As the 2010 softball season gets underway, the Lady Leafs have their eyes on a conference title and are hoping their experience will help get them there.
“We’ve basically had one week of practice and it is pretty much what I expected,” said head coach Bob Pettit. “It is going pretty well, but we will have to pick up the intensity.”
Year in and year out, the Lady Leafs face a tough schedule in the conference and non-conference teams they face thus helping the girls improve in each game they play.
“I have a philosophy of the strong schedule because it builds the fact that you can’t let up and you have to play every pitch,” said Pettit. “I don’t like a let up.”
This season, the Lady Leafs return six starters, which only allows for three open spots, causing there to be a lot of healthy competition in practices.
“It is very wide open in some situations,” said Pettit. “On the inside, the girls are competitors and want that spot, but on the outside, they are very supportive and they are all doing a good job and being a team player.”
Returning to the Lady Leaf squad for their senior year are Maggie Bergeson, Abby Lavine, Robin Schaefer, Katie Lenz, Tawni Ricketts, Samantha Peters and Lexie Clark.
“The seniors understand what needs to be done to uphold what has been handed to them,” said Pettit of what he expects from his senior group.
The juniors looking to make an impact this season are Jenna Mickley, Allison Wiese, Molly Allison, Lindsey Beighle and Stephene Contreras.
Joining the juniors and seniors are sophomores Emily Zaderaka, Olivia Goethals, Taylor Wise, Kassi Anderson, Haley Cathcart, Karissa Herman and Devan Griffin, along with freshman Jessica Murray.
“We are very experienced and the girls know what is expected,” said Pettit. “My expectations are high. This year will have to be a team effort with people accepting their roles because we don’t have any area that dominates the game.
“The one expectation I have is I want the girls to understand this is a team sport and we don’t want to rely on one person. We want to rely on a strong program.”
Experience is a big key and strength for the Lady Leafs this season with six returning starters.
“Experience and hopefully chemistry will be strengths,” said Pettit. “The girls really like each other and really enjoy being a team.”
The challenges that might face this year’s team will be getting the pitching spots solidified, having the team continue to support each other and avoiding injuries in key spots, said Pettit.
The Lady Leafs have five pitchers on the roster, including Clark, who pitched for the Lady Leafs last year; Bergeson, who picked pitching back up; Zaderaka, who had a strong junior varsity season last year and pitched a few varsity games; along with Griffin and Murray.
“We have a lot of depth at pitcher, but no one ace,” said Pettit.
The goals coach Pettit has for his team this year are for each player to build character and have a positive experience.
The girls have set some goals for themselves, which coach Pettit believes include off the field and on the field goals.
“On the field, I know they want to win conference and uphold the tradition of the other teams in the past who have been averaging 30 wins a year,” said Pettit. “Off the field, which are important, are to keep each other on track academically and socially, which I appreciate. And to come together as a team.”
Coach Pettit views the keys to his team’s success in 2010 will be playing good defense because they are not going to shut out their opponents very often, he said. And score runs.
As far as the outlook of the NCIC this year, coach Pettit says he expects to see the same teams and tough competition he did last year.
“The NCIC has become a very balanced conference in softball over the years,” said Pettit. “You have to worry about everybody because you never know what can happen.”
Last season, Geneseo captured the conference title with an overall record of 29-6-1 and a conference mark of 8-2. The Lady Leafs beat Rock Island in the first round of regionals, 6-5, but were then defeated by Sterling, 4-1 in the regional championship.
When the Lady Leafs open their season March 16 it will be at their new home field behind Millikin Elementary School on Chicago Street.
“We are very excited and it is very exciting for our program,” said Pettit. “The feeling that the community came behind this project is incredible. It is one of those ‘Only in Geneseo’ things. We still have people coming forward wanting to help.”
The Lady Leafs open the year at 4:30 p.m. March 16 against Morrison.
“People are shocked when I tell them we are playing next week,” said Pettit. “If there is any way to play, we will be playing.
“Morrison is a strong team year in and year out and we will have to play hard to beat them. I feel indoor practice wise, we are as prepared as we can be.”
Geneseo, Ill. —
