(Oakland, IA) — The Riverside softball team just had the best season in program history with a third place finish in the 1A State Softball Tournament and a 26-4 record. The Bulldogs finished atop the Western Iowa Conference, which had four teams playing for a state tournament birth.
Head coach Lacie Patterson said all they wanted from the girls was to compete.
Riverside will only lose one starter from the team in starting center fielder Elly Henderson. Henderson was a defensive anchor for the Bulldog outfield, and led the team in stolen bases with 29 bags.
Patterson says she will be very tough to replace.
The Bulldogs will be a very solid team for years to come, with only one junior on the team and seven of the starters in the state tournament being sophomore’s or younger.
Patterson believes this experience will make them better, but they’re also hungry for a return to Fort Dodge.
The Bulldogs have been trending in the right direction for the past three seasons, improving their previous record every year. With so many underclassmen still having multiple years with the program, they will be a tough opponent for years to come.
Patterson is hoping that this season will benefit the program for years to come.
