NEW RICHLAND &045; Coach Wendy Schultz is always enthusiastic when it comes to her New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva softball team, but next spring she could be even more excited than usual.

The Panthers made a strong showing in the sub-section tournament, where they ended their season last weekend with a pair of one-run losses, and the entire team will be back next year.

The sub-section tournament was a lot like the regular season for the Panthers, who lost six one-run games while finishing 10-12 overall. They were 5-8 in the Gopher Conference.

&uot;We hope, with a year of experience under our belts, we’ll be able to win those close games that we lost this year,&uot; said Schultz. &uot;We could have easily been 16-6. We ended the season on a good note and look forward to next year.&uot;

The Panthers opened the sub-section tournament with a 5-1 victory over Bethlehem Academy at Henderson.

Emily Hagen led the offense, going 3-for-5. Laura Hager was 2-for-4. Getting one hit each were Erin Anderson, Heather Shultz, Nikki Bergdale, Betsy Waldhauser, Amanda McGuire and Chelsy Quiram.

Anderson pitched, striking out four and walking three.

&uot;The whole team played great,&uot; said Schultz. &uot;Our outfield showed a lot of poise and made a lot of great catches. The whole team hit well.&uot;

Bergdale had the defensive highlight, making a tough catch and throwing to first for a double play.

Errors &045; which hurt the Panthers in several games this year &045; were the difference in a 5-4 loss to LeSueur-Henderson at Henderson.

&uot;It was a hard fought game,&uot; said Schultz. &uot;The girls played well. We had three errors and unfortunately, they scored three runs off of them.&uot;

The Panthers totaled eight hits, with Waldhauser going 2-for-3 with a double, Bergdale 2-for-4. McGuire, Anderson, Emily Hagen and Quiram each had one hit. Shultz drove in a run.

Anderson pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs with one walk and two strikeouts. Hagen went the final four innings and took the loss. Only one of LeSueur-Henderson’s runs was earned.

Errors were again costly in a season-ending 4-3 setback to Hayfield.

&uot;We played well enough to win, offensively and pitching,&uot; said Schultz.

Anderson allowed only five hits, striking out five and walking none.

Hagen and Waldhauser were 2-for-3 and Bergdale was 2-for-4. Quiram, McQuire, Shultz and Anderson added one hit apiece.

&uot;The girls played hard throughout the tournament,&uot; said Schultz.