Softball: Tigers bring in strong offense, defense

It'd be easy to take away 2009 Sierra League Player of the Year Stephanie Harper's 73 career wins, 460 career strikeouts and 31 appearances last season alone and say the Douglas softball team is going to face some rebuilding this year.

But that would be missing the bigger picture.

The defending Sierra League champs have one of the strongest returning classes since 2005 (incidentally, the last time they entered a season defending a title), and coach Andy Mitchell is hoping it will translate into another solid season.

"We definitely have a lot of experience," Mitchell said. "There's a good balance in ages. I don't expect there will be a deeper team in the league top to bottom. We have a lot of interchangeable parts, with multiple people who can play each position.

"There are still a lot of decisions to make. We moved people around a lot last week during scrimmages and we'll do the same this weekend at the tournament (in Sacramento). But everyone out here is a hard worker. They're going to push each other all season to be better."

Douglas returns starters at every infield position and has five returning all-leaguers, including two first-team honorees. Six of the team's top seven run producers are back as are the leaders in doubles, triples and home runs.

But the thing Mitchell said he has been most impressed with is that the veteran core hasn't been content to rest back on their previous acheivements.

"I could see a situation at some schools where seniors will kind of take an all-out-for-themselves approach with it being their last year," he said. "But our seniors are very team-oriented.

"They're really about bringing the younger players along and developing them. They're taking the time to make sure everyone is playing their best. It's a strong team and they've got really good chemistry."

The graduation of Harper, the school's all-time leader in wins, though, has left a good-sized question mark at the center of the whole thing.

Sophomores Kalee Duryee and Chelsea Fent saw limited action in the circle last year with Duryee striking out 14 in eight appearances and Fent appearing only twice. Harper pitched the entire rest of the season.

"Obviously there's not a lot of experience there," Mitchell said. "Steph was our go-to pitcher for over three years. Kalee and Chelsea were up with us throughout the year. They just didn't get a lot of playing time.

"They practiced with us and we got to know them pretty well. We have good expectations for them.

"Basically, we just want them to throw strikes. That should keep us in games. We have strong offense, strong defense. We're hoping that should take some pressure off them.

"We're not expecting them to overpower people, or to carry the load on their shoulders. We just need them to keep the ball in the strike zone and let the defense do the work. The offense can carry a big load."

One big change, Mitchell said, is that he expects to employ much more of a pitching rotation than he has in years past.

Joining Duryee and Fent in the circle will be freshman Taylor McKinnon, who came on strong during tryouts.

"Taylor played with the Carson Valley Hot Shots during the summer, so we weren't as familiar with her," Mitchell said. "She played basketball during our conditioning too, so when she came out for tryouts, we were pleasantly surprised.

"She's lefthanded, so she will give us a different look out there. We don't have any expectations of a workhorse starting pitcher this year. We could rotate all three pitchers in during the course of a doubleheader. It'll be a different coaching style. There'll be a lot more though put into it every game.

"Things will go day-to-day and even at-bat to at-bat. It gives us a lot of options. As a group, I really believe these three will keep us in some games."

Surrounding the unproven trio in the circle will be a wealth of talent and experience, staring behind the plate.

CATCHER

Senior Katrina Morgan is expected to start behind the plate for the fourth consecutive season.

"She's a great captain for the team and she's a great catcher to have in this situation, where we're essentially going with three brand new pitchers," Mitchell said. "She'll be able to help them along and manage the game.

"She's a great defensive catcher, and she's extremely quick. We could end up using her at second or third as well."

Aside from her defensive prowess, Morgan also led the team in triples last year (three) while belting three home runs and driving in 24 runs.

"She's definitely one of our strongest hitters and we'll be sliding her into the No. 3 spot in the lineup most days," Mitchell said.

Backing up Morgan behind the plate will be junior Naomi Roberts, who made good strides last season with a double, a triple and seven RBIs.

"Naomi has a lot of flexibility as a player," Mitchell said. "She's a strong hitter and she can catch or play first or third. I expect she'll be in the mix at all three positions. We're expecting good things from her."

FIRST BASE

Senior Morgan Blomstrom returns for her third season at first after earning an all-league honorable mention last year with nine doubles and 32 RBIs.

"She has the inside track at first," Mitchell said. "She's our cleanup hitting and has become an extremely strong and smart batter.

Mitchell said Roberts and McKinnon are also in the mix at first.

SECOND BASE

Junior Brenna White returns for her second season starting at second after hitting three doubles and driving in 10 runs last season.

"Brenna is another year older and a year stronger," Mitchell said. "She's been playing softball for a long time and has a high softball IQ. She gets the job done. She finds a way to stop the ball and make the play.

Other players who could see time at second include Morgan, Niki Chavez and Amanda Caras.

SHORTSTOP

Senior Emily Weaver returns for her fourth season starting at short for the Tigers. She's been a three-time first-team all-leaguer and led the team in RBIs last year with 34, despite batting from the leadoff position.

She also had a team-leading 12 doubles, tied for the team lead in home runs with three and belted a triple.

"She's as solid as they come," Mitchell said. "She's done everything we've asked over the years.

Other potential players at short include Caras and Chavez.

THIRD BASE

Completing the returning infield core is senior Becca Trute, who was a second-team all-leaguer in 2009 and had four doubles to go with 15 RBIs.

"Becca is just another senior working very, very hard to get better," Mitchell said. "A lot of these girls are going up to Reno or California to play. They want to get better and they want to play in college. They've been putting in the work to get there and Becca is one of those."

Morgan, Roberts, Chavez and Caras can all play third as well.

OUTFIELD

Junior centerMaddy Gilbert earned first-team all-league honors last year at centerfield, hitting two doubles, one triple and driving in 17 runs.

She'll anchor a largely inexperienced group in the outfield that includes no other varsity returners.

"Maddy is great on defense and she's just a very quick, smart player," Mitchell said. "She's a great anchor to build around in the outfield. She understands the game real well."

Mitchell said the other spots in the outfield will be up for grabs between Caras, Chavez, McKinnon and freshman Aaliyah Paxson.

"Niki hasn't had as much playing experience, but she is a great athlete," Mitchell said. "We're expecting a lot out of her. Both she and Amanda are players that you can ask to play whereever you want them to, and they will. They have a lot of potential.

"Aaliyah is a hard worker and earned her spot based on the amount of work she was putting in during tryouts. She's working on becoming a slap hitter and she'll definintely fight for playing time out there.

"Taylor is another great athlete and we could look at her either in the outfield or at first base."

As far as the rest of the league is concerned, Mitchell said he expects to see a lot of balance.

"When it comes down to it, there should be six teams fighting for four playoff spots," he said. "Manogue has a strong pitcher coming back, Carson should be strong. They have real strong hitters and three or four strong pitchers. Those two will be teams to beat.

"Damonte last their main pitcher, but they'll be a great offensive team. Fallon and Galena have some great pitchers. It'll be really competitive all the way through."