Photos by Dani Koenen, contributed
Above: Members of the Henning 10U softball team included: Front row: Johanna Saari, Kaylee Godding, Brielle Thalmann, Koli Torgerson, Nora Mills, Arianna Schwartz and Paisley Sapp. Middle row: Mila Umland, Makayla Menze, Gracie Springer, Korie Koenen, Willow Beattie, Jayden Ross and Shelby Loock. Back row: Jason Torgerson, Chad Koenen and Jesse Thalmann.
Members of the Henning 12U team included: Front row: Kami Dittberner, Charlie Dehmer, Gwen Christensen, Jacobi Saari, Abi Barthels, Olivia Deyonge, Sheila Tierney and Emmy Spires. Back row: Dakota Aeling, Kaylee Kerzman, Annabelle Jacobs, Ava Molter, Harper Umland, Tori Dittberner, Shadley Bunkowski, Kim Ross and Fiona Eckel.
Members of the Henning 14U team included: Front row: Ivy Witt and Makaya Oehrlein. Middle row: Savannah Springer, Gretchen Mimbach, Chloe Hagen, Klare Thalmann and Rylee Weller. Back row: Chad Koenen, Megan Shaw, Brittany Kline, Kendall Koenen, Jazmine Saari, Nathan Thalmann and Steve Witt. Not pictured: Clara Peterson. 

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Nearly 40 Henning area youth participated in the 10U, 12U and 14U softball program this summer. This is the fourth year that a summer softball program has been held for youth in the Henning area. 

The Henning 10U team was seeded second in the league tournament out of 11 teams and defeated Nevis in the first round of the league tournament by a score of 1-0. They fell to third seeded Park Rapids Orange by a score of 8-7 in the semi-finals, before defeating fifth seeded Sebeka by a score of 2-0 in the third place game.

The Henning 10U team finished their season with a record of 10-4 overall.

The Henning 12U team finished their season with a fourth place finish at their league tournament in Park Rapids. The Hornets received the sixth seed and won their opening two games of the tournament, before falling in the semi-finals, to qualify for the third place game. They ended up in fourth place with a record of 6-7-1 out of 11 teams. 

The Henning 14U team finished their season with a tough loss to seventh seeded Pillager by a score of 9-5 in the opening round of their league tournament in New York Mills. The Hornets finished their season with a record of 1-10, but came up just a few runs short in several of their games late in the season. 

There was no cost for the youth to participate in the program as all of the costs, including jerseys, were covered through a private donation.