Reed City's Rylie Schafer delivers a pitch earlier this season. (Herald Review file photo)
REED CITY – Rylie Shafer is a junior but also a leader for a very young Reed City softball team looking to build for the future.
There was no softball season last year.
As a freshman in 2019, “it went well,” Shafer recalled. “We all learned a lot.”
She had been playing different infield positions including shortstop and stated this year as pitcher and catcher.
This is was her first year as a pitcher and she was focusing on the fastball and trying to increase her velocity.
As a catcher, Shafer was focusing on her arm.
“Isabell Guy is pitching for us now. Rylie once and awhile,” Reed City coach Roger Steig said
Shafer was thrilled earlier this year against Cadillac to hit her first home run. But she considers herself to be mainly a contact hitter.
The Coyotes graduated a lot of seniors from last year. But despite the struggles of the season, Shafer is happy to be playing.
“Defensively we need to improve,” she said.
Shafer is also a key player for the Reed City volleyball team.
“I like softball more,” she said.
But Shafer is looking forward to the summer season and being able to work more on volleyball and softball, compared to last year when summer activities were restricted.
