TORRINGTON – The spring of 2021 is a historic one in the state of Wyoming. It is the first season in which the Wyoming High School Activities Association has sponsored the sport of softball, and Torrington High School senior Michaela Moorehouse wanted to be a part of it.
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TORRINGTON – The spring of 2021 is a historic one in the state of Wyoming. It is the first season in which the Wyoming High School Activities Association has sponsored the sport of softball, and Torrington High School senior Michaela Moorehouse wanted to be a part of it.
Since Torrington doesn’t field a team, Moorehouse had to find an alternative solution.
“I knew I didn’t want to run track, and I wanted to keep playing softball,” Moorehouse said.
Moorehouse is one of two softball players – Alyssa Albaugh being the other – from Torrington to participate in the 2021 softball season.
Wheatland and the three Cheyenne schools – East, Central and South – are the closest to Torrington, fielding a team during the inaugural season.
Because of East and Central’s co-ops with Burns in other sports, it left South as the only option for Moorehouse despite having played summer ball with Cheyenne East head coach Adam Galicia.
“South has been very welcoming,” Moorehouse said. “It’s been very cool to be a part of South’s and allowing us to join their team.”
Moorehouse makes the 88-mile trip from Torrington to the South campus anywhere from two to three times a week for practice and games.
Statewide, there are 13 teams (Kelley Walsh, Cody, Rock Springs, Worland, Natrona County, Green River, Thunder Basin, Campbell County, Central, East, South, Laramie and Wheatland) vying for four spots in the May 20-22 state tournament in Gillette.
On a cool, breezy Sunday afternoon, Moorehouse was at the softball field at Jirdon Park getting some practice in with her mother, Molly, and sister Marissa in hopes that the weather will do a better job of cooperating with the upcoming game schedule.
“We haven’t played a lot,” Moorehouse said. “We’ve only played two games, and the first game, it was many of their first games ever played. It has been a learning curve.”
Right now, the Lady Bison are 0-2 on the season after falling to Campbell County and Thunder Basin to begin the season. Now, Cheyenne South has a busy week with three key conference games on tap this week against Wheatland and cross-town rivals East and Central.
Because of the team’s lack of pitching experience, Moorehouse has really focused on carrying the team in the circle.
No matter how the season goes for Moorehouse and her teammates, she hopes this season will ultimately lead to increased numbers and making softball even more competitive across the state.
“It’s definitely cool,” she said. “Hopefully we can get people wanting to join traveling softball and make the whole state of Wyoming more competitive.”
