Respect for slowpitch
THE GAME IS CALLED slowpitch softball, but pitching is the only thing slow about it. Many fastpitch coaches in the area discourage their players from playing slowpitch in the fall, North Central coach Chuck Filippini said earlier this week.
“They say it will ruin kids’ timing. I disagree. They still have to field, they still have to throw, run and know the game. It teaches patience at the plate, and I think that overall playing in the fall will help their game, not hurt it.”
One player who certainly agrees with Filippini is NC slowpitch star Jami Schibel, a three-year letter-winner on the Indians’ fastpitch team who has been co-most valuable player in the Spokane Public Schools fall league for the past two years, sharing the honor with Rogers’ Jamie Taxter. Taxter also plays fastpitch in the spring.
“I do both because I like to keep myself in shape,” Schibel said. “I also play in a fall select fastpitch league. I want to play as much as I can to get ready for the season.”
This is the third season that the Spokane schools have competed in slowpitch, and Schibel has been NC’s shortstop for all three.
“I was excited when they started slowpitch,” she said, “even though I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into. Defensively, I’m on my toes all the time, and it’s really helped me to work on my range and my quickness.
“I know that a lot of coaches think it will mess up your timing at bat, but for me it helps because I have to wait. I know I hit the changeup a lot better since I’ve played slowpitch.”
Schibel has played since the fifth grade, and it was only a couple years later that she fell in love with the sport.
“When I was in seventh grade,” she said, “some older girls took me under their wing, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Filippini is effusive in his praise of Schibel:
“No question about it — she’s our franchise player. She’s hitting about .600 so far this season. She’s a quiet leader with a lot of natural ability, and I really believe that she can play (fastpitch) at the next level. She’s got a great glove, a great arm, and a great bat, and she knows the game very well.”
The Indians are currently 0-3, but Schibel was 4-for-4 last week as they nearly came all the way back from an eight-run deficit against Shadle, finally losing by a single run. A year ago, NC also was 0-3 but won four of its final six games and made the playoffs.
Filippini, a North Central graduate who’s in his 26th year of teaching at the school, is an unabashed fan of the game. During his years at NC, he’s also coached football (17 years), baseball (14, including five as head coach) and the freshman fastpitch team for the past 12 years.
Herm Marshall is the head man in the fastpitch program, and Filippini returned the favor recently when he added Marshall to the slowpitch staff after 45 girls turned out this fall.
North Central, Ferris and Lewis and Clark each have three teams this fall.
Both Filippini and Marshall need look no further than Schibel when they’re looking for their leader. She’s not awfully vocal, said Filippini, but prefers to lead by example. “Actions speak louder than words,” is the way Schibel puts it.
She’s hoping to keep playing after graduation this spring, and adds a glowing academic resumé to her softball credentials. The real deal, or as Filippini might say: “No question about it!”