WP Softball: Flexibility and Positive Attitude Make for Promising Season

PRESCOTT – WP softball coach Angie Potts, assisted by Allan Wilson, is pleased with the turnout of 25 girls for softball this year but says they are still working on nailing down the varsity roster. "There is a big discrepancy in age and experience between the older and younger players. We'll be moving girls around for awhile," she said.

Returning varsity seniors include: Jennifer Castro, Loegan Harshman, Paige Wood, Analise Salazar, Kassidy Kuykedall and Hannah Grant. Pitcher Jaidyn Brown is the lone junior. The rest of the team is made up of freshman and sophomores. Of those, sophomores Timber Froherich and Lexi Brannock played varsity last year. Potts said it is likely sophomores Jade Alleman and Maribel Mendoza and freshmen Chloe Pearson and Ariel Sandau will play varsity this year. "We're still moving players around, and they're all playing multiple spots, "said Potts.

Potts said the girls' willingness to play out of their comfort zone is going to be one of the team's top strengths. "They may look at us like we're crazy but they're all willing to try new things and play different positions. That kind of attitude is one of the things that will get us the farthest," she said.

Senior Hannah Grant, who played first base last year, is working to fill graduated senior Heidi Miller's shoes at third base this season. "I like first better, but I'll get used to it. The balls come at you harder and faster. On first, you're catching throws. On third you're catching off the bat and trying not to get hit in the face," she said. Grant felt "OK" about her performance playing third at last Saturday's Jamboree but said her throws could have been better.

Shortstop and second baseman Loegan Harshman feels good about the outlook for the season. "We have a lot of younger girls, but we only lost Heidi (Miller) and we have a lot of returning players. I think we'll do decent," she said.

Potts is pleased that so many girls have shown an interest in pitching. On March 7, seven players traveled to Battle Ground, Wash. to work with John Gay, who has coached some of the top high school pitchers in the northwest. Pitcher Jaidyn Brown said she walked away with a greater knowledge of the mechanics of throwing pitches. Brannock agreed. "It was really helpful. I learned a different change-up my inside and outside pitches and increased speed on my fastball," she said.

Brown is recovering from an injury and won't be pitching the first two games of the season. Potts said Wood and Brannock will probably share pitching duties in those games. The WP Tigers first game will be against Mac-Hi in Prescott on March 24.