ARGYLE — A season ago, the Orioles posted an 18-9 overall record and 12-3 mark in the Six Rivers East Conference for a second-place finish. This was in large part due to Argyle’s decorated senior class, which included All-Conference selections Grace Ganshert (Player of the Year), Maggie Godfrey and Megan Johnson, and Honorable Mention members Jenny Helfvogt and Lindsay Connors, plus three-year starter Tori Lantz, who missed the season due to injury

“We lost an extremely talented group of seniors from last year that earned Argyle its first ever conference title in 2019 and repeated that again in 2021,” head coach Heidi Ganshert said.

That leaves seniors Hannah Gierhart (utility) and Kyleah Mick (infield) and sophomores Mya McNett (pitcher), Ava Wiegel (catcher) and Sara Helfvogt (infield) as the lone returners. 

Junior Alexis Rosenstiel (infield) will join a host of freshman as newcomers to the team, which excites Heidi Ganshert.

“We have a very talented group of freshmen coming into the program,” she said. “I’m looking forward to coaching them this season.”

With youth comes inexperience, though, and Heidi Ganshert acknowledges that it will take time to adjust to a new lineup and defense.

“We are young and inexperienced, which is something that will be a weakness,” Heidi Ganshert said. “We are going to have an entirely new field, lineup and pitching strategy. Finding out who fits in specific positions will be challenging to begin, but after time, it will take care of itself.”

Where the Orioles lack in experience, they will make up for it with passion and love for the game. 

“We have a lot of great kids that work really hard and love the sport,” Heidi Ganshert said. “When you love to play anything that much, success will follow if your mind is set to the task. I think our strengths lie in our love for the game and ability to work hard to accomplish our goals.”

Despite her team’s youth, Heidi Ganshert has high goals for her team. She expects the Orioles to compete with Barneveld, Pecatonica and Juda-Albany who all have strong pitching staffs to lead their teams.

“Every year, regardless of who is returning and who is coming in as a freshman, I have high expectations for our team,” Heidi Ganshert said. “I am hoping to finish near the top of the conference and be competitive every game we are involved in.”