Superior Softball Begins Season with New Head Coach Bobbijean Gidley

The Spartans are coming off a state championship runner-up finish in 2023.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Coming off their state championship runner-up finish, the Superior softball team was back on the practice field on Monday to begin their 2024 campaign.

Its been an off-season of changes for the squad. The big one being Bobbijean Gidley replacing Mike Sather, who retired, as the team’s head coach.

They’re also tasked with making a lineup without the Wisconsin FSCA Division One Player of the year, catcher Emma Raye, as well as a few other key contributors from last year’s team.

Gidley says they’ll miss their contributions but is confident that they have the right pieces in place.

“They kind of have the understanding of how to play in hard games, how to play and kind of mentally prepare for those games that have a lot at stake and a lot at the line. It’s really nice that we have a lot of girls coming back. What’s super helpful for me as a coach, we have been working the younger girls at different positions because we knew who was graduating, we knew what postions people we’re going to have to take over. We have a large group of girls who are ready and have been thinking of this. Now, they’re chomping at the bit to get their chance,” said Gidley.

Some of those players who are back from that title game include Alayna DeGraef and Gabbi Saari.

“You always have to start with a fresh start because they’re looking at Superior like “oh they were second” last year. Everyone’s wanting to beat you so you have to come in with a fresh mindset and want to to work harder than your opponents,” said DeGraef.

“I think just having the mindset that we have new people. We have a different coach. We have new girls that are going to be playing different positions. So it’s a new season, we just have to accept that,” added Saari.

Superior will open the season at home on March 28th against Rice Lake.