The 2025 STC girls softball team opened up their season last week under new head coach Kodi Hillman. The Trojans drew a difficult matchup with their first games — hosting a doubleheader against Center Point-Urbana on Tuesday, May 27. The Stormin’ Pointers came to the STC softball complex ranked #13 in Class 3A.

In game 1 of the evening, CP-U jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Adding seven runs in the second inning, and two more in the third, the Stormin’ Pointers raced out to a 17-1 victory. Due to the scoring advantage, the game was shortened to a four inning affair. Along the way, CPU limited the Trojans to only one hit and one run in the game. The Trojans lone run came after freshman Sydney Arp drew a walk in the bottom of the first inning. She was later driven in by sophomore Taylor Dolezal, who managed STC’s only hit and RBI in the game. CPU senior Mya Hillers pitched all four innings, recording six strikeouts.

The nightcap was a much closer game for the Trojans. CPU once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first. But STC freshman Layla Pansegrau, who started the game on the mound, bounced back and shut out CPU in the top of the second. This set the stage for STC to begin to chip their way back into the game. Scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the second, the Trojans tied the game at 2-2. The Stormin’ Pointers answered back, scoring a lone run in both the top of the third and fourth innings. But STC was not done and scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a brief 5-4 lead. However, the Trojans were hurt by six errors on the night and CPU scored ten runs in the next two innings to finish off a 14-5 victory.

Pansegrau finished off the night pitching six innings, and notching four strikeouts. Offensively, the Trojans were led by freshman Shelby Johannsen, who went 2-3 with a single and a double. Johannsen also tallied one run and one RBI. Junior Taylor Johannsen went 1-2 on the night and added both a run and an RBI. Arp went 1-4 with a single that gained her two RBIs. Dolezal and Pansegrau both contributed singles, with Dolezal’s resulting in the remaining RBI in the game. In total, the Trojans tallied five runs on six hits.

Up next for the STC softball team is a home Varsity doubleheader against Williamsburg on Monday, June 9 at the STC softball field. This will be followed by another home matchup against GMG the following evening, Tuesday, June 10. The games against the Wolverines will begin with the JV team, followed by the Varsity contest.