Wolfpack takes aim at fourth South title

Jackson is hoping the butterflies are gone.

The three-time defending Western Conference South Division softball champions saw a major overhaul of its squad following the graduation of seven first- or second—team, all-league players. From last season’s state playoff team only four individuals are back.

That means the Timberwolves’ success this year rests heavily on its newcomers. Senior shortstop/captain Ashley Todd has confidence in her new teammates.

“It’s a little different. We’re adjusting to the new girls,” the first-team, all-league shortstop said. “It’s exciting. … These girls can play at this level.”

Senior catcher Brooklynn York also sees plenty of talent but has noticed it’s taking a while for the underclassmen to feel comfortable playing varsity ball.

“We just need to come together as a team,” she said. “The new girls are really nervous about everything.”

Also back for Jackson are junior third baseman/pitcher Carly McEachran and senior right fielder Miya Kumangai. The four veterans have taken the new players under their wings.

“It’s a new team, but our seniors and Carly have been awesome,” Jackson coach Mike Moran said. “They’re patient, good teachers. They understand it’s a new team and they’re excited about their teammates. … Everybody is working hard every day for Jackson softball.”

The Timberwolves are looking to a pair of a sophomores and McEachran for pitching. Sophomores Dani Jackman and McEachran likely will start most of the games with Feeney slotted for more of a relief role. Feeney tends to take less time warming up, Moran noted.

Jackman allowed only one hit and struck out 13 in a 12-0 victory over Meadowdale on March 20, which was the league opener for Jackson.

“She came out today throwing strikes and hitting her spots,” Moran said. “She was tough to hit for anybody.”

McEachran, who last pitched regularly in the eighth grade, had surgery on her knee in January.

“We’re taking it slow,” she said. “I hope when I get back to where I was, I’ll keep progressing.”

Jackman, McEachran and Feeney have different pitching styles, but all three will look to their defense.

“None of them are really overpowering yet, but they have the potential to be,” Moran said. “They’re young, so they’ll be able to get it done.”

The Jackson defense is solid up with Todd at shortstop and York behind the plate. When she’s not pitching, McEachran will play third base. Sophomore Julia Covello will take over when McEachran pitches. Junior Allison Higinbotham and freshman Matti Tetzlaff will platoon at second base and Feeney and junior Monique Cole will handle the first-base duties.

A rising talent is sophomore center fielder Kimmi Kumangai, who has the potential to be one of the top players in the league in Moran’s estimation.

“You’re going to be hard-pressed to find somebody better than her in center field,” Moran said. “She has a very, very strong accurate arm. She gets to all the balls and gets a great jump on the ball.”

Tetzlaff also will see time in left field. The Jackson freshman already has shown she has good power as she hit a home run against the Mavericks. The Timberwolves are hoping the 12 runs they scored against Meadowdale are indicative of what’s ahead for the rest of the regular season. Jackson scored only two runs in a pair of non-conference losses to Marysville-Pilchuck and Everett before posting a 4-3 win over Arlington.

“We can hit. We don’t have as much power as we did last year,” Todd said. “In this (Meadowdale) game, everybody contributed from top to bottom.”

The younger players seemed more at ease at the plate against Meadowdale, McEachran said.

“Everybody has kind of relaxed and we’re all hitting and we’re all getting the feel of playing with each other,” she said.

Despite all of the key losses from last season, the Timberwolves were still picked to finish first in the league in a recent coaches’ poll.

“We’re young, but we still have a target on our backs,” Todd said. “We’re still expected to do pretty well this season. … It helped us playing some tough teams in the beginning of the year to get us ready for conference. If we keep playing the way we’re playing, I think we’re going to be pretty successful this season.”

Whether that translates into a fourth straight league title is yet to be determined, but regardless the road to the postseason figures to be far more difficult for the Timberwolves, who finished with a 15-1 league record in 2007.

“Last year we were ahead. We were the elite team,” Moran said. “That was our year, but now we came back to the pack and the pack is coming up to us. … It’s going to be fun because it’s going to be challenging and exciting. These kids are excited to get on with it, but it’s going to be a tough year.”

Jackson softball

Coach: Mike Moran, seventh year.

Last season: 15-1 in the league; 21-5 overall; advanced to the Class 4A state tournament.

Key players: Seniors Ashley Todd (SS), Brooklynn York (C), Miya Kumangai (OF); junior Carly McEachran (3B/P); sophomores Kimmi Kumangai (OF), Dani Jackman (P/OF), Erin Feeney (1B/P).