Expectations High For Hopkins Softball Team

2010 record: 11-10

Conference record: 7-5

The Hopkins softball team salvaged a winning season last season, despite going through what coach Anne Campbell called a “rebuilding year.” 

Hopkins fell 3-0 in the opening round of the Section 6AAA tournament to eventual champion Richfield. But with eight seniors returning on this year’s roster, Campbell’s expectations are as high as ever. 

“It’s probably the first time in 12 years that I’ve said we were rebuilding, but that’s what it was,” Campbell said. “You can’t just throw nine kids on the field and expect great things to happen, especially in new positions. But we still had a good season.”

Key returning players

The Royals will return two all-conference players with Morgan Nybo and Genevieve Greheck along with All-State honorees Bianca Peterson and Hayley Nybo. The Nybo sisters will make for a dangerous pitching/catching combination. Hopkins lost just one starter to graduation compared to six last season, making for a more seasoned group of players. 

“They have filled their roles very nicely,” Campbell said. 

Key losses

Megan Arndt and Molly Gallop were the only seniors lost to graduation this season. Arndt was lost for much of last season because of a finger injury. 

Conference outlook

With four teams tallying at least six wins last season, parity was the rule, not the exception. With the addition of Eden Prairie, that notion becomes even truer. Campbell said she likes the idea of playing each team three times, meaning that someone will win the season series every year. She added that there is a high level of talent spread across the conference, making it difficult to know which squad will come out on top. 

“Every game can go either way,” Campbell said. “Competition is at its best when we’re playing in our conference.”