ABERDEEN — Softball is a family affair for the Overlands. 

The Mobridge-Pollock softball team is coached by couple Andrew and Heather Overland, while their daughters and twin sisters Sophia and Grace are key players. 

Andrew and Heather have been the Mobridge-Pollock coaches since the program’s inception in 2023, but their involvement extends beyond that. 

“I have been coaching most of these girls since they were eight years old between slowpitch and everything,” Andrew said. “I have always coached my kids ever since we moved up here, and it’s great. My wife is the assistant coach, too. We have a couple of other sisters on this team. So it’s a family deal.”

Andrew played college baseball at South Dakota State and Northern State, while Heather played college softball at Martin Luther College in Minnesota. 

Their love for the diamond rubbed off on their daughters, who are seniors for the Tigers.  

“Softball is huge,” Grace said. “Dad has been coaching us since we were two years old. We’ve been playing slowpitch until 14 and then we moved up. Fastpitch when we got it at our school, and we actually slowpitch with our mom.”

Heather said softball is a year round sport in the Overland household, making Thursday’s state tournament appearance that much more special. 

No. 7 seed Mobridge-Pollock, which was making its state softball tourney debut, upset No. 2 Bon Homme in the opening round of the Class B tournament. 

“Words can’t even describe it,” Heather said. “We are so proud of these girls. Not just our girls, but the girls that have been playing with us. They have been with us since they were eight and under and we love them as our own.”

Sophia and Grace kicked off the memorable day by singing the national anthem together to start the tournament festivities. The twin sisters have performed at multiple state events in the past, but Thursday was different for the state softball participants. 

“We had a good feeling that we were going to make it to state this year,” Sophia said. “So we thought it would be pretty cool to rep the jerseys and also be able to sing the national anthem at the state tournament.”

The sisters, along with Heather, praised the Mobridge-Pollock music program for their singing exploits and for being able to perform at state.    

“They’ve been doing it quite often, but it’s even more special because they get to play,” Heather said. 

After performing the national anthem together, the sisters were instrumental in Mobridge-Pollock’s upset win over Bon Homme. Grace, the team’s pitcher, allowed nine hits, five earned runs, four walks and struck out five batters. She added an RBI at the plate. 

Sophia, the team’s centerfielder, finished 2-of-5 and drove in two runs. 

Grace will attend South Dakota State University, where she will study to be chiropractic and plans on playing club softball. 

Sophia will attend the University of Mary in North Dakota, majoring in exercise science and plans to play softball.