The Minnewaska Area softball team got the season underway Friday at home with a doubleheader loss to Melrose Area.  The games had been postponed from Thursday, April 4 and were rescheduled for Friday at the last minute.

Melrose is one of the top teams in the area and didn’t show any mercy against the Lakers and first-year head coach Barkeim, who is assisted by Jacalyn Skoglund, Jesse Johnson and Abby VerSteeg.

Morris Area won the league title with a perfect 12-0 record last year, followed by West Central Area and Melrose Area (both 9-3), Sauk Centre (6-6), and Montevideo, Benson and Minnewaska (all 2-10).

Next up on the schedule is a game at ACGC, Tuesday (tomorrow) and a game at BOLD, Thursday, April 11.  

The next home games are set for Saturday, April 20 during the Minnewaska Invitational.

Current sophomore Emma Poegel led the Lakers last season with a .419 batting average and .490 on-base percentage.  

Current senior Ally Mogard was second with a .324 batting average and .489 on-base percentage, while also batting above .250 were graduating seniors Jenna Drewes (.295) and Leslie Murken (.294) and current sophomore Ella Roering (.278).

Check out more photos in photo gallery!