As winter is coming to an end, spring is right around the corner. Which means softball is also approaching.

The Normal West girls’ softball team held tryouts on February 29^th, March 1^st and 2^nd. This season there will be three teams, varsity, junior varsity and a freshman team. The freshman team is new this year due to the large number of expected freshman.

The West softball program this year has also gained the help of two new coaches. The new junior varsity coach is going to be Megan Holderby. Megan played softball at Normal West, and graduated in 2013. The coach of the freshman team this season will be Jason Fields, he is a teacher at Normal West and at Kingsley Jr High school.

The varsity team’s first game is on March 17 at Maxwell park. They will be playing Metamora. Last season Normal West beat Metamora in the first game of the season with a score of 9 – 5.

The 2015 season overall was a good season for the lady Wildcats varsity softball team. With a record of 20-10, the wildcats advanced to the regional game.

Last season the varsity team lost five seniors, Amy Nelson, Amber Collinson, Claire Ambrose, Delaney Gardner, and Sara Whitely. Each one of these seniors played a major role on the team and they will be missed very much.

The team this year is led by six seniors, Reganne Camp, Brooklyn Bane, Ellie Sonetz, Greta Witter, Shannon Doherty, Kristi Schmidt, and Sydney Hollings.

When asked, senior Greta Witter said that she is most excited about “all the new memories we will make together as a team.”

This season, Witter has set the following goals: “To beat Normal Community, make it to state, play my best and give it my all for my final season of softball.”

“My goals for this season would be to improve my skills and to contribute something to the team,” senior Shannon Doherty added.

Doherty got emotional while discussing the new season: “I am really looking forward to the team bonding this season because it is my senior year and I want to make lasting memories.”