Lennox softball opens season with focus on growth, consistency and postseason push

The Lennox High School softball team was scheduled to open its 2026 season on April 7 on the road at Vermillion but cold temperatures postponed that match-up. The team will host Sioux Falls Christian High School on April 9 at 4 p.m. Lennox returns to its home field again on April 13 when the Orioles welcome Canton.

Now in her second season as head coach, Lindsay Nicola leads the Orioles alongside assistant coaches Clint Johnson and Scott Eli. Johnson enters his third year assisting with the program and coaching the junior varsity squad, while Eli is in his second season on staff.

Johnson said he is eager to see what the JV group can accomplish this spring.

“I am looking forward to a competitive JV season this year with the ladies already showing mid-season abilities,” Johnson said.

Nicola said this year’s varsity team will depend on depth and shared contributions rather than leaning on a few standout players.

“Rather than leaning on one or two top players, this group of girls is built around a collective effort,” Nicola said. “The team will rely on a strong core of returning players who gained valuable experience last season, and also throughout their summer and fall teams as well. Several athletes are expected to take on bigger roles both on the field and as leaders, and I expect quite a few of them to shine.”

After a difficult season a year ago, Nicola believes the Orioles are positioned to be far more competitive.

“We expect to compete every time we step on the field this year,” she said. “Last year’s record doesn’t define this group. Our goal is to close that gap, turn close games into wins, and put ourselves in a position to make a postseason push into the State Tournament in June. We expect to be a much more competitive team this year.”

Pitching is expected to be one of Lennox’s biggest advantages this season.

“We believe one of our strengths this year will be our pitching,” Nicola said. “A few of the schools in our conference lost their top pitchers which will change the dynamics of their teams greatly, whereas we are lucky enough that our varsity pitchers are only juniors with quite a few more coming up through the JV team.”

Nicola also pointed to roster flexibility as another key strength.

“The other strength that I would highlight would be our versatility,” she said. “We have multiple players who can play different positions, which gives us flexibility and depth as the season goes on.”

Consistency remains the primary area of emphasis early in the season.

“Our biggest focus for improvement right now is consistency,” Nicola said. “Making routine plays, limiting mental mistakes, and keeping our confidence up after our mistakes. We’re still gaining experience in some key spots, so continuing to grow our confidence and decision-making in game situations will be important early in the season.”

She added that spring weather has created challenges for preparation.

“The biggest concern is getting valuable practices in, on the actual field, due to the weather,” Nicola said. “Outdoor spring sports make it tricky when our time to practice on a field is limited due to rain, snow and cold, especially prior to our first game.”

Nicola believes Madison remains the measuring stick in the conference after Lennox pushed Madison to extra innings late last season.

“The team to beat this year would be Madison,” she said. “Last year they were ranked in the top five teams at the end of the season when we came up against them, while we were ranked much lower. I’m not sure anyone expected us to win that game, and when it went into extra innings, it was a testament as to how much our girls had improved throughout the season and just how well we could play. This year, we plan to show up strong again and take the win.”

She also identified matchups with Dell Rapids and West Central as games to watch.

“Last year we struggled greatly putting balls into play against these two teams, due to the high-level pitching they had at the plate,” Nicola said. “Those pitchers are no longer with the teams, which has greatly changed the dynamics of their teams. They should both still be strong teams, but I believe by being able to put more balls in play, we will have a greater chance of making them great games, and great games to watch.”

Looking ahead, Nicola said the long-term goal extends beyond wins and losses.

“While results always matter, the bigger goal is establishing a culture of growth, accountability, and resilience,” she said. “If the team can stay healthy, continue to develop throughout the season, and compete pitch-by-pitch, I have confidence that they can take a significant step forward and put themselves in position to compete for a postseason opportunity.”

Varsity roster includes: Aleeah Oltmanns, Abbie Wildeboer, Haley Hahn, Hailey Seelen, Jersey Zahn, Layci Eli, Macy Wallenstein, Morgan DeHaan, Madyson Dykstra, Teagen Sturm, Peyten Wright and Lauren Anacker.

JV roster includes: Rosearia Rohrer, Brynlee Green, Ericka Albers, Finnley Moulton, Jayde Nelson, Kenzie Wichers, Layla Weisenbach, Makenna Kitrell, Nika Rasmussen, Nora Hansen, Olivia Wallenstein, Reba Schroeder, Sophia Onnen, Stella Meyer, Tatum Wright and Zada Storm.