NEWPORT — The Nokomis softball team started the 2025 season on Wednesday much in the same way it ended the 2024 season.
The defending Class B state champions displayed strong pitching and defense, and the offense made contact and took advantage of mistakes on the way to a 10-0 victory over Lawrence.
Junior shortstop Raegan King had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI for Nokomis, while Hannah Brewer had three hits, including a triple. Sophomore Hallie Coots earned the shutout in the circle, striking out three batters.
“It’s good (to win),” said King. “Now that we’re playing, it’s really relieving to all of us (to play solid) for the road ahead.”
Senior pitcher Mackenzie McAvoy and sophomore Leah Tibbetts each hit a double for Lawrence (0-3).
The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by Brewer’s triple, and never looked back. Nokomis took advantage of two Lawrence errors in the fourth inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead, then broke out for six runs to end the game in the fifth, led by RBI singles from King and senior third baseman Jenna Sawtelle.
How did they do it?
• The Warriors won their season opener with their calling card: Strong pitching and defense. Coots, the younger sister of former Nokomis star Mia Coots, showed confidence in the circle and an ability to fool batters with a mix of pitches.
When Coots did pitch to contact, she was backed up by her defense, particularly the left side, held down by King (shortstop) and Sawtelle (third base), who made multiple stops to keep Lawrence at bay.
“We had good plays in the field,” King said. “With the wind (being a factor), everyone read the ball very well and made plays.”
“(Coots) isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but she’s not a square-up pitcher,” said Nokomis head coach J.D. McLellan. “So when she did get those pop flys and those ground balls, my defense is strong. As long as (the batters) don’t time (Coots) up, that was her first longer game. I was really happy with that.”
Lawrence’s offense showed some power, with doubles from McAvoy and Tibbetts. Ultimately, the Bulldogs were done in by their defense, which committed five errors.
Key moment
When Nokomis took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, it foreshadowed the rest of the contest, especially on offense. With a strong wind blowing through the field in Newport, the strategy for the Warriors was to simply put the bat on the ball. Fly balls proved tough for fielders, and the wind, at times, blew dirt around the infield.
“With this wind, I really thought (the batters) were going to put one out (over the fence),” McLellan said. “If someone had a long hit, I thought it would be gone, because the wind will carry it out of here.”
Statistical leaders
• Nokomis: Raegan King (2 for 4, RBI), Hannah Brewer (3 for 3, 3B)
• Lawrence: Mackenzie McAvoy (1 for 3, 2B), Leah Tibbetts (1 for 1, 2B)
Up next
• Nokomis: at Winslow, 4 p.m. Friday
• Lawrence: vs. Belfast, 10 a.m. Saturday
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