GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) - The Union Redhawks softball team is heading into the new season with a roster full of versatile athletes, something both the coaches and players believe will be a game-changer this spring.
“This year's roster is filled with athletes,” Morgan said. “This is a huge plus in that they can play multiple positions.” That flexibility is complemented by experience, as the team returns several key veterans, including four-year varsity player and team captain Kiera “Kiki” Love, along with four other seniors. “We also have strong leadership. [The seniors] have adapted to helping and mentoring the youth on our team,” Morgan added.
The Redhawks are shaping their approach around a defensive mindset. With multiple returning starters and a promising freshman class, Morgan believes defense will set the tone this season. “Defense is our strong suit,” he said. “We will be full of grit and determination. There is no ‘give up’ in these student-athletes.”
Several players are already standing out early. Freshman Alexia Grays brings rare versatility, with Morgan noting she “can effectively play all nine positions on the field.” Fellow freshman Isabella Rodriguez adds impact with both her bat and glove, and seniors Love and Ameerah Mathews, who anchored the left side of the infield last season, will shift into key roles on the corners this year.
But for Morgan, what makes the program special goes beyond talent. “The players get along extremely well,” he said. “They show up, they work hard, and they are their own best cheering squad.”
That sense of unity is echoed by the players themselves.
Senior shortstop Ulisea Torrez-Salas emphasized how much the team has grown together in thier fundamentals. “So far this year, our team has been emphasizing communication and accuracy the most,” she said. “Comparing our team to last year, or even two years ago, our communication and accuracy have increased significantly.”
Junior center fielder Luz Schmidt has seen similar progress. “The team has been emphasizing fielding cleanly, communication, and working together,” she said. “Already, I’ve seen major improvements.”
For Love, one of the biggest differences this season is the emergence of younger talent. “One thing that makes this year’s group special is the amount of underclassmen talent we have,” she said. “Our incoming new athletes are truly extraordinary and will grow to be the next great leaders of this softball team.”
Mathews agreed. “This year we have added a couple new people that are very good adds and strong players,” she said.
Beyond performance, the Redhawks pride themselves on their culture. “We all get along very well, even though we all have different personalities,” Mathews said. “We are a very coachable group, and we laugh all the time with each other.”
Individually, players are also honing their strengths. Torrez-Salas highlighted her defensive awareness: “The part of my game I’m most confident in right now is knowing where the ball needs to go in order to get an out.” Love pointed to the team’s mental toughness: “I am personally most confident in our ability to maintain composure on the field. I believe that this ability is a good asset to our team because consistency wins.”
With a mix of veteran leaders, emerging young talent, and a strong defensive identity, the Union Redhawks are entering the season focused, connected, and ready to compete in the OK Green.
