Northwest Softball Prepares For Season Start Thursday

(Grand Island, NE) - After going 30-4 a season ago and qualifying for the state tournament, the Northwest Viking softball team gets set to start the 2025 season on Thursday night. 

Northwest will host Hastings at the Veterans Complex in Grand Island. Hastings is coming off a state tournament runner-up finish last season. Beatrice would defeat the Tigers, 1-0, in a time classic as the Lady O would score the only run of the game in the 8th inning. Northwest, a season ago, would go 2-1 vs the Tigers. Northwest would win the two regular-season matchups (10-8) and (9-5/Crete Invite). Hastings downed the Vikings in the third meeting of the season (14-9/B-9 Sub District Tournament). The Tigers would finish the season 31-8. 

Northwest will have several key returners back from the 2024 season, including seniors Jolie O'Hara, Laiken Dorsey, and Libby Loman. Junior Becca Dinkelman. Sophomores Sadie Cemper and Graclyn Simmons. Both Simmons and Loman return with plenty of pitching experience in the circle. 

Listen to the first game of the season on Thursday, August 21st, with Hastings at Northwest on 103.1 FM & 2dayfm1031.com. The Pump & Pantry Pregame Show will start at 6:15 pm.