Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Softball team heads into league play Friday

WRHS girls travel to Minico for GBC debut


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

The post-Samantha era has started for the Wood River High School softball program—referring to Samantha Engel, the durable pitcher whose 37-32 career record in the circle ended with last spring's fourth-place State 4A tourney finish.

Finally outdoors on grass, Wood River opened its 24-game spring schedule March 10 with a 12-2 loss at the home of one of Idaho's best fast-pitch softball programs—the Buhl Tribe. Buhl had nine hits and scored in four of the five innings.

Wood River head coach Dale Martin said, "Buhl is one of the top 3A teams in the state. They hit the ball really well. We played our typical game for our first game on dirt. I still believe we will be a very good softball team as the season progresses.

"Our pitching is improving but we needed to get better. One thing for sure—teams better not overlook us this year."

Wood River traveled to Kimberly Tuesday and tackles the Minico Spartans Friday, March 26 in Rupert for its first league contest of the season.

Martin is being helped this year by varsity assistants Dick Coleman, Jeff Martin and Kim McKinnon. The junior varsity head coach is former Wolverine softball player Anna Edwards, and her assistant is Sara Hopkins. Coaching assistants this year are Curtis Tidwell and Jimberly Rooney. Manager is Diane Husband.

Last year with Engel throwing nearly every game, Wood River won its third Great Basin Conference tournament title in four years and earned the school's seventh state tournament berth. The team finished 16-12 and tied for fourth place at state—tying for the best fast-pitch state tournament finish in the Hailey school's history.

Wood River's 15-player varsity is led by senior captain Alex Lindbloom, a four-year starter who is the catcher. She and senior outfielder Rachel Maier are the only seniors.

The Hailey juniors are pitcher/infielder Ali Levy, Hunter Thompson, Taylor Gove, Madison Gove and Josie Dawson. Shortstop Kaitana Martinez, a sophomore, will be on the league's top players.

"Martinez had a great game for us at Buhl," said Martin.

Other sophomores are Macey Farrow, Noe Garing, Haylee Thompson and Maddy McInnis. The freshmen are Kori Paradis, Amelia Fugate and Sydney Tidwell.

Crossover varsity/JV players Fugate, McInnis, Farrow and Garing will lead the 15-player junior varsity that features the following players:

Junior Diane Husband, sophomores Devin Atkinson and Karina Zamora; freshmen Christina Leyba, Mandy Kinsey, Shea Goitiandia, Ashley Karst, Larissa Roberts, Faviola Worthington and Rachel Conover.

2010 WRHS Softball Schedule

A total 24 games on the regular-season schedule for the 2010 Wolverine girls, 9 home and 15 away—and 15 are conference games. Home varsity games at South Valley Sports Complex softball field near the Hailey high school are listed in bold. Great Basin Conference West league games are marked by an asterisk. Wood River will play its home games back-to-back on one field when the varsity and JV teams are competing in single games, with the varsity playing the first game of the day. Doubleheaders will have 2 games on 2 fields, the varsity playing at South Valley Sports Complex softball field and the JV at Nelson Field near Hailey Elementary School.

DATE, DAY OPPONENT LOCATION

February 26, Friday First day of practice

March 10, Wednesday Buhl Away, 4:00

March 23, Tuesday Kimberly Away, 4:00

March 26, Friday Minico* Rupert, 4:00

April 2, Friday Jerome* Away, Forsythe Park, 4:30

April 3, Saturday Jerome* (2 games) Home, 12:00/2:00

April 9, Friday Kimberly tourney vs. Highland Kimberly, 1:00

April 9, Friday Kimberly tourney vs. Teton Kimberly, 3:00

April 10, Saturday Kimberly tourney vs. Shelley Kimberly, 10:00

April 10, Saturday Kimberly tournament placement Kimberly, 4:00

April 13, Tuesday Minico* (2 games) Home, 3:30/5:30

April 17, Saturday Kuna (2 games) Away, 12:00/2:00

April 22, Thursday Twin Falls* Home, 4:30

April 23, Friday Twin Falls* (2 games) Away, 3:30/5:30

April 30, Friday Canyon Ridge* Home, 4:30

May 1, Saturday Canyon Ridge* (2 games) Away, 12:00/2:00

May 3, Monday Kimberly Home, 4:30

May 6, Thursday Burley* Away, 4:30

May 7, Friday Burley* (2 games) Home, 3:30/5:30

May 10, Monday Great Basin Conference 4A Higher seed, TBA

May 11, Tuesday Great Basin Conference 4A Higher seed, TBA

May 13, Thursday Great Basin Conference 4A Higher seed, TBA

May 20, Thursday State 4A tournament OK Ward Park, Pocatello

NOTE—The 6-school Great Basin Conference gets 2 berths in the State 4A tournament May 20-22 in Pocatello......In the first round at state, the GBC champion plays the winner of the May 15 playoff between the Boise-area 3rd-place team and Idaho Falls-area 2nd-place team, and the GBC runner-up plays the northern Idaho champion.




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