Coe softball’s 5th-year seniors return for 1 more memorable run

MOUNT VERNON – The chance for one more season was too good to skip.

Coe’s contingent of “super seniors” – fifth-year seniors that took advantage of an extra year of eligibility afforded by 2020’s Covid-shortened season – put the real world on hold and returned for one more run on the softball diamond.

“It’s just understanding that we’re lucky to get another year,” said Heather Boeckenstedt, who is one of seven fifth-year seniors on the roster. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Why not do it? At least that was my perspective on it.

“There’s so much love within our group that why wouldn’t we want to spend another year together … I think everyone was on board.”

Loyalty, commitment and dedication to one another has paid dividends. Coe continued its impressive start, sweeping rival Cornell, 9-1 in five innings and 9-4, Wednesday night at Van Metre Family Softball Field.

The Kohawks are 19-5 overall, winning four straight and 15 of their last 17 games.

“We’re really excited for this ride together,” fifth-year senior Keera Ball said. “We all decided to make it one more year. We ended well last year, so we wanted to make that same run again. We’re all in it for each other. We say if one person is not having their best day the next person is stepping right up. We’re all in it for the team.”

The lineup is littered with experience. The first five batters and six of the top seven batters are fifth-year seniors, including leadoff hitter Boeckenstedt, Ball, power-hitting catcher Skyler Stookey, Ruby Kappeler, who hit a two-run home run in Game 2 against the Rams, No. 3 hitter Madi Parson and third baseman Shaylee Dodd.

Ellie Thurow earned the win in Game 1, improving to 9-2. When she’s in the circle, fifth-year seniors fill 70 percent of the positions on the field.

“They have so much experience and have been through a lot of different challenges that not everyone has gone through,” Coe Coach Jake Koolbeck said. “They’ve played a lot of softball and been together a lot. They’re a really close group. They really help our team energy. They’re a lot of fun.”

They endured challenges and heartbreak and enjoyed the highs with each other. There have been canceled seasons, a switch in leadership, losses, victories, conference titles, team records and trips to the national tournaments. Every trial and triumph has been worth it.

“We all came in together as freshman. We’ve been through Covid, a coaching change, so we’ve been through a lot together,” Ball said. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity but a lot of highs, too. We’ve done it all together. We spend about every minute on and off the field together. We’re just a big group that enjoys being around each other. It’s like our family and we’ve really enjoyed it.”

There are no athletic scholarships at the NCAA Division III level. Returning for another year of school isn’t as easy as it is for student-athletes at other levels. No one appreciates it more than Koolbeck.

“All of them were committed, even before that success, to wear Coe across their jersey,” said Koolbeck, who was a Kohawk assistant before taking over for longtime coach Diane Meyer. “It just says a lot. It’s just special for me that such a great group wanted to come back, continue the journey together and trust me to continue to have another good year.”

The end of last season has also been motivation for the Kohawks. They reached the D-III World Series in Marshall, Texas. Coe reached the final four and just missed the national title series, ending with 39 wins – the fourth-most in a season.

“Eventually our end goal would be to get to that championship game at the national championship and having a chance to win that,” Ball said. “We have to focus on conference, the conference tournament and then regionals.”

Coe handled Cornell in both games. Boeckenstedt led the charge, tallying six hits, four stolen bases and scoring five times during the doubleheader. She reached base all four at-bats in the nightcap, scoring three times. She is a catalyst for the Kohawk offense and has confidence in the bats behind her.

“I understand what my job is and that’s get on base anyway I can,” Boeckenstedt said. “I want to do it for the team, whether it’s a walk, a hit, bunting or an error. Let Ruby, Skyler and Madi hit me in because they’re absolutely hitting the ball right now.”

Parson had three RBIs and Kappeler and senior Bree Mangelsen added two hits and two RBIs apiece in Game 2. Kappeler drove in four and Parson knocked in two for Coe, which had 15 hits in the opener. Thurow struck out seven.

The Kohawks have rebounded from two tough one-run losses to Central with an offensive outburst. They have scored 45 runs in the last four games.

“This team is at its best when we’re not focused on one thing,” Boeckenstedt said. “It’s not just our pitchers throwing shutouts or our defense is making every play. We’re hitting, playing defense and pitching well. When we can put all three things together it’s hard not to win games.”

Koolbeck said the super seniors have been leaders by example in competition, showing younger players how to handle the good and bad that occurs in games. He has also witnessed their mentoring younger players in practice, talking to them during drills and different stations. The impact will extend beyond this final season.

“I think they show it on the field,” Koolbeck said. “They show how we want to play. Practice is great because when you have all those experienced voices, it’s not just my voice.

“They’re having conversations with that next group that hopefully steps in for us at some point this year when we need them and down the line continuing to build Kohawk softball.”

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