Norse Softball, Baseball Teams Begin Fall Practices
ESCANABA---The Bay College Norse baseball and softball teams are back on the Escanaba campus now that summer is winding down and fall classes resume next Monday. The teams were back on the field Wednesday night as fall practices have begun. One of the international players is pitcher Nick Goebert, who us from Germany and is the longest-tenured player on the Norse team. "It's nice to be back," Goebert said. "I just wanted another full year to play baseball, and to get bigger and stronger. Develop a little more, then hopefully, go to a four-year (college) after." Meanwhile, next door at the Norse softball field, there's also a new scoreboard as practice also got under way Thursday night. The Norse struggled through a regular season that was interrupted by COVID shutdowns last year and at one point had only eight players on the roster. They made a nice run to the regional championship game however and this year, This time,Coach Heidi Charon's team has a roster of 21 players, including six international players. One of them is third baseman Sarah Wynn from western Canada, who was one of the team's home run hitters last season. "We've been anxious and excited to get back out here," Charon said. "There's no snow, that's the big thing! It's our warm-up season. It's our get-to-know-you season. It gives the girls a chance to show what they've got, to show their potential, versatiity." Charon says the shutdowns of 2020 helped in one aspect: recruiting. "It got our recruiting into high gear," she said. "Ross (assistant coach Rahoi) put a lot of work in. A lot of credit to him and a lot of credit to the girls for reaching out, making connections, and making their way here." Both the Norse baseball and softball teams will play a handful of exhibition games in September, before opening their regular down South in late February. |