Softball: Experienced YME Sting have lofty goals
· Yahoo Sports
Apr. 7—GRANITE FALLS — The Yellow Medicine East Sting's entire swarm is back.
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All nine starters return from a YME squad that finished 14-8 overall and 10-3 in the Camden Conference. That included a 3-2 record in the Section 3A tournament.
"Bringing back all nine starters, we are hoping to continue to build off of last season's success and to keep building a stronger defensive and offensive game," said Sting head coach Jen Sneller. Her assistant coaches are Angela Winter, Kristi Klassen, Danie Koepke, Brooklyn Sorenson, Lauren McCosh and Amy Nordaune.
YME returns one of the area's top performers in senior Bayli Sneller. A three-time All-Area pick, Sneller was the Camden Conference's most valuable player after tallying 194 strikeouts in 133 innings. She already holds school records for strikeouts in a season (204 in 2024) and career (713). On offense, Sneller hit for a .352 average with 18 RBIs. She also led the team in hits and runs.
Her battery mate, senior Alana Almich, is back at catcher. She led the Sting with 11 doubles and two home runs. She had a .391 average and 16 RBIs.
The outfield will be anchored by another senior in center fielder Ella Cherveny. She'll be joined by sophomores Brianna Nelson in left field and Chasity Schmitz in right field.
Back in their usual spots in the infield are junior Kourtney Peterson at third base, sophomore Bailey Mortenson at first base, sophomore Everra Leenerts at shortstop and freshman Charlotte Paslawski at second base.
The Sting begin the season with a non-conference road game versus Montevideo on Tuesday, April 7. YME has its opener on Friday, April 10 against Redwood Valley for the first of a four-game homestand. Camden play begins on Tuesday, April 14 at home versus Dawson-Boyd.