Blackhawks, Lancers Lack Experienced Players

West Plains, south county

A combination of youth, experience and uncertainty covers the scope of softball for West Plains and south county teams encompassing two leagues.

Cheney’s youthful team returns only a handful of players to the Frontier League from last year.

Meanwhile, Medical Lake coach John Higgins enters the combined Great Northern/Northeast A League season optimistic, while new Liberty coach Mark Weiss enters the new league with a degree of uncertainty.

The Cardinals have all but one of their starting lineup back. Liberty’s team not only is young but is playing fastpitch softball for the first time at a varsity level.

Cheney young, enthusiastic

With only a handful of returning players, Cheney coach Kirk Madison might rightfully be pessimistic.

The Blackhawks are very young and inexperienced, he said, but he picked them to be a potential Frontier contender.

“We have a fresh new attitude, good defense, and the kids work well together,” Madison said.

Five players return, including pitcher/outfielder Candice Birchell, second baseman Lori Regnier, third baseman Amanda Hartman and outfielders Dani Block and Laura Seigerman.

Sophomores and freshmen will round out the 14-player lineup.

Newcomer Colville and perennial power West Valley will provide the major challenge.

“Not a lot of these kids have had the chance to see the kind of pitching we’ll see at the varsity level,” Madison said. “Our strength is we’re a good defensive team. I’m pleased with the kind of attitude these girls possess. They’re willing to work together. We had some dissension last year with the seniors.”

Medical Lake seeking state

With a 14-6 regular season record, Medical Lake entered district playoffs with state aspirations.

They weren’t to be, with the team falling a win short. But with much of the team back, Higgins isn’t discounting the Cardinals this year.

“As young as we are, we’ve got a lot of returning girls,” he said. “We lost one starter, is all.”

The Cardinals have a chance at one of three state berths in a league where several teams have expressed optimism this year. The GNL/NEA combine will count every game of weekly doubleheaders in league. Last year only one game counted.

Among Medical Lake veterans are first team all-league first baseman Hanna McConnell and second-teamers catcher Marissa Greene and shortstop Becky Hamel.

“I’m hoping it comes down to the last game of the year against Freeman for the league title,” Higgins said.

Liberty learning the ropes

Moving from Bi-County, where it played slowpitch, to the GNL/NEA, where it will play fastpitch, is one challenge Libery faces.

Replacing virtually its entire team with 15 sophomores and freshmen is another.

The whole mix is complicated by the fact that Lancer volleyball coach Weiss is new to softball.

“To be honest, to tell you exactly what we did last year, I haven’t a clue,” Weiss said. “I have to look into it deeper.”

Freshmen Mary Harchuck and Sarah Brisson must shoulder the pitching load. Of the potential returnees from last year’s varsity, only catcher Trista Marburger and second baseman Pauline Murison came back out.

“One good thing - we did have fastpitch in junior high, so the freshmen and sophomores might be more in tune to the game itself,” said Weiss. “At this point we’re looking to be competitive.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: Softball rosters

Cheney

Candice Birchell, sr. pitcher/outfield

Julie Marsh, soph. catcher

Shea Smith, jr.first base

Lori Regnier, jr. second base

Amanda Hartman, jr. third base

Anali Wills, soph. shortstop

Dani Block, sr. outfield/pitcher

Laura Seigerman, jr. outfield

Leah Jones, soph. outfield

Cole Nielson, sr. pitcher

Marya Lahti-Lamb, jr. first base

Laura Gilmour, soph. outfield

Jaime McAllister, soph. outfield

Margaret Estock, jr.second base

Medical Lake Returnees

Jaymie Cox, sr. pitcher

Marissa Greene, sr. catcher

Hanna McConnell, jr.first base/shortstop

Heather Reitmeier, soph. first base/des. hitter

Amanda Higgins, sr. second base

Becky Hamel, jr. third base/shortstop

Nicole Jones, soph. outfield

Ashlee Dubey, soph. outfield Newcomers

Kari Marcus, fr. second base/outfield

Jennifer Landry, fr. outfield

Andrea Cole, fr. catcher/outfield

Liberty

Mary Harchuck, fr. pitcher

Trista Marburger, jr. catcher

Jena Cory, soph.first base

Pauline Murison, jr. second base

Danielle Wojahn, fr. third base

Bree Swenson, soph. shortstop

Heather Brurud, soph. outfield

Jennifer Martinson, fr. outfield

Candace Taberner, soph. outfield

Sarah Brisson, fr. pitcher

Miranda Lasz, fr. catcher

Lindsey Browning, fr. first base

Lacey Bethel, soph. second base

Elizabeth Smith, fr. outfield

Crystal Gwinn, soph. outfield

Lisa Dugan, fr. outfield

April Schindler, sr. pitcher

Ashley Lenhard, fr. catcher