THE DALLES softball player Kailin Hoylman stretches out for the putout in a game played last year. The Hawks are a year older and wiser at they try to dominate the Columbia River Conference.
THE DALLES softball player Kailin Hoylman stretches out for the putout in a game played last year. The Hawks are a year older and wiser at they try to dominate the Columbia River Conference.
As a young team that went 8-18 last season, and cut their teeth in the tough Columbia River Conference, The Dalles softball squad is hoping experience and a successful offseason are the perfect formula for postseason success this year.
The Dalles has three returning all-league players in Ruthie Ford, Maddy Bradford and Morgan Goslin, along with former all-league recipient Hannah Harris, up-and-comers Sierra Watson, Kailin Hoylman, Lori Cimmiyotti and Grace Helyer and several other weapons across the board that could move this year’s group up the 5A rankings.
“The girls are very pumped and ready. The nice weather is also playing into their enthusiasm,” said head coach Steve Garrett. “We have things to work on and work out, but overall they are very ready. The winter sports girls were very late in arriving out and may have some kinks to work out, but that is why we schedule 12 games prior to conference action.”
Since losing a close state play-in matchup to Silverton by an 8-7 margin, Garrett said his athletes have been doing everything possible to get up to softball speed, whether it is hitting in the cages, taking extra ground balls or working out.
They have left no stone unturned.
“The core group of girls have been focused on softball the entire winter,” the Riverhawk coach said. “A few that had played basketball in the past decided to remain fixed on softball to work on skills. Another player or two has been doing cross-fit, with softball their chief aim for so doing.”
One area of emphasis is offense – In 26 games last year, the Riverhawks scored 133 runs.
At the top of the batting order are a pair of lefty speedsters in Harris and Hoylman.
If they can get on base, things could get interesting with the meat of the lineup featuring Bradford, Ford, Goslin and Helyer ready to cash in those chances.
“All four have proven their power and ability to take on this level of pitching in the past,” Garrett said.
Bradford is coming off a year where she rapped out a .346 average with one home run, six doubles, four triples and 12 RBIs.
The right-hander scored 14 runs and had an impressive slugging percentage of .556, second on the team.
Ford, a second-team all-league utility winner in 2014, was the team’s leading hitter with a .389 average, and added a .583 slugging percentage and an on-base average of .450.
The junior slugger finished tied for the team lead with 28 hits, and scored a team-high 20 runs.
She clubbed a team-high three home runs, two of them game winners and drove in 18 runs.
Goslin posted a .295 batting average with eight RBIs, 14 runs scored and eight doubles.
Helyer, a junior, is on the cusp of performing at an all-league level as well.
“Grace was injured a couple of times last year and it kept her from really finding her stride,” Garrett said. “With better fortune this year, she should be a force to be reckoned with behind the plate and at the plate.”
After the first six, Watson, Cimmiyotti, Shaynie Watson, Jez Ferrell and Roth have hit their proverbial stride and are looking better at the plate so far this year as well, according to Garrett.
Any good offense is strongly supported by defense and pitching, and the onus is on Bradford and Watson to handle the bulk of the circle duties.
Last season, Bradford led the staff with 26 strikeouts in a team-leading 42.3 innings pitched.
A year ago, the Riverhawks managed to win two league contests in 12 games played, but with so much change occurring in Pendleton, Hood River Valley and Hermiston, the Columbia River Conference is an unknown.
Garrett said that there could be a lot more parity throughout, especially since HRV, Pendleton and Hermiston lost ace hurlers due to graduation.
“Hopefully we will be able to take advantage this year,” Garrett said.
“That being said, I think it could be a real dogfight,” he added.
Pendleton returns some solid hitters, like all-leaguers Darian Lindsey and Kiana Sperl, Hermiston brings speed and aggressive base running to the mix and Hood River Valley, under coach Eric Keller, won 22 games in 2014 and finished 14th in the state with 193 runs scored.
Staying healthy and improving on several aspects of the game, whether technically or tactically, are high on the priority list for the Riverhawks.
Garrett has leaders in the lone senior, Goslin, and both Ford and Bradford, so he can lean on that trio to guide the clubhouse and there is no shortage of talent at his disposal.
“I think it is completely logical to see this club at least in the top-10, as our youngsters get their feet on the ground and grow into their abilities,” Garrett said.
The Dalles kicks off the season at 4 p.m. Monday at 16th Street Ballpark against West Linn High School.
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