KJAN Podcasts

The 2023-2024 season for Riverside Softball ended in a 7-2 loss to Earlham in the class 1A-Region 2 semifinal and with an overall record of (20-12). No coach wants their team to end the year on a loss and that is especially true for Riverside Head Coach Lacie Patterson. However, coach Patterson did comment on the pride she felt from the tenacity that her team held throughout the entire season.

The Bulldogs stayed true to their never give up mentality and it led to a few highlight victories against some of the better softball teams in southwest Iowa. Two big comeback wins for Riverside on the year was a 6-5 triumph over Griswold and a 2-1 prevail against Woodbine.

Things look promising for Riverside softball next year as the team had no seniors in their starting lineup. The Bulldogs have plenty of skill to go around like eighth grade pitcher Peyton Schafer who showed some tremendous improvement throughout the year. Schafer had a season record of 18-8, 137 strikeouts, opponents’ batting average of .204, and an ERA of 2.91.

Schafer was not the only Riverside athlete that stood out to coach Patterson with their development. Freshman Kayden Schnak led the team in homeruns with 5 and in RBIs at 37. Sydney Somers contributed with 18 hits and 13 walks. Lastly, Adaline Martens who had 20 hits and 12 RBIs. This trio continued to refine themselves the whole summer.

While next softball season does seem a million miles away for coach Patterson, she does have one idea of what the future will hold for next year’s team and that will be the same culture as last season.

Riverside finished the 2023-2024 season with an 8-7 conference record in the Western Iowa Conference.

Jim Field visits with Iowa DNR State Deer Biologist Jace Elliott about a deer population meeting in Atlantic on July 8 at 6:30 pm at the Venue.

w/Kate Olson.

Jim Field visits with Greg & Char Bintner, who have been parade announcers for many years and are the grand marshals for the Exira July 4th parade this year.  They help to preview the celebration.

Jim Field visits with Mike Rau and J. T. Altman about the Oakland Independence Day Celebration.

Jim Field visits with Museum of Danish America Genealogy & Education Center Youth and Community Educator Alissa LaCanne about July events sponsored by the museum.

Jim Field visits with Carole Schuler about the Cass County Relay for Life event on Sunday, June 30 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Jim Field visits with Dolly Bergmann about the Atlantic Rotary Club Pancake Flight Breakfast on July 4th.

w/Kate Olson.

Jim Field visits with Red Oak Chamber and Industry Executive Director Elaine Carlson about Junction Days this weekend.