By Travis Smola
It would be fair to have many questions about the status of Vicksburg’s softball program going into the 2025 season. Last season, the team came only one run short of a state title against powerhouse Gaylord. The team graduated seven talented seniors and then saw the resignation of longtime Head Coach Paul Gephart in the off-season.
However, things are looking good so far, as the team already has a winning record under new Head Coach Steve Peters. He previously coached Vicksburg’s nine- and ten-year-olds softball team to a state title in 2015.
“It’s a great program with a rich tradition and history, but I think we have a big opportunity to put our stamp on it and do things with a little bit of a fresh approach,” Peters said.
Our biggest challenge is that we’re a little bit young. We lost some seniors, some very, very skilled seniors,” Peters added. “I think maintaining our composure, especially with our youth, is going to be key to us being able to compete. We’re not going to win every game, but I think if we maintain our composure, we’ve got the right pieces to be competitive.”
The girls split with the Wildcats on their recent road trip to rival Three Rivers. Vicksburg took the first game of the doubleheader 13-4. In the second inning, Three Rivers walked MaKenzie Rooney to put two on with two outs before Makenzie Rose hit a bouncing grounder. A Wildcat fielding error loaded the bases for Madison Lewis to hit a big RBI double and make it 2-0 early.
Ella Luegge stepped up to bat next and made a hit that resulted in another Three Rivers error and a score to make the game 3-0. However, the Wildcats scored on a big double in the bottom of the second to make it 3-1.
In the top of the third, Lena Lancaster hit a huge solo home run to center field to increase the Bulldog lead. The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the third to keep the score close at 4-2. Vicksburg didn’t score again until the fifth inning when Kylynn Schroeder hit a big double that brought Zimmerman home from third. A Wildcat defender had a chance at the ball but dropped it.
The score was 5-3 at the top of the third when the Bulldogs opened the game. Kayla Chisholm and Zimmerman hit singles to get on base with no outs. That’s when the Three Rivers pitcher beaned Lancaster in the helmet to load the bases. Chisholm scored on the next play when the Wildcats threw a wild pitch behind the batter’s back.
From there, it quickly became a nightmare inning for the Wildcats. Rose brought in a run with a single next, and then Madison Lewis brought home two more runs to make it 9-3. Luegge hit a double to set up runners on second and third before Zemitans brought one home with an RBI single.
Chisholm then had the play of the game as she blasted a home run to center to bring two runners home and make it 13-3. Three Rivers scored another run in the bottom of the seventh, but they ran out of outs. The Wildcats got revenge in the nightcap game, 7-6.
“I thought the girls competed well throughout the game. Several opportunities to kind of open it up earlier, didn’t get it done, but they just kept pushing and broke it open there towards the end of the game,” Peters said.
