(Audubon, IA)- As the 2024 softball season kicks off, two local opponents have now become one team as Audubon has absorbed the Exira-EHK team and named former Spartans head coach Andrea Schwery as the Wheelers head coach. The Spartans were 21-4 last season with a loss in the third round of regionals. Schwery is excited to see what this new team can do and loves how combining the teams allows for more competition, more numbers, and more player development.
Even the players are excited about the opportunity that the Wheelers and Spartans combining brings for them, especially since they don’t have to worry about facing each other anymore. While they’ve only played twice over the last four years, Exira-EHK has won every matchup including the second round of regionals in 2023 to end the Wheelers season. Now, these two strong programs, with a combined record of 37-13 in 2023, get even stronger.
With more players also comes more depth and two players who will have the opportunity to take full advantage of that are pitchers Riley Miller and Alexis Obermeier. As an eighth grader last season, Miller started 22 games with an 18-4 record pitching 136.2 innings as the Exira-EHK ace. Obermeier will be a senior for the Wheelers this year after starting 21 games in the circle as a junior delivering pitches in 150.2 innings. The two star pitchers will be able to allow themselves extra rest and allow for the young bullpen to develop behind them. The rest of the infield is able to change with the pitching changes as both pitchers are good enough athletes to play the field too. More rotations mean more competition to see who will come up with what spots.
Coach Schwery knows it will be a learning curve with a new team coming together but the main thing she’s looking for in game scenarios is the communication. She knows Audubon players may not be used to the same verbiage or situations used last season by the former Spartans team so being able to communicate well across the field will be crucial for success. It won’t just be the softball team adding numbers this season as the fanbase will come together too.
The new look Audubon Wheelers softball kicks off their season tonight as they host Earlham to start a stretch of four straight days with four games. They’ll face AHSTW, Treynor, and Riverside on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday respectively.
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