Photo courtesy of PhotoWorks: The 2026 Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove softball team consists of Alandra Hansen, Carlie Ross, DeAnn Roiger, Evelyn Rentschler, Gabby Ascencio, Hadley Jenniges, Kelly Van Heuvln, Kendra Schroeder, Kennedy Carter, Lauryn Bender, Leah Carter, Leah VanDeWiele, Mikayla Weis, Natasha Wahl and Sydney Foster. The team is led by head coach Derek Stevenson and assistant coach Shania Leach.

LAMBERTON — The Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove softball team has a strong group of returns in the 2026 season and heavy varsity experience, as it looks to make steps forward toward a winning season.

The Falcons have returned their primary pitcher again in Carlie Ross for her senior season, along with the addition of their returning offensive leadership in Natasha Wahl, Leah Carter, Ross and Kendra Schroeder.

RRC/WWG also brought back a young core of players too, who will look to add onto their experience and help the team move forward.

“We want to be competitive. We don’t want to be [like] where we have a bad inning here, bad inning there and it kind of rolls up on us,” head coach Derek Stevenson said. “We go over towards New Ulm for our section [tournament]. So, we’re talking [about competing with like] five of the top-10 teams in the state in our section. So again, just be competitive and don’t get stuck playing one of the top-rated teams in the state in the first round.”

Stevenson also noted that it’s a goal to be competitive in the Red Rock Conference this season as well, and has felt as if the Falcons have been stepping up in the past few games.

RRC/WWG finished last season 4-17 overall, with its wins coming over Renville County West, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda, Springfield and MACCRAY.

Ross is a key returning piece for the Falcons this year, and pitched nearly the entirety of last season.

Through her 115 innings in the circle last season, Ross finished with 93 strikeouts on a 6.494 ERA and 2.072 WHIP. Through the Falcons’ first nine games this season, Ross has 52 innings pitched with 29 strikeouts, remaining around a 6.420 ERA.

Hadley Jenniges has also returned as the team’s primary catcher, and Stevenson complimented her on her toughness behind the plate.

Stevenson also noted that Jenniges and Ross are both still healing from some basketball injuries sustained over the winter.

On the offensive end, RRC/WWG graduated Natalie Wahl from last season, who was the team’s second-best hitter. She finished the year with 25 hits, 12 RBIs and a .385 batting average.

But, the Falcons will continue to look at utilizing Natasha Wahl, Carter, Ross and Schroeder at the plate this season.

“We’re struggling right now [to start the season]. We just have to be more selective and get the bat on the ball,” Stevenson said.

Natasha Wahl led the team last year with a .400 batting average, 28 hits and 21 runs, along with 12 RBIs and a team-high nine stolen bases.

Carter was a powerhouse, leading the Falcons with a trio of homeruns last year. She had a .362 batting average with 22 hits and a team-high 23 RBIs. Both her and Natasha Wahl shared a team-high of six doubles as well.

Ross added in another 14 hits, eight RBIs and 11 runs, as did Schroeder with 11 runs, seven RBIs and 12 hits.

Through the Falcons start this season, Natasha Wahl, Ross, Carter and Schroeder are again off to good starts, as is DeAnn Roiger.

In the first nine games, Natasha has tallied 11 hits and 11 runs. Both Carter and Roiger have 10 hits apiece, with eight and seven RBIs, respectively. Ross is starting the year with nine hits and four RBIs.

RRC/WWG has started the 2026 season 2-7 overall, with three of its losses being separated by five or less runs. The Falcons will look to pick up some more wins as the season progresses and as players get healthy.

“We are trying to get that [team chemistry] up a little bit,” Stevenson said. “We just need to be more energetic, help each other out, boost each other’s confidence, stuff like that. So, we’re still working on that, hopefully it rolls around, because I lose three [players] after this year. The rest of them will come back, and hopefully can build off of that.”

Carter, Ross and Roiger are the Falcons’ senior trio this season.