MADISON — Lac qui Parle Valley returns a strong nucleus of players to a lineup that brought the Eagles plenty of success in 2022.
Three softball seniors will lead the way for the Eagles, who are fresh off a 23-4 overall record and 16-2 Camden Conference mark. The big three are pitcher/shortstop Taylor Shelstad, outfielder Rylee Lund and catcher/outfielder Ayanna Gipson.
Taylor Shelstad returns as a Class A All-State Second Team pick and will likely be the Eagles’ No. 1 pitcher, according to Scott Sawatzky, who is in his second season as LQPV’s head coach.
Shelstad batted .440, with a 510 on-base percentage and a .631 slugging percentage off a team-high 37 hits with 43 stolen bases.
“(Taylor’s) softball IQ is second to none,” Sawatzky said. “Her instincts put constant pressure on the opposition.”
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Lund returns as an All-Camden Conference selection. She batted .362 with a .440 on-base percentage and served as the anchor to LQPV’s outfield.
“(Rylee) makes great reads on fly balls, has a strong arm, and always knows what to do in given situations,” Sawatzky said.
Gipson returns fresh off a 2022 campaign where she recorded a batting average of .296 and on-base percentage of .377.
“She played a very important role last year,” Sawatzky said. “She quietly goes about her job, but it never seems to fail that she comes up with a big hit or a big play at a key point in the game.”
More returnees for the Eagles include juniors Claire Borstad and Isabel Gerdes, who is injured with a left torn ACL, and sophomore Kendyl Shelstad.
Borstad recorded a .219 average and Kendyl Shelstad held a .311 average with 14 hits — eight singles, five doubles and a home run in 2022.
LQPV Eagles schedule
April 15 at Wabasso Tournament, 9 a.m.
April 18 vs. MACCRAY, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
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April 20 at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 4:30 p.m.
April 25 vs. YME, 4:30 p.m.
April 27 at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 4:30 p.m.
May 2 vs. Dawson-Boyd, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
May 4 vs. KMS, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
May 9 at Lakeview, 4:30 p.m.
May 11 at Canby/Minneota, 4:30 p.m.
May 13 at Marshall Invitational, 10 a.m.
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May 16 vs. Renville County West, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
May 19 at Ortonville, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
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