Softball is back in action. After finishing the season 13-7, the Red Knights are hoping for a State Championship bid. This year, the team is lead by seniors Hattie Hoffman, Abby Mead, Alyssa Brinza, and Hannah Nichols and the head coach Adrian Wagner.

This year, the team lost two players who graduated: Sedona Brown and Gwynn Bruce. Brown led the team in hits with 28 and Bruce ranked third in the team in runs with 16. Although the team lost two seniors, seniors this year are looking to play a vital role in this year’s success. The four captains will play the infield; Alyssa Brinza will play 1st base, Abby Mead will play 2nd, Hattie Hoffman will play shortstop, and Hannah Nichols will play 3rd base.

Additional keys to success are returning underclassmen Sarah Houlihan and junior pitcher Annabelle Hilson. Houlihan led the team in home runs and runs and had the second most hits; Hilson led the team in earned run average, wins, and strikeouts. “We lost two starters last year, but the four captains this year with Sarah and Annabelle will play a key role this season,” Hoffman said.

There aren’t significant changes to the team this year. However, three female coaches will be joining the staff. Lindsey Klein, Danielle Tschann, and Rachel Thompson will rotate between coaching games and also leading practices. They will play a big role in advising players. “The [three new coaches] will have a younger influence on the team,” Hoffman said.

The team’s thrilled for this year’s season. “I’m excited to play with the same players as last year and I think we’ll do well and I’m looking forward to getting outside and playing softball,” Abby Mead said.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s will competed in Metro West conference this 2017-2018 season. The conference is comprised of Bloomington Jefferson, Kennedy, Chanhassen, Chaska, Richfield, Robbinsdale Cooper, and St. Louis Park. They finished the regular season 13-7 (9-5 in MWC play) and headed into section 6AA as the 3 seed with Orono (#1) and Delano (#2) head of them.

They started off the section tournament strong by beating Robbinsdale Cooper (#6) 6-4 in the first round. Then they faced Delano (#2) in away game in the section quarterfinals and destroyed them 12-3 to move onto the section semifinals against red-hot Mound Westonka (#4)  who beat section favorites Orono 11-3. But BSM could face Delano again since the tournament is double elimination. The Red Knights will face the White Hawks on Tuesday, May 29th, with a trip to the section finals on the line.