Waiting on pitching
Photo by EMIL WHITIS Kellogg’s Taylor Huber runs down a grounder March 23 at the Kellogg softball field during practice.
EDITOR’S NOTE: BLAST FROM THE PAST is a weekly article where we turn back the clock and see what was on the front page of our local newspapers years ago.
This unchanged article ran on the front page of the March 30, 2010, edition of the Shoshone News-Press. If you remember this story, or other BLAST FROM THE PAST articles, let us know by writing us or commenting online.
By EMIL WHITIS
Staff Reporter
After claiming fifth place at the state tournament and the Intermountain League title last year the Wildcat softball team is ready to give it another go.
“If we keep improving every game like we have, we’ll be a contender this year,” said Kellogg coach Alan Williams. “We’ve got everything we need.”
Although Kellogg lost last year’s ace pitcher Michaela Stewart, who graduated a year early, the 2010 team remains for the most part intact.
Williams has moved Taylor Huber from second base to shortstop and Carli Durick from third to second. Alesha Barr will remain in left field, along with Shayna Waechter at first and Samantha Squires in center field.
“Our defense is looking pretty strong,” Williams said. “It’s just up to our pitchers to throw strikes.”
Williams’ pitching roster includes Haley Dulaney, Raine Yergler, Samantha Lish, and Samantha Squires. Williams said all four have shown potential in different ways but he is waiting for one to step up and earn the title of “ace.”
Control is the main concern at this early point and the Kellogg pitching core seems to making progress, said the coach.
“In our last outing we had 20 walksand last weekend we only had 10 — we’re gaining ground,” Williams said. “But we lost the Bonners Ferry game (in part) because of two walks in the bottom of the seventh inning.”
Offensively the squad will be led by Huber who is currently batting in the lead position.
“She’s the catalyst for us on offense,” Williams said. “She has the ability to get out there on the base paths and make something happen.”
Looking toward tournaments in May the coach said the Intermountain League teams are, at least at this point, evenly matched.
“It’s going to be up for grabs,” Williams said. “It’s just a matter of who can put everything together at tournament time and I think we could easily be that team.”
The Wildcats are currently 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the Intermountain League.