Title: Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills Softball: Reflecting on the Season and Looking Ahead

Introduction:
The Kenowa Hills' softball team, from Grand Rapids, boasts of a youthful line-up that has proven perseverance, skill, and passion for the game throughout the season. We sat down with Coach James Buskard for a postseason interview, discussing the past season’s ups and downs, the growth of the players, and what lies ahead for this vibrant team.

Team’s Key Contributors and Their Impact:
According to Coach Buskard, every member of the team had a significant impact on the season. However, he singled out Katherine Tudor, Kendall Donley, and Josie Ouellette for their undeniable contributions on defense and in the batter's box. Their great performance was integral to many of the team's successes, resulting in growth and team camaraderie.

Season Reflections – The Good and the Bad:
Coach Buskard notes that the team is incredibly young, not having a single senior to close out the season. Despite this, he takes pride in the undeniable growth each player exhibited. For him, watching their confidence grow with each passing day was a rewarding highlight of the season.

Season Shapers and Stand-out Players:
Adrian Perlmutter and Sidalee TenHopen were both singled out by Coach Buskard as players who made significant progress as the season progressed. Having most innings at first base and ending the season with a .384 batting average, Perlmutter displayed excellent offensive and defensive skills. Sidalee TenHopen, on the other hand, showcased her improvement convincingly enough to land her a permanent starting job in the outfield.

Response to Challenges:
Throughout the season, the team faced numerous challenges including hard defeats. Coach Buskard commends the tenacity of the team, who throughout the tough losses, remained resilient and focused on improving their game. He appreciates their trust in the process and their constant drive to better their game.

Leadership and Energy:
Due to the absence of a senior class, juniors and standout sophomore Josie Ouellette stepped in to provide leadership to the team. Their unwavering strengths on and off the field were instrumental in fostering growth among the underclassmen.

Looking Ahead:
The coach looks ahead with excitement, noting that the team's positive attitudes, despite coming off a 2-24 season, show their readiness to keep working. Not losing any players and with the prospect of new talents from the upcoming freshman class, the future of the program is indeed a thrilling prospect. Ensuring continuous growth is the principal goal in the offseason, with particular emphasis on improving their batting swings.

Conclusion:
The 2021 softball team at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills is a vibrant picture of perseverance, strong will, and dedication the sport. They've accepted their challenges, grown tremendously, and their optimism for their future season is infectious. With the determination seen over the past season, there's no doubt that there are greater things to come for this young team. To follow their progress, you can look up the team’s statistics on GameChanger.