The Husky softball team returns a number of varsity players from last year building a strong foundation up the middle.
“We’re excited,” Coach Rob Younger said. “I think anytime you start a softball team, you start it strong up the middle.”
Heather Wall returns with four years of varsity pitching experience. She will throw to Amanda Burcham, who’s been behind the plate for two years.
Kaci Trask will move from shortstop to second base. Teresa Lewis will play at shortstop.
“That really solidifies the middle infield positions,” Coach Younger said. In centerfield, two good athletes, Mahria Zook and Miller, are competing.
Summer Guthrie will add depth pitching. Miller will add depth at catcher.
Left and right fields will be covered by Crystal Fowler and Laci Gaskey.
Nicole Starha will work third base along with Mallory Carlson. Martinez and Horn will play first.
“The four of them just need some experience,” Coach Younger said, but defensively, the Huskies are solid.
“The key to our success is how well we put the ball in play,” Coach Younger said. The Huskies have the potential to be a good hitting team.
The team needs to work on making clutch hits and stringing hits together to score runs, two- and three-run innings, Coach Younger said.
Five Capital Conference teams will likely play good ball this year, Coach Younger said.
“I think the Capital Conference, once again, will be a well-balanced league,” Coach Younger said. Stayton returns the nucleus of its league championship team. Central, which finished second, and Molalla, which finished third, both return a large number of players.
“Cascade and North marion will be right in the battle for us for playoff possibilities,” Coach Younger said.
With the quality of his athletes and their experience, Coach Younger and his team have set a goal of taking the league championship.
“Were going to be able to compete with anybody, any day,” Coach Younger said.
The Huskies lost in the last inning fighting for the third playoff spot at state last year.
The Huskies finished 3-9 in league play and 9-16 overall last year. Overall they lost five of the games by one run and eight games by two or less.
The team improved each week, peaking during league playoffs against Cascade and Molalla.
Wall was named second team all league at pitcher. Trask was named second team all league for infield.