SPRINGFIELD, MO –– In the spring of 2021, the high school softball program at Springfield Catholic made its return for the first time since 1981 and paved the way for the school's newest girls varsity sport.

The Irish softball team made its official return in the spring of 2020, but eight days before its first scheduled game, the COVID pandemic stopped the world in its tracks with athletics taking an unexpected pause. Not to be discouraged, softball's return was still as meaningful a year later when 13 players took the field at the onset of the new campaign in 2021.

Wins were hard to come by from a team that featured 11 freshmen and sophomores on its roster. However, just six games into the season, the Irish struck gold with their first victory, scattering nine hits in a 9-6 home win over Wheatland on March 29. Less than a week later, they racked up another home win over Seymour, 7-6, in one of the season's most-exciting moments. There were other highlights along the way as well, including a 15-hit outburst in the district tournament in a game that saw SCHS post 10 runs and out-hit a veteran Pleasant Hope team, 15-12.

Sophomore Brooklyn Barnes shouldered much of the pitching burden for the young Irish club, collecting 14 starts in 17 games and striking out 72 hitters in 71.1 innings of work. Shelby Kindhart also stood out, earning All-Region and All-District first-team honors after leading the team with a .385 average, .520 on-base percentage, 11 RBI and 21 total bases. She and freshman Katie Galligos were recognized as the team's first-ever All-Big 8 Conference selections. Galligos scored a team-high 11 runs, notched 27 assists and compiled a .407 on-base percentage.

The club also boasted seven Academic All-State honorees in Galligos, Larissa Holland, Hannah Holum, Kindhart, Madison Rues, Sarah Stokes and Emily Wieberg. The team's only upperclassmen, juniors Kindhart and Rues, also eared academic esteem with induction into the SCHS National Honor Society.

At season's end, team awards went to: Kindhart (Offensive MVP), Galligos (Defensive MVP), Wieberg (Hustle Award), Stokes (Most Improved) and Sophia Brink (Best Teammate).

With a bright future and eminent growth ahead, the SCHS softball program looks to continue its ascent in 2022 with the newest sport in the Irish family working hard to for future success.