Rogers Assumes New Image With Most Of Last Year’s Roster Intact, Pirates Target Title
Last year the Rogers Pirates were the darling underdogs who caught everyone’s attention with their best softball season in history.
Not anymore. The rest of the Greater Spokane League teams have the Pirates in their crosshairs.
Rogers will have most of last year’s team back when it takes the field for its season opener today at North Central High against the Indians at 3:30 p.m.
“We’re in an unenviable position because we’re the favorites,” Rogers coach Paul Cooley said. “But it’s an honor to be considered the best in league. We have pride in our program. It’s been solid.”
Said North Central coach Herm Marshall: “They’re loaded. They’re the team to beat, most definitely.”
Rogers finished last season with a 13-7 record overall. The Pirates started 6-0 before playing .500 ball the rest of the way. Rogers finished second in the GSL before ending the season with two regional playoff losses at Moses Lake.
Much of Rogers’ success will again depend on the arm of Traci Moore, who went 10-4 last season with 80 strikeouts and a 0.41 ERA in 132 innings.
Moore is joined by fellow seniors Gena Greenside (first base/pitcher), Charlotte Perry (third base), Shannon Zahrowski (shortstop) and Brandy Nelson (outfield).
Other Pirates in the mix are junior outfielders Mandy Flores and Teana Scott, sophomore catcher Angie Vulcano and second baseman Jaime Christensen.
Last year’s team played nine errorless games, and this year the offense is better after a summer of fastpitch competition.
“I hate to say this,” said Cooley, “but it seems like we’re in midseason form.”
If there is anyone who can present a legitimate challenge to Rogers, it will be Mead.
The Panthers, last year’s third-place GSL finisher, were Spokane’s lone state qualifier. Bridget Monaghan, an assistant last season, is Mead’s new head coach. She replaces Bob McCray.
“(Mead) had a tough state tourna ment last year, so they are really hungry,” said Monahan.
Leading the Panthers are returning first-team All-GSL players Kelly Kinder at second base and Marci Meddock in center field.
They are among eight seniors on the team. Included are varsity veteran catchers Chris DeGuire and Wendy Ziegler, third baseman Stacey Armitage and outfielder Jodie Slackman.
At Gonzaga Prep, with the graduation of pitcher Alana Klaus and catcher Sarah Johnston, the Bullpups will have a tremendously different look from the last few seasons.
“We will have to play a lot more defense,” G-Prep coach Denise Schlepp said.
Fourth-year starting shortstop Meredith Giesa heads the defensively strong team.
She’s joined by 1994 starters Jennifer Austin at second base and Claire Weiskopf at first. Infield candidates include Theresa Palmer at first base and Katie Shrope and Angela Harrison at third.
Prep will use a trio of pitchers: seniors Tiffany Starkey, Stevie Palmer and Shrope.
“Really, for the first time, we have a team full of athletes,” Schlepp said.
“I’m really excited and very optimistic about the season.”
Gonzaga Prep and Mead will play at Prep on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
xxxx GSL softball Defending league champion: University. Defending district tournament champion: Mead. Qualifiers to state playoffs: Mead. (Lost at state to Mountain View 5-4 and Mariner 9-8.) Region IV District playoff results: Mead beat Eisenhower 8-3; Mead beat University 3-1; Mead beat Richland 5-2; University beat Central Valley 4-0; Moses Lake beat Central Valley 5-0; Richland beat University 5-0; Wenatchee beat Rogers 2-1; Eisenhower beat Rogers 2-0. Predicted order of finish: Rogers, Mead, Gonzaga Prep, Central Valley, North Central, Ferris, University, Lewis and Clark, Shadle Park. Returning All-League players: First team - Traci Moore, Rogers; Kelly Kinder, Mead; Marci Meddock, Mead. Second team - Roxanne Devine, North Central, Meredith Giesa, Gonzaga Prep; Jen Reisinger, North Central; Mandy Flores, Rogers; Wendy Johnson, Gonzaga Prep.