(Oakland) Expectations are as high as they’ve been in a long time for the Riverside softball team.
Coach Chris Conover admits he’s been looking forward to this season for the last five years. He could tell the senior class had some ability when they were eighth graders. Conover says every goal you could have is on the list from conference champions to state qualifiers to making some noise at state. Even though he can’t coach them in person, he has issued a challenge for the players to get in 2,500 swings.
“I challenged the girls to try and get 2,500 cuts in before the end of May. The girls have really taken to that and I have some girls that have already reached it with two weeks left.”
Logan-Magnolia, Underwood, Missouri Valley, Treynor, and IKM-Manning are all expected to provide strong competition in the Western Iowa Conference. Riverside’s returning experience could be a big advantage given this year’s circumstances.
“The way it looks like it could set up it’s a huge luxury. We’ll go right into the conference so you have to hit the ground running and every game matters. With this group I have this year and all that experience it makes it a huge luxury for us with all of them knowing exactly what they need to do on day one.”
Riverside didn’t graduate a single player from last year’s 18-10 team that was the runner-up to Treynor in the Western Iowa Conference. Seniors Gracie Bluml and Ashlynn Amdor have each committed to play at the college level next year. Other strong bats in the lineup include but aren’t limited to Kenna Ford, Jadyn Achenbach, Skye Bentley, Izzy Bluml, Ari McGlade, Meghan Reed, and Chiara Rains. Starting pitcher Kenna Ford returns after posting a 2.53 ERA.
