By Stacey Fisher
Freelance reporter
Special to the Tribune

Skyline Thunderbird softball is well underway with the prospects for the rest of the season looking very good. The Thunderbirds basically returned the team that went to state last season and added four additional players, one of which starts in right field. Cooper Wesley was a transfer this year and has been a positive addition to an already stellar line-up for the Birds.

“The season is off to a great start. We came out fast and furious with games having already played almost half of our season,” said Head Coach Lori Anschutz. [We are] ready for a little break now as we have two weeks before we play again to work on some things we need to continue to improve on.”

The powerhouse class of athletes that have raised the level of women’s sports at Skyline the last four years are now seniors and have really come into their own, both on and off the field of play.

“Our upperclassmen have been great leaders and every one of them has made an impact on this team already,” said Anschutz. “It is fun to watch the growth of the girls that started in high school and are now seniors being able to step up and join right in with our girls that have been playing longer. I also have been impressed with our new girls that joined the team this year. They come out every day eager to get better and are doing a great job just learning the game.”

With the season being almost halfway through, the Thunderbirds have done well, with their record being as follows:

Sylvan Lucas (L) 2-10, (W) 11-10

Little River (W) 5-4, (W) 9-8

Life Prep (W) 29-0-ended in inning three, (W) 2-0-forfeit by L.P.

Ellinwood (W) 16-11, (W) 11-1

Chaparral (W) 9-5

Medicine Lodge (L) 1-7

This team continues to improve with their new players showing an increase in good old fashioned softball know-how that comes from game experience and practice with the team veterans.

“We have had a solid start being 8-2 going into this break. The girls have shown great displays of softball through those games,” Anchutz said.

The Thunderbirds will be off until their next game (at home) on Tuesday, April 22 against Thomas More Prep-Marian. This will be a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Come on out to Thunderbird Field at Green Sports Complex and enjoy one of the nicest facilities in the state.