Q & A

with Debbie Segebrecht, girls softball coach

What made you want to coach girls softball?

To have the opportunity to help the program develop and to help and support the girls in this program is exciting for me.  It is a great opportunity to support young ladies in school and on the field.  I am looking forward to sharing some softball knowledge and to helping these girls in any way that I can now and in the future, beyond softball.

How is the team working this year?

The team is working very hard.  We lost some seniors but our core is still intact.  We have some [players] returning that I am looking to for leadership and so far they have been awesome.

What is your greatest strength this season?

Right now the greatest strength is the team chemistry. They are working hard, getting along great and picking each other up when that is needed.  They are each other’s biggest cheering section right now. Our infield is almost all returning varsity players so that will also be a strength. The assistant coaches are also a strength.  With lots of experience, Coach Lorin Kelly, Coach Siena Mitman, Coach Meredith Foshag and Coach Nicole Bublitz bring a ton of knowledge to the game and have been a huge help to the program so far.

Greatest weakness?

So far the greatest weakness is the weather.  We haven’t been able to get outside as much as we would like and need to and the several times we have, it has been really cold and windy.  We have had two games postponed because of the weather. So, hopefully we will get some sunshine soon.

What is a short term goal you have for the season?

The short term goal for the season is to get players in positions where they will be successful.  We hope to bring this team together as one unit and and have some fun playing a great game.

Long-term goal for the season?

To win the conference, go to state and put 2017 on the softball banner in the fieldhouse. Another goal we have for the softball program is to get involved with the younger girls playing softball in the TMYBA and HEAT programs.  The HHS softball girls are role models and I would like them to take on that role and encourage and cheer on the younger kids in the community who look up to them.  I hope to make HHS softball not just a couple of teams, but combined with TMYBA and HEAT, to be one program.  

Who are some of the most important players to watch for this year?

We will have different girls contributing in different ways all season long.  Sam Schindler, junior, has been a starting pitcher on varsity for the past two seasons and I look for her to have a great season.  Sara Kalkhoff, junior, has been catching for Sam for a year and they have worked together in the offseason, which is going to really help.  Sarah Stoker, junior, Bernie Moyer, sophomore, and Caitie Vierling, junior, are going to cover the infield and bring varsity experience with them.  Emma Contardi, senior, is going to catch and possibly play some infield for us and her leadership is invaluable. The most important players are all of them combined.

What has been your favorite part about working with the girls thus far?

So far the energy has been very good.  The team has embraced the challenge of not being able to get outside as much (due to the weather).  The girls have been working hard but having fun at the same time.  The team unity on the field as well as off the field will make us a better team as the season goes on.  They are a great group to work with and I look forward to the next couple month of softball.