LRSC names Ben Morris as new softball head coach

Article by Sam Herder, Devils Lake Journal, June 27th, 2016.

Lake Region State College announced Sunday the hiring of Ben Morris as its new head softball coach.

Morris was the assistant coach for the Royals baseball team this season and is also a former player. LRSC had its most wins since the return of the program three years ago.

"I have known Ben Morris as a player and a coach here at LRSC," LRSC athletic director Danny Mertens said in a news release. "I think he is going to bring the right attitude and have the right approach needed to lead the softball program."

Kory Boehmer, who has been the softball coach the past three years, has agreed to step down to focus on assessment efforts with LRSC's Higher Learning Commission reaccreditation process. He will coordinate the faculty driven assessment effort and will help complete the schools HLC Quality Initiative. Boehmer is taking these responsibilities while remaining as a full-time faculty member teaching science.

"Kory has agreed to sacrifice something he has built and something he truly enjoys to serve the institution in a different way," Lloyd Halvorson, LRSC Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, said in the release. "Kory will not completely step away from the program, however. He will stay involved with the softball team as the assistant coach and continue to be the faculty advisor to those student athletes."

The softball team went 15-31 this season with a 10-10 record in the Mon-Dak Conference. Morris will have several key players returning, including conference MVP Emma Gary.

"I am excited to take over as head coach of the Royals softball program," Morris said in the release. "I look forward to building upon the success that the program has had."

Mertens added: "I believe the players are going to respond positively to his coaching style. I would like to thank coach Boehmer for all the time he has put into the softball program these past few years to get it to this level and having him be an assistant coach is going to help Morris transition into his new role as head coach."