Flying into a new spring 2008 season are the Shorewood varsity and junior varsity softball teams. Despite the loss of key varsity members Katie Adams, Kristen Wick and Amy Geitmann, the team has been “staying optimistic,” according to Roxanne Kruger, senior captain of the varsity team.

Kruger is the only senior who will be on the varsity team. The only other senior playing softball, Riana Mardila, is new to the sport and team, so she will on junior varsity. Besides Kruger, the varsity team has three other captains: juniors Athena Naylor, Catylin Lewis and Helen Juffer.

With the help of a larger coaching staff, Kruger has made the goal of qualifying for the sectional game.

“We were only a few points away from qualifying last year, so I’m determined to make it this year,” she said.

Coach Bindi, along with Shorewood ’07 graduate Kristen Wick, will be lending their coaching support to the teams this season.

“I really missed the girls on the team,” Wick said of her return to Shorewood.

Pre-season, the team held practices in SHS’s north gym in order to “get a feel for the team,” according Juffer. “Practices were laid back, so we were able to bond.”

Along with practicing their techniques as a team in the north gym, the group made trips to the batting cages.

Practices will be held in the upper gym until the snow melts.

This season, Juffer said the girls plan to create a team “that functions well together in order to achieve our common goal of winning.”

About 20 girls came out for the season, which will result in a split of 8 to 12 players per each team.

“I can already tell that these girls are committed to the team, so I’m not very worried about the low turnout,” noted Kruger.

The group of girls who joined the team is predominantly freshmen and sophomores. “The younger players have great potential to create a strong team. They are a very enthusiastic group of girls,” Juffer said.

The first game will be held on April 1 against Pewaukee at home.

“It’s nice that we have a few weeks before our first game,” said Juffer. “That way, we’ll have some time to just work together.”