Submitted photo Wabasso Rabbits softball head coach Tiffany Eichten (left) and Andrea Ellanson (right) pictured before a game during the softball season.

Wabasso softball head coach Tiffany Eichten was named the Marshall Independent softball Coach of the Year on Friday for helping the Rabbits to a 19-8 record — and 11-1 home record — in 2023.

Eichten’s team also included a pair of Independent All-Area selections in senior catcher Kelsey Frank and junior pitcher Avery Carlson. Sophia Hanna and Addisyn Hillesheim were also acknowledged as honorable mentions.

“Frank was huge for us and was a great leader. Sophia Hanna also had great senior leadership. Avery Carlson was great on the mound and we had great team chemistry,” Eichten said. “It was truly a team-oriented unit.”

One of the highlights of Wabasso’s season was defeating New Ulm Cathedral on the road. The Eagles went on to represent their section in the state tournament.

“That was kind of our moment beating New Ulm Cathedral on the road, followed up with that win, it set up our win streak and also set the tone for us going into playoffs,” Eichten said.

Other highlights included beating the No. 1 seeded Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg Fighting Saints two out of three times and winning three close contests with the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights. The Rabbits also made it to the section championship, where they fell to the eventual Class A champion, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian.

This is Eichten’s second time being named coach of the year in her eight-year tenure as the coach. Her last win came in 2016 when Wabasso also went to the section championship.

“It was a super fun season,” Eichten said. “The girls had the drive and had great leadership all season long. I told the girls I believe in you but we had experience as well and great senior leadership. We had a really tough schedule this season and we played close to a lot of the teams.”

Eichten also emphasized the importance of the team’s coaching staff to the team’s success.

“I cannot thank my coaches enough,” Eichten said. “Andrea Ellanson, Kimberly Frank and Erin Rohlik are my assistant coaches. Ellanson and Kimberly Frank both have young families, both work outside the school and rearrange their work schedules to coach softball. It takes a village especially during softball season to help with our kids and our families dedicate themselves to make it work for us. Without them, coaching wouldn’t be possible.”

Eichten and the Rabbits will now look to draw on the experience gained from getting to the section championship and even going further next season.

“We do have a lot of returning players coming back,” Eichten said. “A lot of the girls are helping with the summer softball program. Getting them more involved with the youth helps because it really develops them to be better players and give back to our community.”