A new coach is bringing an abundance of energy to the dugout and third-base coaching box for North Platte’s softball team.
In her first year as head coach, Mackenze Hoefling has instilled a vibrant culture for the Panthers as they look to turn several years of positive momentum into postseason hardware.
North Platte’s softball program was reinvigorated in 2021 — ending a five-year streak of seasons with losing records — when it began its first of four straight winning seasons. The Panthers are on track for a fifth straight winning season, but Hoefling hopes a renewed energy brings postseason success.
“That’s my biggest thing, we’ve got to be hype, got to have the energy,” Hoelfing said. “If I’m hype, then I’m going to lead by example.”
Savannah Crook celebrates a base hit for North Platte.
Hoefling’s energy is a natural instinct. She can be seen cheering the loudest at the ballpark as she waves a player home to score a run for the Panthers.
“I’m always a person that gets hype,” she said. “The girls kind of make fun of me for it, but they feed off of my energy.”
While all the players have only been on North Platte softball teams that have achieved great success in the regular season, advancing out of districts is an achievement the program has not achieved since 2015.
North Platte will have a challenging district, which consists of all KCI Conference opponents and seven of the eight teams currently sitting with winning records. The Panthers’ focus will remain on keeping the energy high, competing in each and every game and eliminating errors.
Helping push the team forward will be senior pitcher Kate Wolf, who achieved the 500-strikeout milestone in September. She is one of six seniors on the team who bring critical leadership and experience.
“When you’re senior pitcher says, ‘I want the ball,’ you’ve got to give it to her,” Hoefling said. “She attacks the girls in the best way a pitcher can.”
Kate Wolf pitching for North Platte in their KCI Conference defeat to West Platte on Sept. 25.
Wolf struck out 12 batters in seven innings of the Panthers’ most recent win against Stanberry on Sept. 15. She had previously struck out 17 of 25 batters in a seven-inning shutout against Penney on Sept. 11.
“Kate brings so much movement to the ball,” Hoefling said. “A lot of people struggle to hit her curveball because it just moves so well.”
Behind Wolf is another talented pitcher in freshman Charlie Hinton. Hoefling is excited for Hinton’s future with North Platte over the coming years.
“She’s got the velocity and the best pitcher that I’ve seen that can place the ball anywhere,” Hoefling said.
North Platte, which is 10-5 on the season, hopes to end a three-game losing skid this week with trips to South Harrison and Mid-Buchanan before hosting Plattsburg on Oct. 2.