It may take some time, but the Munising softball team is hoping that it is building towards some better time ahead on the field. The Lady Mustangs have had a bit of a hard time getting things going since the COVID-19 pandemic, but second year head coach Casey Ford feels good about how things are progressing.

“Munising didn’t have a team in 2022, which really hurt in rebuilding a team,” he said. “2021 Munising was limited in games due to COVID, so they played about 10 games, and 2020 there were no sports. Trying to rebuild a winning culture takes time when last year was the first year we had a full season since 2019.”

The Mustangs did manage to get one win last season; which felt like a major step for the program after not even having a team the year before.

“The team has put in a lot of work to get better,” Ford said. “It’s hard to build a program when there isn’t a feeder system. After the age of 12 the Munising area doesn’t offer softball for the girls to partake in until they are freshmen in high school.”

Helping the team this year will be seniors Cleo Witty, Maggie Beauchaine (catcher), and Toni Briggs (catcher, first base). Junior Kristin Joyner (shortstop, third base, pitcher, .494 average last year) and sophomore Brooklyn Joyner returns to the team after missing most of last season with an injury. Bailey Tyner (pitcher) is also on the team.

In all, Munising has three seniors on the team, two juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.

The Mustangs open the season April 19 at North Dickinson and head to Bark River-Harris on April 23.