ON THE DIAMOND — Members of the Fairmont Cardinal softball team opening the season against Tri-City United at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in Lonsdale include, front row (left to right): Maddy Landin, Gabby Leiding, Haleigh Grotzinger and Saige Leiding. 2nd row: Ava Terfehr, Tiffany Lowry, Abi Sundeen, Makenzie Lowry and Makayla Lowry. Third row: Ella Klunder, Nevaeh Rahm, Brylee Miller, Ilana Moeller and Reese Olson. Back row: Statistician Ciera Janssen, head coach Cory Hainy and assistant coach Tim Terfehr. Not pictured: Jayda Healey. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

FAIRMONT — For the first time in the 50-year history of the Fairmont softball program, the Cardinals will seek to defend a conference championship.

“It felt good to attend a preseason meeting and talk about being the outright Big South Conference champions,” said Fairmont head coach Cory Hainy, whose lineup produced a single-season school record of 19-4 and a third-place showing in the Section 2AA playoffs in 2023. “It’s still difficult to realize that we won the first one (softball crown) ever.

“But this is a new year and we’ll go into the season having to replace a lot of spots from last year’s senior-dominated lineup. We have a number of athletic and versatile kids who have had a lot of success during the last two summers, so now we’ll have to figure out where all the pieces to the puzzle fit.”

Hainy, however, does have four solid returning starters to build this spring’s roster around prior to the Cardinals’ season-opener against Tri-City United at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in Lonsdale.

Senior Nevaeh Rahm and sophomore Brylee Miller each return to both the pitching rubber and the infield, while senior Ava Terfehr and junior Abi Sundeen will patrol the outfield for a second consecutive campaign.

“Nevaeh and Brylee will likely be our main pitchers, with (junior) Gabby (Leiding) also getting some innings and (sophomore) Makayla Lowry figuring in the mix, too,” said Hainy.

Miller compiled a 3-0 record and 2.24 ERA by striking out 35 batters and issuing just nine walks in 25 innings of work last spring.

Rahm, who generated a 1-0 record via 11 strikeouts in just seven innings of work last season, topped the Cardinals’ pitching rotation with four wins and 101 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings during the 2022 schedule.

Miller and Rahm also represent Fairmont’s top returning offensive threats from the batter’s box after generating lofty batting and slugging clips in 2023.

Miller drilled seven doubles, four triples and one home run to fuel a .400 batting average and 13 RBIs. Miller also scored 29 runs, tallied a .463 on-base percentage and slugged deliveries at a .612 pace.

Rahm belted eight doubles and two HRs to drive in 22 runs to complement a .575 slugging clip, a .384 batting mark and a .430 on-base percentage last season.

The sure-handed and strong-armed Terfehr will make the switch from right field to the friendly confines of Cardinal Park’s center field this spring, while the hard-working Sundeen will handle the duties in left.

“Whoever proves they can hit the best will earn the third outfield position,” Hainy said in reference to junior speedster Haleigh Grotzinger, senior Reese Olson and sophomore twin siblings Makayla and Makenzie Lowry, who are all competing for the spot.

Junior Ilana Moeller will handle the pitching staff from behind the plate, with Makenzie Lowry also figuring into the signal-calling mix.

Rahm will return to first base, but when she’s inside the pitching circle, Hainy will have the option of utilizing senior Tiffany Lowry, Olson and/or Makayla Lowry at the one defensive corner.

“There will be a number of girls competing for innings at second base this season, including Gabby (Leiding), Maddy Landin, Saige Leiding and the Lowry twins,” said Hainy.

Miller will handle the defensive duties at shortstop again, but when she steps inside the chalked circle, Landin and Gabby Leiding will fill the void on the left side of the infield.

Senior Ella Klunder looks to have the inside track at third base, with Landin also figuring into the competitive mix at the hot corner.

“With so many openings in our lineup, we (coaching staff) probably won’t know for sure where everyone fits right away,” said Hainy. “We have a lot of question marks and position battles to figure out before determining an everyday lineup.”

Despite New Ulm moving to Class AAA this spring, Hainy anticipates that Belle Plaine, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial and Le Sueur-Henderson will be the Cardinals’ top contenders within Section 2AA.

“Belle Plaine has its top three players back, while Lake Crystal and Le Sueur-Henderson are always competitive year in and year out,” said Hainy.

Tim Terfehr returns as Hainy’s varsity assistant coach, Adam Schmidt and Mark Drever will handle the Cardinals’ junior varsity coaching duties, while Aaron Lowry will be the head junior high mentor with Adam Garbers and Jamie Williamson helping out.