BROOKINGS — The Brookings softball team has gotten off to a 2-1 start to the season and are hoping that success continues and turns into a State Tournament berth.

The Bobcats opened the season with a 16-0 win over Yankton and then beat Watertown 7-3 in their home opener. This past Friday Brookings was handed its first loss as they fell to Brandon Valley 15-9.

Brookings has done a lot of damage at the plate so far. The Bobcats have hit 11 home runs in their first three games. Bobcat head coach Emma Hardin said she’s been pleased with the way her lineup has put runs on the board to start the season.

“Right now, I think our hitting is a big strength for us. All through our lineup, we have girls that can down a bunt, we have some power hitters in there, some contact hitters. So, I think it’s been fun in these first few games to hit some home runs over the fence and then lay down a bunt when needed. We’ve already shown that and it’s going to be fun to see good pitching and see how our hitters are able to do against that,” Hardin said.

The Bobcats have seven seniors on their team. The senior class is highlighted by Kymber Buys and Tess Burns who are each committed to play at South Dakota State next year, and Morgan Norgaard who will play at St. Cloud State after leaving Brookings. Buys and Norgaard have shown power with their bats so far this season, while Burns is the head of the Bobcat pitching staff.

Hardin said the senior class is not only good on the field, but have also set a good example for the younger players on both the varsity and junior varsity teams.

“Our senior class, we have three that are committed to going on to play in college, two at the Division I level and one in Division II. Our senior class, not only those girls, but we have some vocal leaders and then some that lead by example and they’ve been a big help because we have a big freshmen class. Our whole junior varsity roster is freshmen, so it’s been really fun to see our seniors and our upperclassmen step up and teach them what Bobcat softball is all about,” Hardin said.

Brookings does have a few young players in its lineup. Hardin said she’s going to need to rely on some of the young players this season, but is confident that they will be able to step up when needed.

“We have some young kids that are going to have to step up. [Ella Pysk] is a freshman who is going to throw some innings for us in the circle and she’s going to have to step up and not play like a freshman. Kalla Foerster has been starting in right field and she’s a freshman as well. So, we do have some young kids on our team and it’s going to be important they step up, because when it becomes varsity time, we don’t have time for them to play like freshmen,” Hardin said.

The game against Brandon Valley was a step back for the Bobcat pitching staff, who had given up eight hits in their first two games. Hardin said she thinks Burns will continue to improve throughout the season and she’s confident in Pysk and Kinzey Grendler.

“Tess Burns, who’s committed to SDSU, I think she’s going to do really well in the circle. I’ve already seen some growth in her from last season. She just has some more movement in her pitches, has a little more speed and is getting into that changeup. We also have Kinzey Grendler who is a sophomore, but she plays like a senior. She played for us last year and she is ready to be put in any situation,” Hardin said.

Last season the Bobcats went 10-8 and lost to 18-13 Watertown in the SoDak 16. Brookings was the Class AA State Runner-Up in 2023 and Hardin said she wants to get back to the State Tournament and make a run this season.

“That’s the goal. We definitely want to make it to the State Tournament, and then be successful in the State Tournament. We don’t just want to make it there. We want to win some games at the State Tournament as well. I think with the dynamic of the team that we have, I think we can do that,” Hardin said.