Lisbon softball
Coach: Abbey Gapinski (first season)
2023 record: 35-8, 22-2 Tri-Rivers
Returning starters: Addi Petersen, sr.; Chloe Clauson, sr.; Addie Clark, jr.
Returning letter-winners (8): Kaitlynn Hasselbusch, jr.; Kam Kahl, so.; Alexa Roos, so.; Sara Dietsch, jr.; Lily Gaiser, jr.
Outlook: The Lions said goodbye to six regulars from last season’s state tournament team, plus Coach Robert Buntin. But the foundation is pretty solid for new coach Abbey Gapinski, who is from Rochester, Minn., and played college softball at Luther, graduating in 2022. A pitcher in college, Gapinski likes the “full staff” she inherited, led by Addi Petersen, who was 10-3 last season with a 3.69 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 72 innings. She’ll be backed up by sophomore Alexa Roos, who started two games a year ago. “The girls are hungry, but lacking varsity game experience,” Gapinski said. Juniors Addie Clark (.317, 21 runs) and Kaitlynn Hasselbusch (.316, 28 runs) return as the top hitters.
Lisbon baseball
Coach: Lance Kamaus (first season)
2023 record: 27-5, 12-0 Tri-Rivers East
Returning starters: Dakota Clark, jr.; Aiden Jensen, sr.
Returning letter-winners (4): Ryan Ross, sr.; Wesley Sadler, jr.
Outlook: Gone is an epic senior class that won 104 games and qualified for the state tournament three times. The Lions lost in the state title game last summer to Remsen St. Mary’s. Gone also is Coach John Tesensky. Lance Kamaus, longtime Lisbon volleyball coach, is the new skipper, and he’s got a bit of a rebuild, maybe, following the loss of nine seniors. “Obviously, there are many open spots available on this year’s team,” Kamaus said. The top offensive threat returning is junior Dakota Clark, who hit .333 with 26 RBIs. ”We look to be competitive and continue to play the type of baseball that has been associated with the Lisbon program,” Kamaus said.
Mount Vernon softball
Coach: Robin Brand (14th season)
2023 record:27-11, 16-4 WaMaC
Returning starters: Addison Gookin, sr.; Kena Rollinger, sr.; Elsa Appleton, sr.; Abbie Moss, jr.; Olivia Haverback, jr.; Hayden Gookin, fr.; Libby Dix, jr.
Returning letter-winners (9): Eryn Jackson, jr.; Kara Swantz, jr.
Outlook: Like most Mount Vernon girls’ sports, softball features a pair of sisters. Addison Gookin is a senior and a returning all-state player who will play at Winona State next year. Her sister is Hayden Gookin, a freshman, who made all-conference as an eighth grader. Addison hit .361 with 29 RBIs. Hayden hit .378 with 25 RBIs and was 18-5 as a pitcher with a 1.24 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 152 innings. They highlight a lineup that has seven starters back, and loads of experience from a team that won a WaMaC title last summer. “There are others waiting for their turn and chances are you will see them later in the season; we have a plethora of underclassmen that are ready to step in and step up,” Brand said. “The entire team is comprised of multi-sport/talented student-athletes.” The Mustangs lost to Benton Community in a 3A Regional Final in 2023.
Mount Vernon baseball
Coach: Charles Chatman (fourth season)
2023 record: 13-20, 9-11 WaMaC
Returning starters: Colin Bentley, jr.; Anthony McDermott, jr.; Jase Jaspers, so.; Cole Thurn, jr.; Erk Lamb, jr.
Returning letter-winners (10): Michael Ryan, so.; Cael Foreman, so.; Tait Rentschler, sr.; Miles Francois, sr.; Garet Swartzendruber, jr.
Outlook: After a rough ride in the WaMaC last summer, the Mustangs advanced to the doorstep of state (before losing, 4-3, to Western Dubuque, the eventual state champion in 3A), and return a good chunk of their roster from that team. The top hitter returning is Colin Bentley, who hit .426 with seven doubles and 17 RBIs last season. Anthony McDermott was 4-1 on the mound with a 2.26 ERA. “We have a lot of four-sort athletes on this roster,” Chatman said. “We return multiple starters.”