Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Returning a softball team that went one round deep into state playoffs last year, the Huskies are enthusiastic about their chances this year.
“We’re excited,” Coach Steve Hummer said. “I think we have the opportunity to do some great things. We set our goals pretty high, but it’s a day-by-day thing.”
The team would like to win the conference championship, to get deep into state playoffs and maybe win the whole thing, Hummer said.
Sweet Home returns honorable mention all-state pitcher Makenzie Marchbanks, a senior and Capital Conference pitcher of the year.
Marchbanks struck out 10 batters per game last year, Hummer said. She made almost half of all the team’s outs from the mound, chalking up an earned run average of 1.37.
She has been throwing since September with a goal of reaching 60 mph, Hummer said. Oregon State’s top pitcher throws 65 mph.
Pitching like that “makes your life a lot easier,” Hummer said. She pitched in eight shutouts last year and is a four-year letter winner.
Behind her, the Huskies bring a devastating defense.
Senior Sara Brocard was honorable mention all-league at catcher. Junior Jessalyn Seiber was all-league in the outfield, and senior Michelle Cliver was all-league at shortstop.
“We’re fairly tough up the middle,” Hummer said. “We’re excited. It’ll be fun to get into a new league.”
The Huskies also include senior Olivia Lake, juniors Kim Bell, Idahna Huenergardt and Becky Spencer and sophomores Kaci Pettit, Lacey Mink and Paige Niemi.
Cliver will continue at shortstop, Hummer said. Brocard will remain behind the plate. Huenergardt takes third after playing their her freshman year. Seiber will remain at outfield.
“Defensively, we’re very, very solid,” Hummer said, adding that the Huskies need to improve on offense.
“We know to be successful we have to hit the ball better. If we accomplish our goals, it’s going to be because we’ve improved at the plate.”
That’s where the team has been working hardest, he said.
Marchbanks batted 350 last year to lead the Huskies, and Hummer said some younger players are looking good at the plate as well.
“Mink and Niemi look really solid in the cage,” Hummer said. “I think Sara Brocard is really going to surprise some people this year.”
Cliver struggled at the plate last year, hitting .300, which was a down year for her, Hummer said. This year, she’s a potential all-state shortstop and already hitting better.
Lake also will surprise people at the plate, he predicted. Besides getting some solid hitting, Niemi and Mink are also quick on the base paths.
Bell and Spencer are new varsity players and will serve as utility players, Hummer said. Spencer will often spend time at third and in the outfield. Bell will play at second, back Marchbanks and play outfield.
“Those two people are going to be crucial to us,” Hummer said. They provide depth, especially at times like this when members of the team are recovering from bronchitis.
Around the Val-Co, “Central is very good, and Newport is right there with them,” Hummer said, and he’s keeping an eye on Taft and Philomath as well. Taft has improved, and Philomath is always solid.
“Adding us, there’s no free tickets,” Hummer said. “Everyone is going to be tough.”
Last year, the Huskies lost two one-run games to Central, Hummer said. “If I were voting (not counting the Huskies), I would say Central is going to be the team to beat. Newport is going to be right in there too.”
The Huskies lost in the first round of state playoffs last year to Baker, 3-2.
It was disappointing, “but we’re out to fix that,” Hummer said. “We’ve got all the pieces. We’ve just got to put them all together. We’re going to work our tails off till we get what we want.”
Last year, things didn’t look so great early on, with the Huskies sitting at fourth place in league; but hard work paid off and things gelled, Hummer said. The Huskies won seven straight games to earn a berth in the state playoffs.
Doug DeMille is the new junior varsity coach, moving to softball after assisting in baseball last year. Bob Marvin will assist DeMille. John Seiber returns for his second year assisting Hummer.