Last year at this time the Cook County High School girls’ fast pitch softball team had a total of one practice outdoors. And, as Head Coach Jessie Anderson said, “It’s hard to learn to field ground balls when you’re practicing in the gym. The ball comes off grass and dirt a lot different than the floor of the gym. We feel really fortunate this year to practice outside.”
So it is a great relief that spring came early. The team is getting plenty of reps outside and getting excited to play its first game of the season.
“We will play Moose Lake at home on Tuesday, April 10 at 4 p.m. Next we will play Carlton at Carlton on Thursday, April 12 and the next day meet Babbitt at home at 4 p.m. Our home games are at the Rec park in the tourist park,” added Anderson.
Returning starters include Sarissa Falk, pitcher; Cecilia Schnobrich, shortstop; Anna Carman, catcher; Signe Larson, utility player; Rachel Wieben, outfield; CeCe Olsen, second base; Megan Lehto, infield; Lexie Palmer, outfield; Sarah Deschampe, outfield; and Madison Roy, back-up pitcher.
“We plan on dressing more varsity players as kids progress with their skills,” Anderson said.
The team is scheduled to play 15 games this season, but much of that is dependent upon the weather. Last year the team finished with a 5-9 record and was 3-8 in the conference.
Anderson said she has seen an improvement in her players hitting this spring. “A handful of players worked hard in the hitting cage this winter and that has helped. Sarissa, Signe, Ce Ce and Lexi have all hit the ball well so far, and Rachel had two homeruns hit out of the ballpark last year, so we have some power coming back.”
As far as the infield goes, “We still have to work out who will play the corners. Schnobrich will play shortstop and Olsen second base. Sarissa Falk will be our main pitcher and she will have to lead us. We’re counting on her,” Anderson said.
The outfield will be Wieben, Palmer, Deschampe and maybe Larson. Larson is also taking some practice at 3rd base, and may wind up there, Anderson said. And, as other players improve on the junior varsity, the varsity will add players to its roster.
“We have a young squad with one senior, CeCe Olson, on the team. We look to be better than last year. So far we look like we have made some improvements. We’ll see when we start to play some games. We open with a tough schedule. It should be interesting,” Anderson said.
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