Rochester Jaelin Lancaster delivers a pitch to a Tumwater batter during a non league softball game at Rochester on Friday.
Tenino's Morgan Master's delivers a pitch during Evergreen 2A/1A Division softball action against Eatonville Thursday in Tenino.
Tenino's Jessica Edwards makes contact with the ball during Evergreen 2A/1A Division softball action against Eatonville Thursday in Tenino.
The Elma Eagles may have brought home the golden glove last year with a surprise run in the State 1A tournament, but much has changed since the offseason. With just two players returning from the championship team, the loss of league co-MVP and ace pitcher Brooke Goldsmith, and a brand new head coach in Roger Elliott, the Eagles seem to be in a serious state of rebuilding.
As for Montesano, not much has changed besides the name of the league. Winners of the Evergreen 1A League and the District 4 titles last season, the Bulldogs are gearing up for another run at a trophy in Richland.
Behind last year’s co-MVP and senior ace Madison Didion and senior shortstop and power hitter Megan Choate — headed for Toledo University next year —the Bulldogs are a league favorite, according to Rochester coach Jared Lancaster.
“If you ask anybody, they’ve got a good small ball program,” Lancaster said. “They have a lot of quick kids and they can read a defense really well. You throw in a few lefties and they cause teams a lot of grief.”
Fortunately for Lancaster, he’s got a couple lefties of his own. Madison Justice, a southpaw who batted close to .460 last season, returns for the Warriors.
Jaelin Lancaster, another lefty that could stand as any team’s ace, comes out of the bullpen to relieve returning starter and senior Jessica Glacken.
“It’s nice having Jessica being a righty and Jaelin being a lefty,” Lancaster said. “It’s nice to have one replace another when one is having a bad day and you don’t really lose a lot.”
Lancaster will be the first one to say that things feel a little different this year. No longer does he feel question marks at any position on the field, as he has faith in the competence of his whole lineup.
Freshmen Hunter Hahn and Bella Phelps, as well as sophomore Centralia transfer Jessica Girardin, are newcomers to a program that brings experience to the field and fills in a few holes in the lineup. Hahn and Girardin can hold their own in the circle, as well.
“Fortunately, we have three girls that I didn’t have last year that have been playing travel ball and varsity,” Lancaster said. “We have more pitchers than we know what to do with, and that’s a good problem to have.”
Jaelin Lancaster is joined by twin sister Joni, Courtney Baird, and senior Sierra Seymour, all hitters who can provide consistency at the plate.
Above all else, the coach sees something else in this year’s squad — a fire that he hadn’t yet experienced in his tenure as coach.
“This is the first year where our coaches can really see the whole group put together a ton of effort,” Lancaster said. “You can see that they are more excited than they have been in the past and I’m not sure why. They’re ready to play ball this year and it’s fun for everybody. We’re taking it one game at a time, and if we can get by good teams, it all adds up to get there.”
Across Interstate 5 in Tenino, meanwhile, first-year coach Katrina Haupert takes the reins of a Beaver program in rebuilding mode.
Fortunately, the Beavers have just two seniors on the roster this year with plenty of youth and coachable girls to work with, not to mention a skipper that has full confidence in what she has seen to this point.
“We practice and play like a winning team,” Haupert said. “I always remind them that they have to hustle and be punctual if they want to go to the postseason. That definitely motivates them.”
The Beavers are headlined by junior ace Morgan Masters and sophomore catcher Felicia Gubbe, a pair that make their presence known on both sides of the ball. Audrey Fant joins the two to make the three key hitters in Tenino’s lineup, in addition to four other returning starters.
Not too far removed from her own softball career at Black Hills, Haupert plans to draw on the passions that she felt as player to fuel the Beavers.
“My philosophy for the team is that we’re out here playing fastpitch to learn skills for the game,” Haupert said. “But most importantly learn things that are bigger than that such as friendships and relationships through positivity and being supportive.”
Much like Lancaster, Haupert is convinced by the intangibles of her ball club. Their work ethic and mental approach appear to be what Haupert believes will be that crucial something that doesn’t appear on the stat sheet.
“Just by judging their work ethic, I know I can expect greatness from them when they realize they can be that good,” Haupert said. “We work hard and we come to play, but underneath all of that hard work is that we’re building young women who need to find a passion for something and it’s awesome to see that come to fruition.”
Throw in the Hoquiam Grizzlies — a team that fell just short of the state finals last year — and three returning seniors, including star pitcher Bailee Bradley, and what stands is an Evergreen 2A/1A League chock full of squads with the mental drive to win the league and, above all else, pursue the hunt for hardware in Richland.
