Thief River Falls - The Northland Community & Technical College will play its first home games of the 2021 season Saturday, April 17 in a double header against Hibbing Community College. Game one is set for noon. 

The Pioneers look to build on an MCAC Northern Division runner-up campaign during their last full season in 2019, and they will attempt to do so with a talented but inexperienced roster. 

The 2019 Pioneers finished 26-17 overall, with a 20-4 mark in Northern Division play. They were seeded third in the Region 13B Tournament and finished third in the region. Last year, the Pioneers played just six games during their season-opening trip to Florida before the entire season was canceled due to COVID-19. 

Lost from that team due to graduation were All-American pitcher Kalee Wall, Seymour Ind., and Sade Westbrook, Oveido, Fla., who are both playing for William Woods University; and Jessie Nichols, Eastsound, Wash., Kelsey Landman, Red Lake Falls,  and Bailey Greene, Thief River Falls, who graduated from Northland but did not go on to continue their softball careers. 

"We have four returners and seven freshman, so a lot of new faces on the field," said Northland Head Coach Amanda Lara. "Some of our team goals are being able to play as a team and host our regional tournament this year. Last Year we didn't have a spring season, but the year prior we were runners up to host the regional tournament and this team really wants to make that happen this year. We're also over-emphasizing on communication, especially since we have masks covering our mouths which makes it harder to hear when we're talking on the field."

Returning from last year's abbreviated season are sophomores Abbie Johanneck of  Red Lake Falls, Jaymee Tuttle of Eltopia, Wash., Desiree Lawrence of Champaign, Ill., and Isis Johnson of Dadeville, Ala. Johanneck and freshman Alexis Huot of Thief River Falls have been named team captains.

Joining Huot as part of this year's freshman class are infielder Shawna Larson, Red Lake Falls; infielder Grace Minten, Perham; outfielder Kia McGlynn, Red Lake Falls; infielder Hailee Harris, Hailey, Idaho; infielder Justine Pratcshler, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; outfielder Kylie Shetler, Newfolden. 

"Some of the expectations that I hold on these ladies are accountability, sportsmanship, and drive," Lara said. "There's no doubt in my mind that every single player I have on this team wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They show up every day eager to better their individual game as well as play their role on our team. They also understand that we practice like we play and we still expect them to hustle on and off the field and take advantage of each practice we have. I have loved every second of watching these kids find themselves on and off the field, as well as grow as a team."

The 2020 season will go down as the season that was lost to COVID and the 2021 season will go down as the season that co-existed with COVID. 

"We are so glad that it is nice enough for us to be practicing outside," Lara said. "Being outside gives us the opportunity to have earlier practices. We still have to follow our COVID-19 rules that have been set out for us by Northland. We're still social distancing and wearing masks through the duration of our practices and games. One benefit of social distancing is that we've been able to utilize a charter bus for traveling to our away games this year, which is a plus for the entire team. This also takes away added stress to my assistant, Haley Price and I, as we're expected to drive our players to and from away games in a normal year."

The Pioneers were also forced to adjust to some new gameday procedures during their opening weekend at the Minnesota Classic in Rosemount. No infield/outfield practice was permitted before games, no huddling was allowed between innings, after the game or at home plate to cheer on a teammate who just hit a home run. Gameday rules will differ game-by-game as each home team sets their own rules based on each college's policies. 

The Pioneers went 1-3 at the Minnesota Classic, dropping games to Rochester, 9-1; Dakota County, 10-1; and Rochester, 12-4. They ended the trip with a 14-10 win over MCAC Northern Division foe, Rainy River. 

Following Saturday's home opener, the Pioneers remain at home to host double headers against Mesabi Range at noon on Sunday, April 18 and Central Lakes at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21.