Defending district champions look to boost run support

Published 10:17 am Monday, March 3, 2008

SHORELINE — For a team that had become a fixture in the finals, last year’s prompt exit from the state softball playoffs must have been particularly jarring.

Two narrow losses booted Shorecrest out of the Class 3A bracket after the first day, ending a streak of three consecutive championship game appearances.

Senior shortstop Emily Gould could sense the Scots were missing their usual spark.

“Something just wasn’t there that had been in the past,” Gould said. “I don’t think people wanted it as bad as they did in the past. Hopefully that will be different this year. I think everyone realizes last year wasn’t really the best year we could’ve had.”

After shutting down Holy Names 9-0 in the opening round of the tournament, the Scots fell to eventual champion Yelm and Anacortes by identical 2-1 scores.

The defeats dropped Shorecrest to 5-4 in games decided by one run. In their seven losses last season the Scots totaled two runs.

“The one-run games just aren’t going to work,” Shorecrest coach Kristie Oglesby said. “Last year we squeezed through districts and we did nothing at state because we didn’t hit. We need to be better hitters and bunters.”

In the quarterfinals the Scots loaded the bases twice against Yelm and failed to push across any runs.

“I remember us not getting a lot of bunts down when we needed to,” Oglesby said. “We got runners on several times and we just couldn’t get them in. That’s going to be the key.”

Shorecrest lost its fourth and fifth hitters from an offense that averaged just 1.4 runs per game against the four other Western Conference South Division teams with winning records.

The only certainties in the retooled batting order going into this weekend’s trip to Spokane are Gould and junior second baseman Casey Maehl in the third and fourth spots or vice versa.

“From there it’s a toss-up,” Oglesby said. “We’ve been looking good swinging the bat, but hitting off the tees and machines isn’t quite the same as hitting off a live pitcher.”

The addition of Shorecrest graduate Mickey Lloyd to the coaching staff allows the Scots to face more actual pitching and replicate game situations.

Lloyd played four seasons at Central Washington and left with school records for most wins and fewest walks. She ranks second in innings pitched and third in total appearances.

In past seasons Shorecrest managed to offset its offensive issues with sound defense and dominating pitching. Despite a few prominent departures, those areas remain solid for the Scots.

Junior outfielder Emily Weinberg is sliding over from left to fill the vacancy in center and will be joined by junior Sarah Berg and sophomore Bailey Osborn.

Shorecrest returns senior Jackie Berg at catcher and the middle of the infield is intact with Gould and Maehl. The all-leaguers are breaking in underclassmen at first and third base.

“They’re great leaders and they’re definitely an asset to the infield, especially with young corners,” Oglesby said. “They can talk to them and help them out.”

The competition for open positions the first two weeks of turnouts has been spirited.

“We’re fortunate to have several girls almost equal in ability,” Oglesby said. “It’s making my decisions hard, but it’s good if we have some injuries. I don’t feel concerned about filling positions if people are out.”

The Scots possess one of the league’s most menacing pitchers in Ashley Morrison. The senior ace has thrown a combined 22 shutouts the past two seasons.

“For Ashley, pitching is something that’s always come naturally for her,” Gould said. “Since she was 12 she was the fastest pitcher around.”

The velocity of Morrison’s pitches has crept up a couple miles per hour to the mid-60s and she spent much of the offseason working on location.

“Last year I don’t think she was in her best shape, so it took her awhile to get with it,” Oglesby said. “This year she has been pitching a lot with her ASA team and her pitching coach.”

Shorecrest earned a third straight district title in 2004, but saw its three-year run as Wesco South champion ended by Kamiak — the only team to sweep the Scots last season.

Regaining the division crown and qualifying for the state tournament for the fifth year in a row are Gould and the team’s main objectives.

“We didn’t perform as well at state (in 2004) as we did in past years,” she said. “It’s a goal to go back and do better.”