- SEC Team, had team-highs with 23 runs scored and 15 stolen bases while sharing the lead with 17 base hits. She ranked third with a .283 batting average. Her teammates voted her Defensive Player of the Year as last year’s centerfielder and back-up pitcher. This year, Strinmoen is a possibility to fill the only infield vacancy at shortstop.
Returning to pitch, sophomore Brinley Middendorf was in the circle for 113 of the team’s 119 innings as a freshman. At the plate, she shared the team lead with four doubles. She was the Lions’ choice for Most Improved Player. Seventh grader Claire Sherburne is another pitching possibility.
Sophomore Izabel Kaufmann brings back experience behind the plate while the infield only needs to replace Kraus at shortstop. Ingvalson player third base last spring while senior Joelle Halverson handled duty at second base and senior Kendal VanMinsel was the fixture at first base. Halverson, voted the Team Player Award, had the Lions’ second-best batting average of .302 with two doubles and a triple.
Veterans are back in the outfield as well where Strinmoen defended in centerfield, senior Kaitlyn Klug in right and senior Sydney Holland in left. Holland is versatile with ability behind the plate and in the infield. She was voted Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Lions with both a .321 batting average and five extra-base hits while sharing the team lead with 17 base hits.
Other candidates include juniors Madison Lile (OF/INF) and Addison Kessler (OF) along with sophomore Corinna Constancio (OF) plus eighth graders Autumn Petersen (INF/OF), Brailyn Gulbranson (C/INF) and Braelyn Middendorf (INF) as well as previously mentioned seventh grader Claire Sherburne (P/INF).
Having eight two-year letter winners is a plus for Spring Grove. But with a recently reinstated program, unlike their rivals, none of the Lions had any softball experience below varsity level.
There is therefore much to learn, but Coach Morken is pleased with the progress of the girls’ game IQ (knowledge of the game). And the Lions are all athletic, aggressive and competitive with extensive experience in other sports.
There are plenty of veterans among the conference rivals. Seventeen of 19 All-SEC players retain eligibility. Seven of the eight conference teams bring back at least one all-conference player. Both conference frontrunners, champion Southland and runner-up Houston, might be expected to retain their league leadership with each bringing back all five of their First Team All-SEC honorees and also their player receiving honorable mention.
The 19-game schedule features 14 conference contests plus five non-league games, including home encounters with Triton, Goodhue and Lewiston-Altura along with road trips to Rushford- Peterson and Fillmore Central.

03/23/2025

Our 2025 Media Day Photo Link!
https://maddiesmomentsmnphotography.pixieset.com/sgsoftball/
Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us Madison and Tina!!

03/15/2025

Another great spring carnival in the books!! Lots of talent coming up! 🥎

03/13/2025

You know what day it is!

02/24/2025

Last Day to order your SG Softball Gear!

02/13/2025

25 Days Until Softball Starts!!
Get your gear today!
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/KfzUBGuEYV

07/12/2024

Today is the day!! We would love to see you at the Fest Building. Thanks for your support!! 🥎