PREVIEW: New pieces, motivation after 2023 state trip big themes for Lady O softball

BEATRICE, NEB. - Beatrice Softball is making final preparations before kicking off the 2024 campaign on Thursday night.

With a mix of new faces and returners, plus, a taste of the tournament in 2023, the Lady O are ready to make a jump this year.

“We feel like we’ve got 11 or 12 kids who will be real quality,” Lytle said. “Hope to have 15-16 by the end of the year who are Abel to play high level varsity so we’re excited about that.”

Beatrice brings in two new pieces in Karrigan and Kassidy Henrichs, to go along with a hearty group of returning starters. Lytle talked about handling a talented group, with only nine spots on the lineup card.

“It’ll be a challenge” Lytle said. “As a coaching staff, we have to figure out how to get all these kids opportunities and push them in there and make them work at it.”

Two returners include junior catcher Sadie Hereth and junior pitcher Layla Boyko, who both were part of last years group who made it to Hastings. Beatrice saw their state tournament end earlier than they’d hoped, but Book and Hereth discussed how it’s motivating them in 2024.

“State was crazy,” Boyko said. “I definitely learned how hungry I’ll be this year and I also learned how hard it is to have loss... But, now I know this year how much harder I’ll have to work to get that far.”

“I think it’s motivating the upper classmen and I hope it’s motivating the under classmen too,” Hereth said. “I think just motivating us and a big goal for all of us to make it back there.”

Beatrice’s season begins on Thursday night hosting Lincoln Pius-X at 6:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Field at Hannibal Park.