Senior Spotlight: Cadet Softball
The Eisenhower softball girls are in their final season of softball. The varsity softball seniors consist of Ellie Suhm, Thalia Garza, Annaka Yockey, and Zabella Hickenbottom. This group of seniors have really embraced their role as leaders of the team, leaving an impact on the team they have played on for four years.
Annaka Yockey is the pitcher for the softball team, and has been pitching for varsity since her freshman year. This is Annaka’s last year playing and she had positive reflections about her softball experience. She said she is super grateful for the friends she has made during her softball career, as well as how grateful she is for the lessons being a part of softball has taught her, like a winners mentality, never giving up, and buckling down. Annaka will also be one of the class of 2026 valedictorians, an impressive addition to her high school resume.
Zabella Hickenbottom plays middle infield for Ike softball, and plays it extremely well. She will be playing D1 softball at Queens University next year, one of two athletes going D1 from Eisenhower this graduating class. Zabella is proud of how she has learned to balance school softball and travel softball with actual school work. She says she is grateful for how softball has made her a better person, teaching her life lessons and introducing her to many new people.
Thalia Garza also plays middle infield and will be playing softball for Yakima Valley College next year. Thalia has worked hard these past four years, and she is especially proud of her improvement in her defensive skills. Her favorite memories consist of the bus rides to and from away meets, where she spends a lot of time having fun with her teammates. She said she is most grateful for the friends she has made on the team.
Ellie Suhm is first baseman for Ike softball, and is wrapping up her final season playing softball. Ellie is proud of how far she has come, this season especially, due to her new coaches. She says her hitting has improved more this season than any previously. Ellie is grateful for her team, and the coachability, life skills, relationships, and adaptability that came with it. Ellie wants her team to know she loves them all so much.
Congratulations to the seniors finishing up their last high school softball season, the team was lucky to have you be a part of it, and is sad to see you go.
