Photo courtesy of Mark Wilmes/The Tyler Tribute The 2024 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton softball team includes Paisley Thooft, Ellie Dybdahl, Payton Johansen, Sofia Althoff, Marley Rohde, Kynsi VanderPlaats, Audrey Schreurs, Brezlyn Buchert, Sydey Nibbe, Madi Burns, Morgan Appel, Kya Alderson, Gabi Borresen, Kendyle Breyfogle, Laken Baartman, Briella Buchert, Kallie Alderson, Olivia Lange, Daryssa Cruz and Lily Klumper. The team is coached by Daaren Baartman with assistant coaches Brian Baartman and Jared Baartman.

TYLER — For Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Head Softball Coach Darren Baartman, he knows that as long as he has Senior Kya Alderson on the mound and Freshman Laken Baartman behind the plate, RTR has a good chance to win any game. 

And with good reason, since that combination led RTR to an 18-4 record last year. Their only losses came against Lac qui Parle Valley and to a good Wabasso team three times, including two losses in the section tournament. 

Alderson pitched every inning for the Knights last season and she was dominant all year. Since her freshman year, she has a combined record of 51-19. In addition to being one of the best pitchers in the state, she also is a dual threat on offense. 

Last season, she hit three home runs and batted over .400. For her career, she has four home runs, a batting average of .493, and an on-base percentage of .604, with many intentional walks. So far this season, she has a no-hitter and two one-hitters to her credit, with the only loss coming to a strong Pipestone team. Pipestone scored the only earned run against her this season.

Laken Baartman has been the starting catcher since the seventh grade. In addition to being an outstanding defensive catcher, she is a feared hitter. She already holds the career record for home runs at RTR with eleven, including four so far this season. In the unlikely event of runners reaching base, she keeps baserunners at bay with a strong, accurate throwing arm. Last season, she had a batting average of .462 and 23 runs scored, with an on-base percentage of .568 with 27 RBIs and four home runs.

A strength for this team is the experience they have, returning seven starters and their entire bench from last season. They lost outstanding center fielder Whitney Bruns, and solid right fielder Sara Hartson, but everyone else is back for another season. RTR will have their entire infield back, with Daryssa Cruz at first base, Lily Klumper at second, Briella Buchert at third, and an outstanding shortstop in Senior Madi Burns.

In the outfield, Gabi Borresen is back for her senior season, and she is joined by sophomore Brezlyn Buchert and freshman Paisley Thooft, with Briella Buchert and Payton Johansen rotating as floaters. Olivia Lange is usually the designated hitter, as well as a backup pitcher. She is also the starting pitcher for the Junior Varsity, which RTR has put together for the first time.

This season certainly has the potential to go deep into the playoffs, and hopefully earn their first trip to the State Tournament. If they can continue to improve defensively, and get some good at-bats from the bottom of their batting order, that is certainly a strong possibility.