By Matt Browning

The Newton softball team was forced to alter their expectations just a few months ago.

After taking fourth at the 5A Tournament a year ago, the Railers had two first team all-league selections returning, as well as three second team all-league selections.

But Newton suffered a huge blow when Tegan Livesay moved to Minnesota.

So while the Railers still have plenty of returning talent, there are more questions and concerns than what head coach Danny Park was anticipating.

“We are probably best described as a team seeking a new identity,” Park said. “The returning all-league players will help establish the development of the influx of new players as we have four freshmen on varsity this season.”

Those returning all-league players (Piper Seidl, Reese McCord and Abby Koontz) are crucial if Newton wants replicate its success from a year ago. But Parks wants to reevaluate his team in May, rather than projecting in April.

“Our expectations this season are pretty simple,” Parks said. “We want to grow everyday into a becoming a better team, learn to battle one game at a time. We have a lot of new faces. We also have old faces in new places. So some growing pains are expected. We will evaluate our season in May. We were given a different hand than we had in November. But I believe in the players we have.”