Battling through the elements all season paid off for a set of Powell athletes, with the Aldrich Lumber girls’ softball team winning the intercity rec fast pitch softball league with an 11-6 championship game victory over Cody on June 29.

Overall the middle-school-aged group finished with a 7-2-1 record, getting revenge over MCG Cody which was the only team to defeat Powell in the regular season.

“After each of those losses all of us coaches (Travis Kovach and Nick Haney) talked about how that team is very beatable and how talented we truly are,” coach Amanda Haney said. “The girls were very humble after we won, they knew all along they could beat this team. Everyone stepped up and did an amazing job.”

Leading the way on the mound for Powell in the championship game was Jesi Agee, who took control in her first year of organized softball and formed a trio with Kindyle Floy and Veronica Kovach to lead the team in three key positions.

“Between those three girls one of them would pitch, catch or play first base,” Haney said. “This worked really well for us to have options and know that on any given day one of them would do the job we needed to get done.”

Haney said that the team also got strong contributions from Mason Whiting throughout the season, creating a strong presence at the plate that helped push the Powell offense forward.

“She was a solid infield player who covered third base and shortstop throughout the season,” Haney said. “She is a smart player who always talked to the team and let them know where the next play would be. Mason was also one of the best batters on the team. We always knew when she stepped up to the plate there was going to be action that usually brought runs in for us — Mason and Gabi Gernhart brought a fun and joking element to the team.”

RAIN DELAYS

Throughout the summer the rain brought about delays to games and practices but the team continued to push through the abnormal weather to make the best of the time available over May and June.

“This summer’s biggest challenge was the weather,” Haney said. “We would continue to fight through the weather with holding practice whenever we could, sometimes only having four girls show up. We made the best out of whatever time we had in the dirt.”

Haney said the poor weather did offer some advantages over a typical late spring-early summer.

“We looked at the bright side — most seasons are hot with a lot of mosquitos, this season we got to wear sweatshirts often and not worry too much about sunscreen,” Haney said.

TALENTED BUNCH

Including the Aldrich Lumber team, Powell put out three teams this season in comparison to Cody and Lovell who only fielded two teams apiece.

“The other Powell teams have some very good players as well,” Haney said. “Parents, players and coaches have all said, ‘imagine if we were all on one team.’ Powell would be a force to reckon with if that was the case.”

Despite not having softball offered as an option at the high school level in Powell, Haney feels this shows signs of the increasing popularity of the sport in Powell and hopes it continues to grow in the years to come.

“We have the talent and the interest,” Haney said. “There is a growing interest in our town, which is very exciting to see.”

SUMMER MOVEMENT

Over the summer there are sometimes few opportunities for kids to get out and be active on a team, but Haney felt like this summer was important to get kids involved outside of school.

“Any time you can get kids outside doing something they enjoy during the summer you can count that as a success,” Haney said. “Participating in a team sport promotes physical fitness, confidence and curiosity as well as increasing mental and physical health.”

She said that most of the girls know each other through other sports which helps them build relationships while making new friends and encouraging each other.

“The softball season is a very short season, yet we saw so much improvement,” Haney said. “Each girl really took on their part, owned it and grew as a softball player. Anyston Keller and Ella Rasmussen showed tremendous growth. It is hard to come in as a sixth grader and play with the older more experienced girls, but these two took on the challenge and will be looked on next year as leaders.”