Newton softball chases quick turnaround with coaching change

Newton’s softball team is just a few years removed from a Class 3A state tournament appearance.

But last year’s team failed to win a game and new head coach Kory Leiker hopes a change of scenery at the top will help the Cardinals get back to their former winning ways.

“This group just forgot how to win. We have to learn how to win, be a team and be a family,” said Leiker, who is a head coach at the varsity level for the first time. “I believe they made big strides this offseason.”

Outside of two graduated seniors, the Cardinals bring back the rest of their roster from 2020.

At the top of the returners list are senior Chassidy Henwood and juniors Kya Butler and Kallie VanKley.

Leiker anticipates a plethora of freshmen and eighth-graders making up most of the starting lineup.

Henwood batted .273 last year. She will move to center field for her final season. Butler will be the shortstop and VanKley returns as one of the team’s primary pitchers.

Butler hit a pair of homers and had four RBIs last year.

Joining VanKley in the circle is expected to be eighth-grader Nevara Gray. When Gray is not pitching she’ll play first base.

The rest of the infield sans Butler are very young. Eighth-grader Katelyn Lambert will play second base, while freshmen Peyton Durr and Kadance Ahn are the expected starters at catcher and third base, respectively.

Ahn cranked out four doubles and drew five walks as an eighth-grader.

The outfielders will be Henwood and juniors Grace Benson, Vanessa Vasseau and Makayla Johnson. Benson will play left and Vasseau and Johnson are competing for the starting spot in right.

Even some of the backups are young. Chloe Swank is an eighth-grader catcher who could see varsity innings. The other two pitchers are freshman Hailey Sumpter and eighth-grader Tallyn Seitz.

“We worked hard in the offseason. A volunteer pitching coach came in and worked with all four pitchers,” Leiker said. “They have all grown. Competition is close. Nothing is set in stone.”

Despite not winning a game last year, Leiker still has high expectations. He didn’t think the squad played up to their level. He wants this year’s squad to compete for the conference championship and have aspirations of a state tournament berth.

“My expectations are high. I want to be over .500, win 20 games, compete for a conference championship and I want to go to state,” Leiker said. “The league is a gauntlet, but we have high expectations.

“The girls want to go to state. They know what it feels like. They want to get back there. I would feel like we didn’t reach our capabilities if we don’t have a winning season.”

Offensively, Leiker wants to be aggressive at the plate and on the bases.

“The old staff bunted a lot. And the girls got down 0-2 or 1-2 in counts and they were already behind,” Leiker said. “The percentages to get a hit at that point are not good. They need to take a deep breath, relax in the box and have fun. Instead of being so stressed out and afraid to fail, they need to relax and have fun. They have to believe in each other and believe in me.”

The 2021 season will be Leiker’s first as a head varsity coach. He began coaching his twin daughters, Karley and Kennedy, when they were 5 years old. He progressed with the girls as they got older and eventually worked up to the high school level and was coaching the Cardinals in the fall and spring.

“I decided I didn’t want to see the program go down the drain so I stepped up and applied,” Leiker said. “I am very excited to get this opportunity.”

Leiker knows there will be learning curves. His No. 1 goal is to create a family atmosphere and make sure the players know it’s OK to make mistakes.

“I just think they didn’t have team chemistry last season,” Leiker said. “If they don’t believe in you, no matter how good of a coach you are, they won’t play for you. They will give up.

“We’ve got to get a couple wins under our belt and go from there. We have to believe. We have to learn to fight and come back.”

Leiker’s first coaching staff includes JV coach Taylor Fricke, freshman coach Bailey Johannes, assistant coach Eric Vander Velden and volunteer pitching coach Mariah Fritz.

The Cardinals open the season against Grand View Christian at 7:15 p.m. on Monday in Des Moines. The game will be played at the North Des Moines Softball Fields.

Newton will play Marshalltown in its home opener at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.