T-bird softball returns seven starters

Junior class hopes to spark T-Birds

By Tony Dondero

Enterprise reporter

The last time Shorewood’s softball team made it to the big dance, the state tournament, was in 1999.

With seven starters back and two consecutive 4A District 1 appearances behind them, this year’s Thunderbirds have the best opportunity since the 1999 team of making it to state, said Tom Rizzuto, Shorewood’s coach of 17 years.

“We definitely have the potential to go to state if we work hard enough,” said senior shortstop and co-captain Maddy Golden. “It’s good we have a lot of returners, so we know the ropes and everything. I think we’ll play more as a team because we’ve played together before. We all have the same positions as last year, there’s not any shifting around.”

The entire infield is the same as last year with Golden at shortstop, senior co-captain Ashley Salazar at third base, junior Amanda Olsen at second base, sophomore Madison Hollenbeck at first base and junior Sarah Edinger at catcher.

The athletic Olivia Jacobs is the team’s ace pitcher and best hitter, while Hollenback backs up her up on the mound.

Junior Ali Hascall is in center field and is a slap hitter who will bat lead off. Junior Caitlin Forinash is in right field and junior Chloe Pope-Levison is in left field.

Golden, Salazar and Hascall were all second team all-Western Conference South Division picks last year.

The junior class is strong and helped the T-birds make districts as freshman in 2007, breaking a six-year absence.

Last year, the T-birds went 8-8 in the Wesco South and 8-13 overall. They lost both their district games to Stanwood and Cascade.

The top teams, as usual, in the Wesco South will be Mountlake Terrace led by ace pitcher Kori Seidlitz and Jackson.

But Shorewood is primed to challenge them this season.

“There were a lot of games last year that we could have won that we didn’t,” Golden said. “This year we’re going to be more solid and consistent. We had some really good games last year and some really bad games last year.”

Pitching is a huge part of softball and Jacobs and Hollenbeck are capable of carrying the team.

“We’re both looking really solid,” Jacobs said. “My main goal this year is confidence all the way around. I think last year was not my best year because I thought about things too much. I let things get to me. But this year, my plan is to be confident and know that I can beat anyone, anyone around.”

Jacobs throws a rise ball, changeup, drop ball, curveball and may add a screwball later in the season. Her fastball won’t be used as much, she said.

“My goal is to strike people out but I’m totally OK with the defense doing the work too,” Jacobs said. “I trust my defense a lot more this year. So I’m not afraid to let them hit it.”