2022 Northeast Softball Preview

NORFOLK, Neb. – The offseason for the Northeast Community College softball team has been one of positive change, and there is a lot of anticipation to bring those changes to the field. The Hawks will have their first taste of live action at 8 p.m. on Sunday, January 30 in Aberdeen, S.D. against North Dakota State College of Science at the Presentation College Dome Classic.

When asked about her excitement level for the season, head softball coach Iris Woodhead didn't hold back.

"It's high!" Woodhead said. "It's one of the highest I've had in the past. I get excited to see the girls at practice because I know that they match my enthusiasm for being there and seeing each other."

Woodhead and her staff have put an emphasis on player-led changes this offseason, and she feels those changes are already paying dividends for her entire program.

"It's like a 180," Woodhead said about the differences between this year and last year. "Absolutely 180. Anything that we've done in the past—fundamentals and things like that, no we're not changing that. We're not reinventing the game. But how we approach things absolutely has been a complete 180. What we've done in the past, especially last year, we don't want to do that again. We want to try something different and see if we can take off in a different direction."

As part of those changes, Woodhead approached her team and asked how they would like to mold their squad for the upcoming season.

"We wanted to define ourselves different," Woodhead said. "One of the first things we actually did was we came up with a mission plan and a vision statement of our own for this year. They created it, and it's something that they could buy into. We're starting a new future here. That was our big message. Fresh start."

"TOGETHER WE CAN" is the motto the team decided on, and they also collectively created a set of values that they want to live by. Those values are family, trust, responsibility, growth, perseverance, vulnerability and unity.

"Fresh start," Woodhead said about turning the page to 2022. "Everything we're doing, especially what the coaching staff is doing, is different from every single year in the past. Sophomore's, you don't know a thing because we're all starting fresh."

The Hawks will be led in part by Brianna Aguilera (Pierce, Neb.), who returns for her third year at Northeast. Aguilera hit for a .398 batting average, tallied 37 RBIs, 14 doubles and five home runs in 2021, and was also named Second Team All-Region by the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference for her efforts during the season.

"Brianna Aguilera is obviously going to be huge," Woodhead said. "This is her third year. Second team all-conference. She'll be our catcher. She's going to be a big-time hitter for us at the plate. She's going to be one of our biggest leaders."

Greta Lindberg (Tekamah, Neb.) joins Aguilera as returning Hawks players who were awarded for their play in 2021, as she was named an honorable mention honoree by the conference last season.

"We've got Greta coming back," Woodhead said. "She's going to be a pitcher. She didn't have the season that she wanted to on the mound last year, but like we were just talking about, it's a fresh start. She's really embraced that mentality of, 'Hey, what I did last year doesn't matter. I get to re-define myself this year.'"

Lindberg was a force at the plate notching a .338 batting average, 10 home runs, 44 RBIs and five doubles in 2021.

"She was a big-time hitter for us," Woodhead said glowing about Lindberg's talents. "She had 10 home runs. She'll be an RBI bringer for us at the plate."

There are a couple other members of Woodhead's squad with experience playing at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park who are back for the 2022 campaign.

"We've got Abby Balfour (Nebraska City, Neb.) and Alondra Martinez (Grand Island, Neb.)," Woodhead said. "Abby is most-likely going to be our third baseman. Alondra is our predicted second baseman. We have a pretty-established infield this year with Abby, Alondra, Brianna, and Greta. We feel pretty good about our infield. Abby and Alondra are going to be solid hitters for us at the plate wherever they are in the lineup."

There's plenty to be thrilled about with what the returners bring, but what exactly are the expectations for this year's freshmen class?

"A lot because we have 11 of them," Woodhead said. "Eleven freshmen. So we expect a lot. Alexis Folks (Arvada, Colo.) from Colorado is going to be an infielder for us. She's predicted to be our shortstop and our leadoff batter. Obviously, those things are always changing, but that's our prediction for her. She's going to be big for us defensively and hitting-wise in terms of us getting on base and being able to score runs."

Folks was a three-year starter at Arvada West High School where she was named All-Conference and First Team Academic All-Conference.

"Emilee Spitz from Twin Rivers just down the road here is going to be a big-time pitcher for us," Woodhead said while assessing other members of the freshmen class. "She's going to come in and eat up a lot of innings on the mound. She's also going to be a really good hitter for us."

In the state of Nebraska, Spitz was a four-time All-State Honorable Mention, a three-time All-Conference member and was named an Under Armour Softball Factory All-American. She was also a four-time Softball Academic All-State member.

"Josie Knust is going to be another newcomer that's going to come in and do really well for us," Woodhead said. "She will be a hitter for us. She will hit really well. She had a good fall hitting-wise."

Woodhead is pleased with what she has seen with her newcomers as a whole since they enrolled last August, and she expects that effort to translate to live games this spring.

"All three had a good fall for us, so we expect them to come in and be big-time players for us," Woodhead said.

Team mottos weren't the only aspect of the club that the softball staff looked to change this offseason, as they also developed a new philosophy on team leadership.

"We didn't vote on captains this year," Woodhead said. "We did a team council instead. The girls voted on it. We're looking at Josie, Abby, Makynzie Loftus (Gillette, Wyo.), Bri and Alyssa Bottorff (Nebraska City, Neb.) to be our leaders this year. We're looking at those girls to help take us off, and to keep us on the right track."

Woodhead feels having more voices in the team council will allow more players to gain valuable leadership experience.

"If the team has an issue, obviously I have an open door and I want anyone to come to me," Woodhead said. "But with some of that smaller, minuet stuff, that's what the council's for. Or if the coaching staff has an issue, we will go to the council to try and get them to reiterate our issue that we're having to make sure we stay on the right path."

After spending time around her roster, Woodhead feels that this is one of the most coachable groups that she has had.

"They are very receptive to things," Woodhead said. "As a coach, as a teacher, coming in and knowing you have a receptive team, that makes you feel a little bit more passionate and enthusiastic to go to practice. They're thinking, 'Hey we're going to learn something. We're going to get something accomplished today.'"

Don't think it is all serious all the time however, as there is one trait about this year's personnel that Woodhead couldn't help but notice.

"They're goofy," Woodhead said with a laugh. "They like to share stories, which is a good thing. It's softball. Things go wrong all the time. A .300 batting average is awesome, and that's failing a lot of times. So, it's nice knowing that we have that goofy sense of personality to get us through those rough spots, and to keep us going."

That goofiness and togetherness is something that Woodhead hopes her unit can lean on when they enter the heart of their schedule.

"We're in one of the toughest conferences in the nation," Woodhead said. "It's your ability to move on. Our ability to move forward and to grow and not dwell on the past is what we really need to focus on this year."

When Woodhead looks around the dugout, she feels confident that the pieces needed to compete are already in place.

"We have the talent, we have pitching, we have hitting, we have defense," Woodhead said. "We have it all, and now it's just that mental side. Can we get past that, 'Well, Northeast finished bottom of the conference last year.' That was last year. We have 11 new people on our team. Last year doesn't define us. Can we get past those things? I think that is going to help us with our forward momentum."

As the series continue to mount and the dog days of the season approach, Woodhead will be watching to see how here team is growing psychologically.

"Growth is one of our values," Woodhead said. "It's the same as vulnerability. I want to see kids become a little bit more vulnerable as the season goes on. It's a tough season. Tough conference. You're just playing a tough sport as is. I think if you can show some vulnerability that means that you're willing to grow."

The 2022 softball team has a chance to be a pillar for years to come after all the new elements that have been added to the mix from the top down.

"We've changed our way of recruiting," Woodhead said. "We changed it after last year. The type of players that we're looking for, and it has been a benefit thus far."

The proof will be in the pudding as they say, but no matter what Woodhead is looking for a few components to click to call this season a successful one.

"If we can keep that light sense of humor, along with that vulnerability and that growth, I think that we're going to see the progression that we are looking for from January into March and April."

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