Photo courtesy of Brian Jeremiason. The 2025 Minneota/Canby softball team consists of (front row, left to right) Courtney Antony, Danni Kockelman, Kiersyn Hulzebos, Dakota Pesch, Emily Walker, Joelle Otto, (back row, left to right), Larissa Damm, Katie Boettger, Jayla Jerzak, Izabelle Hulzebos, Madison Hennen, Reice Sanow, Gretta Buysse, Jasmine Petersen, Emily Citterman and head coach Heidi Louwagie. Not pictured is Winnie Swedzinski and McKenzie Bednarek.

MINNEOTA — Although graduating its two leading hitters, the Minneota/Canby softball team is returning six players for the 2025 season with its eyes set on building off last season’s strong hitting, led by two seniors. 

The Vikings finished their 2024 season 13-8 overall, a significant improvement from its 8-9 record the year prior. Their season came to an end in the Section 3AA south subsection quarterfinal with an 8-3 loss to Pipestone Area. 

This year, Kiersyn Hulzebos and Dakota Pesch lead the team as the two seniors, followed by a group of six juniors. Hulzebos, Pesch and junior Madison Hennen serve as this year’s captains. 

“They’re [Hulzebos, Pesch and Hennen] already showing great leadership and offering advice. We got a few young ones that are with us and are taking them under their wing,” Minneota/Canby head coach Heidi Louwagie said. “It’s a fun bunch of kids. We always try to keep it fun, too. It’s a sport that allows you to have a little more fun.” 

Minneota/Canby was a good-hitting squad last year, with a team .338 batting average. Of its 13 wins, the Vikings had 7 or more runs in six of them, and as many as a 20-6 victory over Lakeview on April 25, 2024. 

While graduating Brooke DeSmet and Kenadi Arndt, the two highest average batters last season with a .444 and .414 respective average, the Vikings still return a group of proven successful hitters in Hulzebos, Izabelle Hulzebos, Hennen and Pesch. 

“I think we have strong hitting. It’s just that sometimes, I think we lack confidence when we step in the box,” Louwagie said. “We’re really trying to work on confidence on every pitch and seeing the ball. Great things will happen if we hit the ball.” 

Kiersyn led the team last year with 71 at-bat appearances, and finished with a fourth-best .394 batting average on a .469 on-base percentage. She had a team-high 28 hits, all singles and one double, along with nine RBIs, 18 runs and 11 strikeouts. 

Kiersyn is also one of the main defensive players, again playing as the main catcher this season. Louwagie said she is healthy and having a strong start to the season. 

Izabelle followed with a team third-best .410 batting average with her 39 at-bats. She tallied 16 hits, nine singles, six doubles and one triple, with 14 RBIs, 14 runs and nine strikeouts. 

Hennen had a .364 batting average with 66 at-bats through 24 hits, composed of 15 singles and nine doubles, with five runs and 19 strikeouts.  

Hennen and Pesch led the team last year with 18 RBIs a piece. 

To round out the group of hitters, Pesch had a .349 average through 63 at-bats with 22 hits of 12 singles, seven doubles, two triples and one home run, along with a team-best 19 runs and had 10 strikeouts. 

Louwagie said focal points for this season will be maintaining their aggressive hitting while minimizing errors. 

Hennen returns to the mound this year as the leading pitcher. In her 2024 campaign, she pitched for 112 innings through 19 games, starting for 16. In her 469 batters faced, she allowed 98 hits, 21 walks and finished the season with a 1.94 ERA. She also threw 197 strikeouts.  

“Madison is just a very strong and dedicated pitcher,” Louwagie said. “She blew out her knee, though again, her other knee. She did one in ninth grade and missed season, and then she blew her other one out right at the beginning of August. But, she has recouped and has done a lot of training, and she’s ready to roll.” 

Minneota/Canby also returns junior Joelle Otto, who served as a relief pitcher last season and had successes on the mound. 

Otto pitched in five games for 19 innings last season, and started for four. She allowed 22 hits and four walks, and threw 14 strikeouts in her 84 batters faced. She finished the year with a 1.84 ERA.    

Minneota/Canby is led by Louwagie alongside assistant coaches Katie Boettger, Emily Citterman and Larissa Damm. 

The Vikings opened up their 2025 season with a 10-0 mercy-rule win against Sacred Heart, followed up with an 8-7 victory against Wheaton Herman Norcross. 

“The year before [2023 season], we didn’t have Madison. We had lost her that season with her knee, so we relied on some different pitching. Having her back makes just a huge, huge change in the game,” Louwagie said. “I think we’ve got really strong defense, and if our hits are alive, we’ll be fine. We can play. We got speed on the bases and some softball I.Q., so that helps, too.”