Reagan Hoverman

3 days ago | superiortelegram.com | Reagan Hoverman

SUPERIOR — Paige ‘Jelly’ Johnson emerged from the dugout as her name was called during introductions minutes before the 2023 Division 1 state softball title game. The announcer identified her as Paige B. Johnson, while classmate Paige ‘Peeps’ Johnson’s name was simply read as Paige Johnson. On the surface it was a miniscule difference, but for Jelly, it was the continuation of a trend that made her feel secondary. “That year at state she was Paige Johnson and I was Paige B.

1 week ago | superiortelegram.com | Reagan Hoverman

BRULE — A few seconds before Claire Nielsen led off the bottom of the sixth inning, Ellie Peterson walked over and offered some brief words of reassurance. “Ellie told me, ‘You’re the best person who could be in that box, so go get a hit,” Nielsen recalled. “When you hear that from a teammate, that helps me get out of my head. It made me know I can hit, and it gave me the confidence to go do it.” Nielsen stepped into the box moments later and cranked a double to right-center field.

1 week ago | superiortelegram.com | Reagan Hoverman

SUPERIOR — Mattie Schilling heard the crack of the bat and started sprinting. She had just seen fellow senior Jade Bonner blast a single to right field, and as Schilling rounded second, she saw Superior head coach Bobbijean Gidley waving her home. “I looked to Gidley to see what she wanted and her arm was going,” Schilling said. “I was like, ‘Oh no.’ I rounded it, thought I was going to trip and just kept going.

2 weeks ago | superiortelegram.com | Reagan Hoverman

SUPERIOR — As the sun shined upon NBC Spartan Sports Complex, an eager group of parents and loved ones gathered near the ballpark entrance. Each of the five families connected with their athlete and filed onto the field anticipating one of Superior’s most cherished traditions — throwing out the first pitch to their child on senior day. “My dad’s arm needs some WD-40,” Superior senior Tanner Leno said while laughing.

2 weeks ago | duluthnewstribune.com | Reagan Hoverman

ESKO — Jeff Emanuel pulled sophomore pitcher Keira Leach aside on the first day of spring practice and made things crystal clear. Esko’s longtime softball coach told Leach that she was done splitting time in the circle — something she did throughout her freshman campaign. “She was very successful last year, even having another pitcher alongside her,” Emanuel said.