CHS 2002 Softball Preview

But if first-year co-head coaches Al Blankenship, Greg Holtman and Roger Miller have their way, 2002 will be the year CHS finally breaks into the black.

CHS's triad of coaches welcomed back eight letter-winners (including All-Trico League honorable mention selections Crystal Blankenship and Mallory Holtman) and greeted six newcomers on the first day of practice Feb. 25.

It's from this mix of veterans and rookies that CHS's coaching staff hopes to build a Trico League contender for the coming season.

The Bruins won just four of 19 games a year ago (3 of 17 in league) with largely the same lineup, though two starters from the 2001 team opted not to turn out this spring.

No matter.

The coaching staff believes CHS will field a competitive team from the ranks of returning and first-year players at its disposal.

"We're going to be a team that gets better as the season goes along, as most teams do," Miller said. "We've already come a long way in the two weeks we've been practicing together."

The keys to the season, the coaches noted, will be pitching and scoring runs.

"As with any team, if our pitching goes south, we're going to be in trouble," Miller observed.

Not that they think that's going to happen. But the coaches acknowledge CHS is going to have to produce a lot of runs to stay in most league games.

Noted Blankenship: "We have to be offensive-minded."

To that end, the coaches have been emphasizing hitting fundamentals during the first two weeks of spring practice.

"You're going to see a lot of ASA-style ball. We're going to run, bunt and squeeze. The offense will be a lot more wide open," Holtman said.

Last season the Bruins' offense was often anemic against topnotch Trico League pitching. Columbia was shut out eight times -- it also lost two one-run games and two by two runs -- and was outscored 140-72 overall.

To compound matters, CHS's pitching and defense were adequate for games against such lesser teams as Wahtonka of The Dalles and Stevenson, but not against the likes of top-tier teams such as Castle Rock, Ridgefield and Washougal (which is no longer part of the league).

CHS's coaches said the Bruins are going to have to improve in all phases of the game -- hitting, baserunning, pitching and defense -- if they want to move up in league standings and challenge for a playoff spot.

"Defensively we're pretty sound," Blankenship noted. "We have one of the best catchers in the league and our outfield is solid. I think our infield will be pretty good too, though we still have a question mark at third base. But I think we'll be O.K. there too."

Blankenship, a two-time letter-winner and one of four juniors on the roster, will anchor the defense from her catching position.

Making up the infield will be freshman Corrine Blankenship at first, sophomore Jessica Miller at second, junior Bobbi Ziegler at shortstop and either freshman Michelle Litscher or sophomore Krista Bakke at third.

From left to right, the outfield will be manned by junior Lisa Graves (a two-year starter), sophomore Shelly Putnam and a possible platoon of sophomore Kelsay Knutson and freshmen Marisa Bruce and Megan Harvey.

The bulk of the pitching load will rest on the right arm of Holtman. The junior, who also can play shortstop or third base, split pitching duties with Blankenship last season.

This year the coaching staff plans to rely on the two-year starter to eat innings "because we want to keep Crystal behind the plate for her defense," Holtman the coach said. "She's one of the best, if not the best, catcher in the league."

Blankenship led the team in hitting a year ago, bashing the ball for a .412 average. The right-handed slugger also had a team-leading 21 hits (including six for extra-bases) and 11 runs batted in.

Holtman came next with a .315 batting average, and scored 10 runs and drove in seven.

CHS's coaches also are expecting a breakout season from returning letter-winner Ziegler.

"We have three girls who have the ability to jack the ball. We could have a true murderer's row this season," Holtman said. "The key for us is going to be getting runners on base to give our heavy metal the opportunity to drive them in."