Oakville softball has long been a fixture in the Suburban Conference, and after a 23–9 campaign in 2024, the Tigers enter 2025 looking to prove last season was no fluke.
Head coach Rich Sturm, who has guided the program for more than two decades, admits the team lost a talented senior class but insists the outlook is far from bleak.
“It’s not a rebuild, it’s a retool,” Sturm said. “We obviously graduated a lot of good players last year, but we’ve got some good players returning and some really promising girls who were on JV last season. I feel good about the potential of this team.”
The Tigers’ returning core begins with senior Addie Frank, a versatile defender who will likely move from second base to shortstop. Her leadership and consistency will be vital in anchoring a young infield.
In the circle, junior pitcher Lola Seawel steps into the ace role. Seawel was the No. 2 arm a year ago but still managed to strike out between 120 and 130 batters in just 80 innings of work.
Senior Mia Endermuhle also returns, bringing reliability both in the field and at the plate. Alongside her is senior Avery DesRoche, who has logged varsity at-bats over multiple seasons.
Sturm emphasized that while only three starters return from last season’s lineup, the roster is not short on experience.
“It’s not like we’re going to have four or five kids in the lineup with zero experience,” he said. “We’ve got quite a few who have gotten at-bats in past seasons, even if it wasn’t last year.”
With so many underclassmen expected to step into bigger roles, leadership from veterans will be critical. Sturm said players like Frank, Sewell and Endermuehle not only bring skill but also the ability to set the tone.
“They’re great softball players, but they’re also great leaders,” he said. “The improvement across the board has been tremendous. I can’t be any more pleased.”
If the Tigers are to make noise in October, they’ll have to navigate one of the area’s toughest districts. Jackson returns a dominant ace pitcher. Fox, which brings back nearly its entire roster, including a standout sophomore shortstop, could be the sleeper team. Lindbergh remains strong behind pitcher Marley Steiner. Northwest also returns its pitching core, while Kirkwood and Mehlville remain question marks.
The Tigers may look different on paper, but Sturm believes this group can carry on Oakville’s winning tradition.
“This group has worked extremely hard,” he said. “The improvement has been tremendous. I feel really good about the potential of this team.”