By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After 15 seasons and 247 career wins, Pesha Ptacek announced to Southeast of Saline on Wednesday that she would be stepping down as head softball coach.
Ptacek led Southeast in two stints, most recently from 2016 to 2024, helping the Lady Trojans to six state appearances in just eight seasons.
While SES has had much success during her time at the helm, Ptacek plans to make good use of her newfound free time in the spring, and will still be present in the purple and white supporting Southeast on the diamonds.
“I love softball and I love coaching but my son Tiernan is just getting started and I missed all but one of his baseball games this season,” Ptacek said. “I’m excited to be a baseball mom and I want to be able to enjoy his last three years of high school sports.”
Ptacek concludes her coaching career with an overall record of 247-102, and more than ten regional championships, leaving the program in a great state for whoever inherits it next.
“Coach Ptacek is top-notch as a coach, teacher, and person, SES AD Doug Minneman said. “The way she was able to relate to and get the most out of the girls is second to none and we believe this program will keep things rolling we just have to find the right person to take the reins.”
To the surprise of few who know her, the thing Coach Ptacek will miss the most won’t be all the winning or trips to state, but the connections and bonds formed with her players over the course of an excellent career.
“The relationships were the best part of my time coaching here,” she said. “Coaching allows you to get to know your students on a different level and see a side of them that you don’t get to in the classroom. It’s been so fun to see the girls I’ve coached go on to do great things after high school and I can’t wait to watch some of them coach their own kids.”
Despite losing six seniors and their head coach, the Lady Trojans should still be a force to be reckoned with next season, as a new generation of Lady Trojans prepare for their time in the lineup.
“We graduated a very talented senior class this year but the cupboard is far from bare,” Ptacek said. “There are a lot of super-talented softball players in this program and a lot of kids who have had time on the varsity field. I’m confident that they’ll continue to do great things.”