The Iowa Lakes softball program will officially open up the 2016 season Saturday, March 5th at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, NE. The first game will start at 1:00 p.m., with the second game immediately following.
Iowa Lakes is in their first season under Head Coach Katie Larson, who was the assistant coach for the 2015 season. Larson will return three starters from last season's roster, while bringing in ten new faces.
Also new to the Iowa Lakes Softball team is Assistant Coach Morgan Allee. Allee played two years of ball at Iowa Central Community College before finishing her career at Division 1 Indiana State.
Infield
The Lakers will have a brand new look to the infield this season, starting six freshman. Courtney Calkins (Fr., P/INF, Maple Grove, MN) and Kelly Drake (So., P/1B, Concord, CA) will both be seeing significant time in the circle for the Lakers this season. Drake is new to Iowa Lakes, but did pitch at Division 1 Morgan State University last season. Freshman Lauren Hein (Fr. INF/P, Andover, MN) will also be seeing time in the circle this season.
With the young lineup, the Lakers will be looking for their two freshman catchers to lead the infield. Both Shawn Kauwalu (Fr., C/3B, Hale'iwa, HI) and Shelby Davis (Fr., 1B/C, Rapid City, SD) have caught many innings in high school, so it should be an easy transition for them.
ILCC has a lot of versatility on their infield. Davis, Drake, and Julia Pfeiffer (Fr., 1B/OF, Honolulu, HI) will all be seeing time at first base. Calkins, Hein, and Blaney Markman (Fr., INF, Jackson, MN) will be strong up the middle for the Lakers this season. Rounding out the infield is freshman Caitlyn Clayton (Fr., 3B/OF, Estherville, IA) at third base. She will also be joined by Calkins and Kauwalu at the hot corner.
Outfield
Baylee Bechen (So., OF, Moville, IA), Brittany Evans (So., OF, Pipestone, MN), and Megan Remund (So., OF, Pipestone, MN) all return in the outfield for the Lakers this season. Bechen started every game for the Lakers last season and was an Honorable Mention All-Region selection last season. She batted .412 with an on-base percentage of .453 in the leadoff position. Evans was also an Honorable Mention All-Region selection last season for the Lakers. She batted .412 with an on-base percentage of .474 in the two hole. Remund batted .311 with an on-base percentage of .370 last season for the Lakers. Also seeing time in the outfield will be freshman Alyson Wendland (Fr., OF, Richfield, MN) and MaKarlie Smith (Fr., OF, Charter Oak, IA)