As the varsity baseball team prepares for the upcoming season starting in February, St. Mary’s welcomes Ms. Souers as their new head coach, along with Mr. Kraatz as their assistant coach, to lead the team. With prior experience as both a player and coach in baseball and softball, Ms. Souers brings fresh energy to the program, aiming to guide the team toward growth and development this season. And assistant coach for the baseball team, Mr. Kraatz, aims to support the team by emphasizing to be open-minded with any change.
Ms. Souers brings over a decade of coaching experience to the program, having coached both baseball and softball over the past 12 years, primarily during summers in the United States. As a former player at both the high school and collegiate levels, and even an all-state softball player, she mentioned that her passion for the sport and coaching played a major role in her decision to join the St. Mary’s baseball program. “I love coaching. I love baseball,” she said, emphasizing her love for the sport.
Rather than focusing solely on results, Ms. Souers emphasized the importance of mindset, perseverance, and teamwork. She hopes to teach players how to respond when games become challenging, particularly in high-pressure situations late in the game, such as the bottom of the seventh inning. “That’s when the game’s the most fun,” she explained, referring to moments when teams are challenged to fight back instead of giving up. Building a strong sense of teamwork is another key priority for Ms. Souers. She believes that successful teams are defined not purely by individual skill, but by how well players trust and support one another. “It’s not an individual thing, it’s how you work together,” she said, highlighting the importance of team chemistry both on and off the field. “And I want them to be able to trust each other on the field and off the field.”
Returning as an assistant coach this season, Mr. Kraatz brings experience and continuity to the varsity baseball program. Although he had not originally planned to coach this year due to his teaching schedule, changes in circumstances and the fact that this will be his final year before retirement have led him to return to the field. He expressed that coaching has always been something he deeply enjoys and wanted to take advantage of what may be his last opportunity to do so.
Mr. Kraatz emphasized that his role this season will be to support both the players and the new head coach as the team adjusts to a new leadership style during a period of transition. He emphasized that he wants the players to approach the change with a positive mindset, and that new perspectives can bring valuable growth to a program. In terms of player development, Mr. Kraatz highlighted the importance of patience and steady improvement. He explained that baseball is a sport built on small, incremental growth rather than sudden success, and that mistakes are an inevitable part of the game. Instead of dwelling on errors, he encourages players to take every step to learn from them and focus on improving one skill at a time. He believes that with an open mind, strong fundamentals, and a positive team culture, the varsity baseball team has the opportunity to grow both individually and collectively.
