Image source: @hahsvarsitysb

By Kevin Barry

Co-Editor-in-Chief

With spring sports officially wrapped up, Hammond softball felt they had something to prove this year. After a disappointing season in 2023 last year where the Lady Bears went 0-17, Senior Captain Samara Lenz said the team’s goal this season was to “leave everything on the field.” Despite a less than ideal final record of 1-16, the Lady Bears showed fight and perseverance battling through many hard fought games.

Senior Captain Samara Lenz and Junior Layla Walker were bright spots this year as Lenz added defensive help behind the plate and Walker was a vacuum in Centerfield. Junior Elsie Butterfield also led the way for the Lady Bears young talent, as her arm helped to add pitching depth for Hammond.

Senior Captain Samara Lenz and Junior Layla Walker paved the way for the Lady Bears in their lone win against Wilde Lake, each recording a multi-hit game. The high scoring duel was back and forth all night, with both teams exchanging multiple runs each inning. 

The score was 26-25 in favor of the Wildcats as Junior Eve Pimental walked up to bat in the bottom of the 7th inning. With runners in scoring position, Pimental lasered a single into the outfield scoring two runs and walking it off for the Lady Bears. That put an end to the offense-heavy game with a total of 42 hits between the two teams.

In regards to next year “we have some potential and we can definitely compete if we put in the work, “ said Junior Jane Larson. Jane went on to say her goals for the team next season are “better communication and maintaining our effort and intensity through all 7 innings.” So despite how the record may have looked, the Lady Bears are trending in the right direction. With another year to continue the rebuild, the sky’s the limit for Hammonds Lady Bears.