On Sunday, June 16 athletes will take the field at Warner Park. The fans will cheer for them after “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played. Kids will clamor around the dugout hoping the heroes of the diamond will autograph the baseballs clutched in their hands.

It will be the Madison Softball team's first ever home game.

The Madison Mallards established Madison Softball just a few months ago, part of the new Northwoods League Softball summer collegiate league. It will showcase the best female collegiate softball players from across the country.

“This is a fantastic way to grow the game,” said Raquel Savoy, the team’s new manager. “Madison’s community is the perfect place to open the first year the Northwoods League has softball.”

The inaugural season will feature three other teams, including teams in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Mankato, Minnesota, and Minot, North Dakota.

The 42-game season, 21 of which will be played at Warner Park, runs Saturday, June 15-Wednesday, Aug. 7. The games will be seven innings in length.

The schedule is out now.

The team’s roster will have sixteen players. The team is currently seeking host families. Those that host a player for the summer get season tickets, discounts on merchandise, free food, and more.

Raquel Savoy has been hired as the first manager of the Madison Softball team. | Photo via Madison Mallards | Madison Mallards

Savoy said, “We’re bringing an awesome group of women together to work on their game, and letting others enjoy the fun as well.”

Savoy will be joined in the dugout by Laurèn Schiek, just named the team’s assistant coach. An Oshkosh native, she played her college career at Santa Clara University and Abilene Christian University. This will be her first coaching role. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of female athletes to work hard and dream big,” Schiek said.

The athletes don’t have a team name yet. Currently, it’s Madison Softball, but not for much longer. They recently had a community-wide contest to name the team. The finalists: Lake Muensters, Night Mares, Swamp Angels, and Thunder Chickens.

The public is invited to the team name unveiling on Saturday, April 20 at the Orpheum Theater. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the unveiling at 5:30 p.m. The event will include games, free food, merchandise, and more. You can RSVP to attend.

Savoy, who has coached at Chabot College, Santa Clara University, and UC-Berkeley, said “I am looking forward to the summer environment with some great softball.”

Savoy, and Madison sports fans.