North Canton Hoover Vikings softball prepares for season
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — The North Canton Hoover Vikings have a rich history, establishing themselves as one of the top softball programs in the state with eight Division 1 State Championships, including four consecutive titles from 2011-2014. For over 25 years, Coach Goodpasture guided the program to great success, and this year, I am honored to take over as the head coach, continuing the legacy he built. While I follow in his footsteps, the foundation set by Coach Goodpasture remains strong, and I am excited to continue that success while adding my own touch. Our program has always attracted talented, hardworking young women, and once a Viking, always a Viking. We aim to uphold this tradition of excellence while carving out our own path.
As for our goals this season, we are focused on getting stronger every day鈥攐ne game at a time. We want to compete for the Federal League championship and make a deep run in the tournament. We know the road won鈥檛 be easy, but our team is hungry for success and determined to give it everything we鈥檝e got.
With the 2025 season just beginning, we鈥檝e had strong performances in our scrimmages, and the girls are settling into their positions and roles well. The team is excited and ready to hit the ground running and see what this season holds for us. Like many of the great teams before us, this team is loaded with talent. We have a solid pitching staff that should carry us deep into the season, and if our offense stays consistent, we鈥檙e confident we鈥檒l be in a good position for a successful run. While it鈥檚 early, the potential is definitely there.
This season, our captains are seniors Sienna Koosh, our catcher, and Ella Letosky, our pitcher. Both have shown exceptional leadership on and off the field. Alongside them, seniors Summer McCaw, another pitcher, and Alexis Greenauer, an outfielder, bring a wealth of experience and leadership. These girls are essential to our success鈥攖hey set the tone for the team’s attitude, work ethic, and commitment. We haven鈥檛 played an official game yet, so no comeback victories to report, but we are excited to get started and show what we can do.
As for pre-game rituals, our team doesn鈥檛 have any specific traditions. The girls focus on what鈥檚 coming next and keep things simple, always locked in and ready to play. However, we鈥檙e fortunate to have a fully stocked snack bar in our locker room, which the team loves. Before games, they enjoy snacks like pretzels, pop tarts, protein bars, and fresh fruit to fuel up and stay energized.
We pride ourselves on being one big softball family at Hoover. Every player, regardless of experience level, is treated with respect and given the opportunity to contribute to the team鈥檚 success. We focus on building a supportive, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. While we don鈥檛 have a traditional “hype man,” we鈥檙e lucky to have Scott Arnold, our long-time announcer, who brings incredible energy to our games. His enthusiasm helps get the crowd and the team fired up.
Although the season is still young and no records have been broken yet, we鈥檙e confident in the talent we have this year. We have high hopes for the season, and I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if we make some noise and set new benchmarks. The motivation driving this team is clear鈥攚e are fueled by the doubters who question our abilities, the way last season ended, and the great chemistry among the girls. They are determined to prove themselves and make their mark on this program.
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