Piephoff aims for sky

What do you get for the high school softball player who has just about everything?

In the case of Timberlake senior Melissa Piephoff, maybe something from the hardware department would be appropriate.

Piephoff, a four-year starter at shortstop for the Tigers and a stalwart at the No. 3 spot in the batting order, holds practically every offensive record at Timberlake.

Now all she wants is some trophies.

With the Tigers undefeated at 6-0 in the Intermountain League and 11-1 overall, it looks as if Piephoff may get her wish.

“I’m pretty proud of my hitting, and it feels great because I know I’m helping out the team,” said the fleet-of-foot Piephoff, who also holds the school’s steals record. “Last year I set some goals – I wanted to break single-season and career records, and it just happened to be that I was able to do that.

“What I want to do now is win the league title, because this school has never done that, and I want to repeat as district champions. Who knows what can happen after that?

“I think this team definitely has what it takes to make it there (to state) and maybe even win it,” added Piephoff, whose dad Clyde is the Tigers’ assistant coach.Tigers coach Mike Menti said Piephoff has made his life a lot easier from the day she showed up to tryouts as a fresh-faced ninth-grader.

“She’s such a great kid, not only talent-wise, but on the field as a team leader,” Menti said. “She such a clutch player. I know when she’s up there she’s going to come through for me.

“Having her for four years, I can’t think of a game she’s missed. She’s going to be one of those who are unbelievably hard to let go.”

Piephoff said she plans to walk on at Community Colleges of Spokane and, whether she makes the team or not, wants to earn a teaching degree.

She said she will probably teach English, but hasn’t made up her mind on which age group will have the honor of referring to her as “Miss Piephoff.”

“I’ve been going back and forth,” she said. “For a long time I wanted to teach little kids, because I love being around them. I think they’re great.

“But I was talking with one of my teachers at the school, and he thinks I’d be a great high school teacher, too, so I’m not sure yet.”