March 23, 2010
Go Duluth Schools

Hunters search for identity without Bellamy
By Howie Hanson

Duluth Denfeld begins the post-Laura Bellamy era in high school softball this spring, and veteran Hunters coach Dick Swanson is understandably concerned.

Bellamy, who has moved on to Harvard where she is studying to be a physician and is a starting goaltender on the ice hockey team, was one of the most dominating pitchers and offensive players in Northland prep fast-pitch softball history since her eighth-grade year.

“Bellamy will be hard to replace, but we will just have to find another way,” Swanson said. “The kids are working hard.”

Denfeld will open the 2010 high school softball season at Northwoods in Minong, Wis., on April 6.

The Hunters, who will play 10 of their 18 regular season games at Wade Fields, will be led by sophomore pitcher-first baseman Nikki Logergren, senior pitcher Kaitlin Bagley, senior infielders Katherine Andreiko and Jess Havron, senior outfielder Maggie Kennedy and sophomore catcher Kara Warren.

Infielder-outfielder Kayla Dammann and outfielder Chelsea Fellbaum are top juniors. Freshmen catcher-outfielder McKenzie Klass and eighth-grade pitcher-infielder Ciarra Taipale are top young players.

“We will not be as fast as last year but we should be a good hitting team,” said Swanson. “Bagley and Logeregren should be a good 1-2 punch on the mound and Warren is a very good catcher.”

Assistant coaches are Tim Utt, Roger Axleson, Jeff Dieryck, Jena Dieryck, Lindsey Lundeen, Heather Taipale and Sara Oliver.