With her teammates cheering her on, North Tama’s Addy Hochstetler (4) cruises toward home plate after hitting a home run on Friday, May 30, against the No. 11 Collins-Maxwell Spartans. Hochstetler’s homer – the first of her high school career –also knocked in two additional runs. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – North Tama softball opened the season last week with a trio of games – sandwiching a 12-2 win over Baxter between a pair of losses but easing the sting of falling to No. 11 Collins-Maxwell with Addy Hochstetler’s very first big fly.

“Her off-season work in the cage is paying off!” head coach Madonna Madorin said of Hochstetler’s shot to right center in the bottom of the third against Collins-Maxwell in Traer on Friday, May 30. The home run not only sent Hochstetler across home plate but two of her teammates as well, putting the score at 8-4 after the Spartans turned in an explosive five-run first inning. Unfortunately for the hosts, Collins-Maxwell’s offense kept the bats swinging in the fourth and fifth – racking up a trio of runs both innings – to which the Redhawks never answered. North Tama lost the Iowa Star matchup up 14-4.

After losing their season opener 4-2 at home to GMG on Tuesday, May 27, the Redhawks knocked off Baxter in a road game the next day thanks to a spectacular 10-run third inning.

“The [opener against GMG] was the first time everyone was together as a team since practice began May 4 due to multi-sport athletes,” Madorin said. “GMG jumped on early game nerves in the first inning. After that, we held the Wolverines scoreless for the next six innings while manufacturing two runs of our own.”

There has been a bit of a shake-up this season in the Redhawks’ roster with Hochstetler, a rising senior, retiring her catcher’s mitt for the hill and in turn, eighth-grader Morgan Meek taking on the backstop. The team also has a new – albeit familiar – assistant coach.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Seth Seda is our new varsity assistant coach. He is dad to Gabby Seda, our shortstop, and Violet Seda who is trying a new position at first base this season,” Madorin explained. “Seth brings previous softball coaching experience, lots of energy, and a passion for our game to our practices everyday.”

Senior leaders this year include Faith Dvorak, Gabby Velasco, and Danika Wrage who all return for their final season in a Redhawk uniform.

“Faith and Gabby are Hawkeye Redtail Softball signees,” Madorin said. “Faith is a four-year starter and letter winner who was selected second team all-conference last season. Her and Gabby share duties in left and center fields. Danika is a great teammate who does whatever she can to help the team. She is a positive person who works hard in practice everyday.”

“All three are great leaders. They lead by example and offer support to the younger players while helping create a positive and confident environment for the team.”

This week the Redhawks (1-2) were set to take on Colo-NESCO (1-3) at home on Monday before embarking on a three-game road series which included undefeated BCLUW (4-0) on Tuesday followed by South Tama (0-2) on Thursday and Rockford (1-3) on Friday, June 6.

Redhawk softball first-year assistant coach Seth Seda, left, gives a high five to his daughter Violet Seda (5) after she made it to first base against Collins-Maxwell on May 30 in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama will be back home again on Monday, June 9, to host Dunkerton at Lee Wiges Field beginning at 5 p.m.

“June is intense for softball,” Madorin said. “We are settling into our routine of practices and games – trying to improve with daily practices and three to four games a week. The plan is to be better than we were the day before, to learn from a loss, to gain confidence with wins, and to always compete.”

“The girls are willing to commit part of their summer to this sport, a lot of others have more important things to do, and I respect these girls for doing that. Hopefully we continue to grow and grab more wins along the way.”

Redhawk ace pitcher, junior Addy Hochstetler begins her wind up on May 30 early in the conference game with No. 11 Collins-Maxwell. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama eight-grade catcher Morgan Meek reaches for a pitch on May 30. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER