Douglas softball preview: Depth will be key for Lady Tigers

It's not so much the fact that the Douglas High softball team has returning starters at every spot on the field save for center field entering the year that has coach Andy Mitchell smiling.

It's not that he has the luxury of throwing the school's all-time leader in career wins out in the circle every day of the week either.

It's not even that the only team to have beaten the Tigers in league play last year (Reno) has departed for the High Desert League.

No, Mitchell is smiling because when he looks down his roster for the 2009 season, he sees endless possibilities.

"Really, at the end of the day, the hardest thing for me as a coach is going to be figuring out where to put everyone," he said. "I think our biggest positive coming in is that we have literally three or four kids at every position that we are comfortable putting out there.

"There are a lot of spots on the field where I wouldn't have a problem putting the No. 3 or 4 player out there. That's how even this team is. It gives us some good depth."

Indeed, with Douglas returning seven All-Sierra League honorees from a league runner-up finish last year, the Tigers appear to be the early favorite.

Perennial powerhouse Reno is gone, but in the Huskies' place comes a talented Fallon squad that made last year's playoffs and solid Galena and Manogue teams.

Then, of course, traditional playoff teams Damonte Ranch, Wooster and Carson will be in the mix as well.

But Douglas's strong returning group, which will be bolstered by four talented newcomers has Mitchell excited about the upcoming season.

"We should be strong in every area, pitching, fielding, base running and hitting," he said. "These girls all play at high levels, their understanding of the game is strong and we have one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the league.

"It'll be good because if you look at the league, we are all very even coming in. I think it will be very competitive all the way through."

It certainly doesn't hurt that the majority of the roster is already used to tougher competition from their play during the offseason.

"Most every girl out there has played tournament ball during the offseason," Mitchell said.

One of the most notable changes Mitchell is looking at is dropping two-year leadoff hitter and shortstop Emily Weaver down to the No. 3 spot in the lineup to replace power-hitting outfielder Lauren Hoppe, who is at the College of Idaho this year.

"We want to see what a couple of the younger kids are going to do in those top two spots," Mitchell said. "We have a couple slappers who are extremely fast. If they come along and stay within their roles, we can slide Emily down.

"Emily was probably our best player at the scrimmages last weekend. She has a powerful swing, but she is also smart and she has the speed to get on base regularly. If we can drop her down to the No. 3 spot, we'll be in very good shape. If we can get our first two on most of the time and then bring our big bats up, it'll be a good thing."

At the heart of the order will be junior catcher Katrina Morgan, who led the team in RBIs and home runs last year.

"She is a very strong player," Mitchell said. "She works extremely hard and she can play every position except for pitcher on this team."

Senior right fielder Mackenzie Cauley put up all-league numbers at the plate last season and will lead a young outfield group heading into the year.

"Mackenzie is another player with incredible speed, more of a power hitter," Mitchell said. "She is in good condition, very strong coming in."

Other returning starters include first baseman Morgan Blomstrom, second baseman Rebecca Trute, third baseman Marina Diaz and left fielder Mia Townsell.

"Morgan is probably our most improved player, and she was already a strong hitter last year," Mitchell said. "She worked very hard over the summer and she can play first or outfield for us.

"Becca is a strong hitter and can play first or third, Marina is a very intense player that gives her absolute best every time she is out there and Mia is one of the players we'd like to move to the top of the batting order."

In the middle of it all will be three-year starting pitcher Stephanie Harper, who has posted a school record 53 career wins coming into the year and struck out 300 batters over the past two seasons.

She signed with Concord University in the fall and was recently awarded the Pack Edge Way to Go Player of the Month for Northern Nevada.

"It really helps the confidence level of the team, having Stephanie out there pitching," Mitchell said. "They know how strong she is, physically and mentally. She's very steady.

"Even though she has already signed, she has taken it on herself to be in the best condition she's every been in."

Also returning to the team are outfielder Maddy Gilbert, who will be fighting for a starting spot, and catcher/infielder Tara Paiement, who spelled Morgan behind the plate a number of times last season.

The team only has four newcomers this year, but Mitchell said he is hoping for each to contribute.

Junior Ally Murray has the ability to plug in to five or six different spots on the field.

"She has great speed and we'll probably be looking at her as one of our first pinch-runners, maybe for Stephanie when she is hitting," Mitchell said. "She go fit in a number of places on the field too, so she'll be battling for a spot out there."

Sophomore Brenna White is fighting for a starting spot at second base but could also play in the outfield.

Junior Rachel Davis will back Harper up at pitcher, and may play in the outfield as well, and Naomi Roberts could see time at a number of positions this season.

"We're excited about the new group coming in," Mitchell said. "We have five games in Sacramento this weekend, and we're looking at those as scrimmages. We're going to try a lot of different combinations, try some new things to see what works and what doesn't. Hopefully we get a good look at everyone and we can start making some decisions.

"We're looking forward to it. It should be a good year. The girls are working hard and we have expectations."

SEASON SNAPSHOT

DOUGLAS HIGH SOFTBALL

Coach

Andy Mitchell, third season (52-20)

2008 Season

Regional quarterfinalists, Sierra League runner-up, 26-7 overall, 18-3 Sierra League

Key Returners

Stephanie Harper, sr., P

Katrina Morgan, jr., C

Morgan Blomstrom, jr., 1B

Rebecca Trute, jr., INF

Emily Weaver, jr., SS

Marina Diaz, sr., 3B

Mia Townsell, soph., OF

Mackenzie Cauley, sr., OF

Top Newcomers

Ali Murray, jr., INF/OF

Naomi Roberts, soph., C/1B

Brenna White, soph., 2B

Starters Returning

8

Starters Lost

1

AROUND THE HORN

CATCHER

Probable Starter

Katrina Morgan, jr. (13 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 47 RBIs in 2008)

Morgan came on strong as the year progressed and absolutely caught fire offensively during the regional championships with three home runs and seven RBIs in four games. She led the team in doubles, home runs and RBIs last year.

Also in the mix: Tara Paiement, Naomi Roberts.

FIRST BASE

Probable Starter

Morgan Blomstrom, jr. (3 2B, 2 HR, 21 RBIs)

Blomstrom was a second-team all-league selection last year and is said to have improved immensely upon her play during the offseason.

Also in the mix: Naomi Roberts, Rebecca Trute.

SECOND BASE

Probable Starter

Rebecca Trute, jr. (5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBIs)

Trute, an honorable mention last year, is the returning starter but she'll receive stiff competition at one of the deepest positions on the field. She may see time at third or even at flex based on her offensive output.

Also in the mix: Brenna White, Ali Murray, Marina Diaz.

SHORTSTOP

Probable Starter

Emily Weaver, jr. (7 2B, 2 3B, 18 RBIs)

Weaver enters her third season starting at short and is one of the team's best overall defensive players. She was a first-team all-league selection last year and will most likely drop from the leadoff spot in the order (where she has been for the last two seasons) to help shore up the heart of the order in the No. 3 spot.

Also in the mix: Ali Murray, Morgan.

THIRD BASE

Probable Starter

Marina Diaz, sr. (7 RBIs)

Diaz is another multiple-season starter at the position, along with being an all-league honorable mention.

Also in the mix: Trute, Tara Paiement.

OUTFIELD

Probable Starters

Mackenzie Cauley, sr. (7 2B, 7 3B, 2 HR, 32 RBI)

Cauley is probably the team's best pure power hitter in terms of overall strength, and she has exceptional speed to go with it. A second-team all-league honoree last year, she should lead the outfielders this season.

Mia Townsell, soph (1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI)

Townsell was the most frequent starter in left field last year and seemed to come into her own during last year's regional playoffs. She may end up being the team's new leadoff hitter.

Maddy Gilbert, soph. (5 RBIs)

Gilbert could slide into the top half of the order with her ability to slap the ball and her speed. She started in left when Townsell did not, but could easily make the transition to center this year.

Also in the mix: Ali Murray, Brenna White, Morgan Blomstrom, Rachel Davis.

PITCHERS

Probable Starter

Stephanie Harper, sr. (23-6, 1 SV, 150 K, 60 BB)

Harper already sits at the top of the school's all-time list in career wins (53) and signed with Concord University in West Virginia last fall. Coach Andy Mitchell said Harper is coming into the year in the best condition of her career. She has 300 strikeouts over the past two years.

Also in the Mix: Rachel Davis, Kalee Duryee (junior varsity), Chelsea Fent (junior varsity).