Sports editor
With no seniors on the Marion softball team, leadership has to come from the sophomore and junior classes.
First baseman Shelby Percell, the team’s leading hitter a year ago with a .400 average, is a sophomore.
The opening-day starting outfield consisted of sophomores Jordan Harper and Kayla Williams and junior Ann Laurin.
Another sophomore, Raelene Allen, played second, while the left side of the infield was more experienced with juniors Brooke Johnson at shortstop and Tiffany Christensen at third.
Junior Emily Rogers was behind the plate.
The pitching mound is no different.
With good pitching comes winning and two sophomores will take on the huge task.
Alex Cain, who was the team’s number two starter as a freshman, and Allen will handle the starting pitching duties.
It is a tough job for two underclassmen, but the experience will help the future of the team.
Head coach Sandy Black has confidence in her staff.
Despite losing two games to Sterling this past week, Cain and Allen combined for 20 strikeouts compared to just seven walks.
“I’m very pleased with the way my pitchers pitched Friday,” Black said. “They have to keep their head up and not let a bad pitch get them discouraged.
“As a pitcher you cannot let one pitch pull you down. You have to be mentally strong and able to stay focused.”
Nine errors in the double header, including six in game one, did not help.
“Our errors are what hurt us the most,” Black said. “We have to eliminate the throwing errors.”
Black said the duo still is at the top of the charts, but could be pushed.
“I have other girls working very hard,” she said.
Despite youth in the lineup, Black feels confident in her pitching staff and everyone else as well.
“I believe we will see lots of improvement,” Black said. “I think we have the first game jitters out of the way. We will be focusing on our bats this week.”
Sterling
The season started out 0-2 Friday for Marion with 11-0 and 7-4 losses at home to Sterling.
The Warriors did not get a hit in game one, but came out swinging in game two with 10 hits.
Cain was 3-4 with an RBI and run scored. Percell was 3-4 as well with a run scored and a double, Marion’s only extra-base hit.
Ashley Ratzloff had two singles and Johnson was 1-4 with a single.