The 2025 high school softball season has arrived, and the Algona Bulldogs enter the season ready to make noise after returning a significant portion of their roster from last season’s team that finished 11-16, but played some of their best softball in the final couple weeks of the season.
Algona will not be lacking in pitching experience, as senior Ryan Haynes returns for her fifth season in the pitching circle for Algona after posting a 3.94 ERA last season. Haynes was able to share the workload with current sophomore Allison Trunkhill last season, as Trunkhill threw 84 innings to the tune of a 2.92 ERA. Head Coach Todd VanOtterloo knows the Bulldogs will be able to rely on the pitching staff as a strength of the team.
Having multiple options will allow VanOtterloo to evaluate who has the hot hand on a game by game basis.
The innings pitched were close to balanced between Haynes and Trunkhill last season, with Haynes throwing 74.2 innings while striking out 73 and walking 58, while Trunkhill threw 84 innings, fanning 61 batters and walking 28.
According to Haynes, she gradually built up her throwing volume throughout the winter, and has reached full strength heading into the season.
Over her four years with the Bulldogs, Haynes has felt her confidence in the circle grow.
Haynes says the competitive nature between herself and Trunkhill helps make both of them better.
The Bulldogs also have plenty of experience behind home plate, with sophomore Reagan Haynes behind the dish for her third season as the stater. The Bulldog sophomore led the team with a .303 batting average, eight doubles, four home runs, and 16 runs batted in last season. Haynes also has shown the ability to shut down the opposing team’s running game, throwing out 8 of the 19 potential base-stealers in 2024 and 8 of 16 base-stealers in 2023.
Another player to watch according to VanOtterloo is sophomore shortstop Maya Lentz. Lentz started at short as a freshman last season, and displayed her athleticism throughout the volleyball, basketball, and track seasons so far this year. Her raw power was evident in 2024, batting .234 with three home runs and 16 runs driven in.
There is a position battle at second base for Algona to determine who will form the keystone combo with Lentz. Senior Lainey Venteicher, who primarily played third base last season, Ryan Haynes, and Emma Spear are all options for the Bulldogs.
Setting the table at the top of the lineup will be Kaitlyn Burns. Another multi-year starter, Burns brings the combination of contact hitting and speed to make her an ideal lead off hitter, while manning the right field position. Burns sees herself as someone who can set the tone for the team while providing a scouting report on the opposing pitcher.
VanOtterloo is evaluating several different players in center field next to Burns who can step in for the now-graduated Ashley Cantu.
First base will be manned by senior Kayla Buscher, who feels her bat will be ready to go coming off some solid work as a thrower during track season.
Offensively, Algona struggled with consistency last season, batting .236 as a team. The Bulldogs scored double digit runs six different times, but were also held to one or zero runs seven times. VanOtterloo feels that in order to take a step forward, the Bulldog batters need to be focused on balls in play and putting pressure on the defense.
The Bulldogs will try to continue the upward trajectory from the second half of last season. Algona finished 5-4 over their final nine games, with three of those four losses coming against state-ranked opponents. VanOtterloo describes his teams mindset as one of being a threat on any given night.
Burns feels the team dynamic is very close heading into the season.
Algona opens the season with back to back non-conference games at home, welcoming Newman Catholic on May 27th and Bishop Garrigan on May 28th for the crosstown game. Algona opens North Central Conference play on May 30th at Iowa Falls-Alden.
