WAUSA – The Wausa Vikings 18s softball team is planning to play at a state tournament this summer.
Wausa has qualified to compete at the 2024 Nebraska 16/18U Girls’ Fast-Pitch Class C State Tournament, set for July 5-7 at the USA Softball of Nebraska Complex in Hastings.
Before that happens, the Vikings have only played a couple of games during the past two weeks coming into June 25, beating Osmond 7-3 on June 11 and defeating Crofton 8-6 on June 18.
“The 18s haven’t had a ton of action the past two weeks, as Randolph and Laurel did not have an 18s team for us to play,” Wausa head coach Shelbey West said.
She noted with the two games that Wausa did play, the Vikings “came out and beat two very good teams.”
“We’re at the point in the season where we are seeing some teams for a second or third time, so for us to go beat Osmond and Crofton again is huge for our girls,” West said.
“Those are two of the better teams in our area and we knew they would come out with intentions of getting some revenge since we have beaten them both already,” she said.
She noted Wausa played tough, though, and the Vikings really relied on their defense.
“Our bats have fallen off a little – not much – but a little from the start of the season,” West said. “It’s not a huge concern of mine right now. That’s the game of softball.
“You’ll have stretches where you’re stinging it at the plate, and you’ll have stretches where your confidence and your mentality are put to the test,” she said.
“Right now, we have a few girls trying to fight their way out of a slump, and as coaches, we’ve just been preaching to find ways on base and scratch runs across,” she said.
She noted Wausa’s pitching and defense “has been nails for us all year.”
“If we can draw walks, get hit by a pitch, get a hit, whatever the case might be at the plate, and then be aggressive on the bases, we will find ways to score,” West said.
“We just need to take these next two weeks leading up to state to hit a lot of balls in the cage and get that swagger back at the plate that we had at the start of the season,” she said. “It’s in there – we just have to wake it back up for some of the girls.”
The Vikings, 13-6 overall on the season, were scheduled to play at Wakefield on June 25 and then compete on June 30 at their league tournament in Crofton.
