Lady Wolves are excited for new season

The Green River Lady Wolves Softball team is gearing up for a promising new season! The team will be led by Head Coach Blair McEndaffer, Coach Mark Hyde, Coach Danielle Kendall and Coach Alissa Davis.

The athletes started practice on March 4, and the first three days consisted of a tryout-type setting to determine the Varsity and JV teams. The new Varsity players are Terryn Avery, Gina Barajas, Aaliyah Casper, Abby Harrison, Haidyn Terry, Kodi Allred, Izzy Kelley, Ally White, Chacee Shiner, Emma Rieck, Danielle Maag, Molly Thompson, Tayen Miller, Cassie Kelley, Jocelyn Shantz and Imagin Wilde.

The team has six senior players, which will give them great leadership skills this year. Seniors Casper, Harrison, Avery, Barajas, Autumn Cooper and Emma Olson will make a huge impact during the season, stated Coach McEndaffer.

During the off season, Coach McEndaffer really pushes the girls to get in the weight room. She says it helps the girls get bigger, stronger and faster. She also holds open gyms a couple times a week. Open gyms help with many skills that need to be learned and practiced in softball, like base running, fielding, throwing, catching and batting. The coach is also a huge supporter of multi-sport athletes. Playing multiple sports helps keep athletes in shape and improves their muscle, motor and skill development.

The coaches are really excited that they are already diving into situational work and breaking down their swings and techniques, which is something they were unable to work a lot on before. In the past they were mostly working on the basics, but this season they are really ahead of the game.

"This year is really different for us compared to previous years," explained Coach Endaffer. "We're able to do a lot more than we have been and that's a testament to the girls and the upperclassman and the work they've put in."

She also believes this will be one of the best teams they've had since starting the program. She said they have more depth than they've had in the past. The seniors this year were freshman when the program began, so they have had years under her coaching staff and know her coaching philosophy and what the expectations are.

"I expect us to be competitive," she said. "Any given day a team can be beaten."

Last year, the Lady Wolves earned their place to compete in the 4A State Championships in Gillette. They had two unfortunate losses to Cheyenne East and Kelly Walsh that ended their season. They will be fighting strong this year to earn another chance to compete in the 4A State Championships that take place in Gillette on May 15 - 18.

The Lady Wolves will travel east to compete in their first game of the season in Cheyenne on March 15 and 16. Their first home game will take place on March 28 against Rock Springs.