Softball: Things are looking up for Minnewaska Lakers
· Yahoo Sports
Apr. 7—GLENWOOD — All signs point toward improvement for the Minnewaska softball team in 2026.
After a 2025 season where the Lakers were 9-13 and 5-9 in the West Central Conference, they return a good chunk of their starting lineup, led by three Class AA All-State players.
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"We are hoping to have a promising year and continue to grow from what we did last season," said Luke Barkeim, who enters his third season as head coach. "We lost a couple of key starters from last year's team, including our starting pitcher, but we return a group of very talented athletes. Our youth of the past few seasons has experience and talent."
Haillie Schulz, a junior centerfielder who was an All-Area First Team selection, is back after a sophomore campaign where she batted .386 with 27 hits, 20 runs, 18 RBIs and 18 steals.
Avery Lewison, a senior centerfielder who was an All-Area Second Team pick, is coming off a junior season where she held a .361 batting average with 26 hits, 21 runs and 18 RBIs.
Emma Poegel, a senior catcher who secured an All-Area Honorable Mention spot, batted .324 with 23 hits, 15 RBIs and 14 runs in her junior season.
Those three will lead the charge with junior second baseman Avery Lewison, junior third baseman Eliana Marthaler and sophomore right fielder Mileigh Lundebrek this season.
Barkeim's assistant coaches for this season are Jesse Johnson, David Vinje and Leah Hagen.
"It will be a lot of fun to see what this group can accomplish this spring as we try to make a run in the West Central Conference and the section tournament," Barkeim said.