Riverside Softball Progressed in 2024

August 7th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The 2023-2024 season for Riverside Softball ended in a 7-2 loss to Earlham in the class 1A-Region 2 semifinal and with an overall record of (20-12). No coach wants their team to end the year on a loss and that is especially true for Riverside Head Coach Lacie Patterson. However, coach Patterson did comment on the pride she felt from the tenacity that her team held throughout the entire season.

The Bulldogs stayed true to their never give up mentality and it led to a few highlight victories against some of the better softball teams in southwest Iowa. Two big comeback wins for Riverside on the year was a 6-5 triumph over Griswold and a 2-1 prevail against Woodbine.

Things look promising for Riverside softball next year as the team had no seniors in their starting lineup. The Bulldogs have plenty of skill to go around like eighth grade pitcher Peyton Schafer who showed some tremendous improvement throughout the year. Schafer had a season record of 18-8, 137 strikeouts, opponents’ batting average of .204, and an ERA of 2.91.

Schafer was not the only Riverside athlete that stood out to coach Patterson with their development. Freshman Kayden Schnak led the team in homeruns with 5 and in RBIs at 37. Sydney Somers contributed with 18 hits and 13 walks. Lastly, Adaline Martens who had 20 hits and 12 RBIs. This trio continued to refine themselves the whole summer.

While next softball season does seem a million miles away for coach Patterson, she does have one idea of what the future will hold for next year’s team and that will be the same culture as last season.