2008 Woodie Awards
Young Guns
Softball hopes to repeat as conference champs
Corey Kempf
Issue date: 2/19/04 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
You can call it a long shot, but don't call it impossible. For the second straight year, a relatively young bunch of players will hit the field for the Lakeland College Softball Team in 2004. The team includes just one senior, but if you look at the accomplishments of last season and ask third year head coach Jill Staaf, experience doesn't really make much of a difference.
Last year, the Muskies had a young team such as this year's but still managed a 10-2 conference record (regular season champs) and five players made First Team honors in the Lake Michigan Conference. Of those five, three are returning, and all three are only sophomores.
The remaining three all-conference honorees include Michelle Hammers, Darcie Okimosh, and Cathy Collins.
Hammers, a pitcher and third basemen, was a perfect 4-0 in conference last season at the mound with a 1.25 earned run average (ERA). She also batted .329 on the season.
At shortstop, Okimosh had an outstanding year, just missing conference Player of the Year honors. She batted .591 to lead the conference (.426 all season) while driving in 14 runs during the conference season. She also had a .859 fielding percentage at a position many consider to be the toughest in the game.
Collins, who was Okimosh's teammate in high school, put up more huge numbers for the Muskies last season. A utility player and pitcher, Collins led the conference in home runs with three and RBI's with 17. She also had a .400 batting average.
"If these three stay healthy during the season, I have no doubts that they'll put up the same numbers this year," coach Staaf said.
Besides these three, the talent pool doesn't run dry. Leslie Doxtater, a pitcher from DePere, will look to make an immediate impact in her freshman year.
"If [Doxtater] pitches like she did in the fall, she has a very good shot at making all-conference this year," said Staaf.
The lone senior on the team is outfielder and second basemen Meghan Wudtke, who is returning to the team this season after taking the last two off to pursue her main sport, soccer, in which she was a first team All-LMC selection.
Staaf also expects sophomore third basemen Valerie Barlett and sophomore utility player Monica Hetzel to make a significant impact this season.
"It should be a good year, if we pool all the talent together for the season, we will be alright," Staaf added. "It will be even better if the freshman can standout as well as the others."
Spring Break will mark the beginning of the season as the team will make the sunny expedition to Fort Myers, Florida for their annual trip.
Last year, the Muskies had a young team such as this year's but still managed a 10-2 conference record (regular season champs) and five players made First Team honors in the Lake Michigan Conference. Of those five, three are returning, and all three are only sophomores.
The remaining three all-conference honorees include Michelle Hammers, Darcie Okimosh, and Cathy Collins.
Hammers, a pitcher and third basemen, was a perfect 4-0 in conference last season at the mound with a 1.25 earned run average (ERA). She also batted .329 on the season.
At shortstop, Okimosh had an outstanding year, just missing conference Player of the Year honors. She batted .591 to lead the conference (.426 all season) while driving in 14 runs during the conference season. She also had a .859 fielding percentage at a position many consider to be the toughest in the game.
Collins, who was Okimosh's teammate in high school, put up more huge numbers for the Muskies last season. A utility player and pitcher, Collins led the conference in home runs with three and RBI's with 17. She also had a .400 batting average.
"If these three stay healthy during the season, I have no doubts that they'll put up the same numbers this year," coach Staaf said.
Besides these three, the talent pool doesn't run dry. Leslie Doxtater, a pitcher from DePere, will look to make an immediate impact in her freshman year.
"If [Doxtater] pitches like she did in the fall, she has a very good shot at making all-conference this year," said Staaf.
The lone senior on the team is outfielder and second basemen Meghan Wudtke, who is returning to the team this season after taking the last two off to pursue her main sport, soccer, in which she was a first team All-LMC selection.
Staaf also expects sophomore third basemen Valerie Barlett and sophomore utility player Monica Hetzel to make a significant impact this season.
"It should be a good year, if we pool all the talent together for the season, we will be alright," Staaf added. "It will be even better if the freshman can standout as well as the others."
Spring Break will mark the beginning of the season as the team will make the sunny expedition to Fort Myers, Florida for their annual trip.