YORK — Eight years ago, Danyel Seevers was called on to start, from scratch, a softball program at York High School. And, she has done it with a team built on hard work, community, and, well, reading.
An offseason ritual that has been part of the Duke program each season has been reading a book to build positive thoughts and togetherness for the upcoming season. The summer’s lesson was from Jon Gordon’s book Hard Hat: 21 Ways to be a Great Teammate.
“We started that at the beginning and we try to have the girls read a book every year,” Seevers said. “This year, we have such a great group of kids we wanted to figure out a way to make them the best teammates they could be.”
Gordon’s book led to a powerful, yet simple, motto for the 2015 season: We Before Me.
A pretty simple idea for a program that has lost just 12 games in the past three seasons and the 2013 state runner-up in Class B. Now, Seevers has a good problem on her hands as she and her team prepare for their upcoming schedule.
The Dukes went 28-4 last season and with returning all-state selections Jordyn Stearns and Karlee Seevers back, in addition to seven other starters, expectations are as high as can be expected.
“We are very excited for the season and what it holds,” coach Seevers said. “We have a great group of seniors and we feel like we had some young kids earn some valuable experience last year which will help us.”
The five seniors bring a wealth of leadership for the Dukes, led by Stearns, who was a 2nd team Super-State selection last year by the Omaha World-Herald. She batted .457 and drove in 45 runs while playing shortstop.
Also returning with Stearns in the senior class is the entire Duke outfield of Emma Grenfell, Allison Riley and Lauren Horras. Grenfell and Riley were honorable mention all-state selections last year as the trio combined for 88 RBI. Next to Stearns at second base is fellow senior Jessica Belifore.
For Stearns, the focus is more on the journey with her teammates than setting certain specific goals. We before me, you might say.
“These last three years have been amazing,” Stearns said, “so, obviously, our goal is to get back to state this year. We have a great work ethic and the drive to be really good. We are excited to see how we do this year.”
Coach Seevers said the leadership that Stearns has provided since being a freshman starter has been invaluable to the Dukes’ success.
“She is just a phenomenal athlete,” coach Seevers said. “But, she’s a great example for our younger players. She works hard in practice and is a great leader for us.”
That excitement of the strong senior class is buoyed by the return of four more underclassmen starters and an additional three letter winners. Leading that charge is Karlee Seevers, the coach’s daughter, who was a 2nd Team All-State selection as a freshman pitcher after finishing with a 24-4 record and 1.27 ERA.
“Karlee has worked really hard on adding some pitches over the summer,” coach Seevers said. “Softball is really starting to become a game where you can’t overpower anyone. So she has worked on some additional ‘junk’ pitches and we hope that really pays off.”
Other returning starters are junior first baseman Tayte Hansen and sophomores Lauren Rlley (3B) and designated player Kylee Nixon.
Coach Seevers said, now, the players just need to focus on working hard and letting the results speak for themselves. They’ll start with their 2015 journey on Saturday when they host the York Quad with Blair, O’Neill and Fillmore Central. The games can been seen on the York Striv Channel.
It’s a journey that Stearns hopes is filled with emotion and to know that she and her teammates left everything they had on the diamond.
“At the end of the year, you want to look back and know that you gave it all you could,” Stearns said. “I’d like to look at the end of the season and be able to cry when it was all over. I think if you are able to cry when the season is over, you’ll know that you have given it everything you had.”
And to have done it with one goal in mind: We Before Me.
