Tinsman, senior leadership leading Hastings High Softball into postseason

HASTINGS, Neb. – Last year’s Hastings High Softball team was one pitch away from potentially piecing together their first ever state tournament win, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Hastings dropped a 1-0 pitcher's duel against Beatrice that needed extra innings to decide the nailbiter.

Now, the 2025 Tiger Softball team is entering the postseason this week with just as much, if not more talent than last year’s squad despite graduating four seniors.

"We're right where we were last year, maybe even a better team this year," said Senior Brooke Ochsner. "Just excited to get back to districts and hopefully go to state again."

The team is leaving last year in the past, but still producing at full force is sophomore pitcher Ella Tinsman, who is having no sort of sophomore slump.

She’s following up a 23-3 record and 224 strikeouts her freshman campaign, to striking out 236 batters just entering into this year's postseason.

According to MaxPreps that’s the 4th highest strikeout mark among teams in the entire country that keep stats.

This season, Tinsman has tossed four no-hitters, including a shortened three-inning perfect game.

Tinsman credits her new summer travel ball club, Nebraska Gold, and changing up her pitch repertoire for her remarkable second high school season.

"I've definitely focused on a lot more first-pitch strikes, that helps a lot," said Tinsman. "My riseball has been a lot better this year, last year it wasn't where I wanted it. I threw a lot of curves last year, I still throw my curve, but definitely more rise and change(up) this year."

Every team needs good leadership, and for the Tigers that comes from all four classes from the two seniors Brooke Ochsner and Hadyn Laux, to even the several freshmen who are playing invaluable roles on the team.

Head Coach Blake Marquardt credits the team’s unselfishness and willingness to learn in forming this tight-knight 2025 team.

"Going back, teams practice what they want to, this team practices what it needs to do to get better," said Marquardt. "They buy into it, and no one is stuck in one position. That's what I love about this team, we have girls that are playing several positions, and their selfishness has gotten them to this point."

The Tigers enter postseason play as a district host on Thursday and are three wins away from getting back to state for the 10th time in the past 11 years.

"Almost all of us were playing in the state championship last year, we just have a few freshman that will be nervous for districts, but we can help calm them down," said Ochsner. "It'll be awesome, we're all excited, so can't wait for next week."

Hastings first game is Thursday at 12:30 on KHAS Radio against either Highway 6 or York.

The Tigers will be broadcast on KHAS and ESPN Tri-Cities as far as they make it in the postseason.