Saturday, May 18, 2013

Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868

PREP SOFTBALL: Inexperience Central squad picks up first win, excited about potential

Perrydale squad drops season opener to Dayton.

Central’s Kaitlyn Noon had two hits, scored three runs and made a diving catch at second base to help the Panthers defeat North Marion Thursday.

Photo by Nicole Watkins

Central’s Kaitlyn Noon had two hits, scored three runs and made a diving catch at second base to help the Panthers defeat North Marion Thursday.

Itemizer-Observer staff

March 19, 2013

INDEPENDENCE -- If you're looking for the 2012 Central softball team when you show up at the Panthers' diamond this season, you might be confused.

That's because little remains from a team that went 21-5 and finished No. 2 in the Oregon School Activities Association power rankings.

"Basically, this is a whole new team," Central coach Amber McLean said of the 2013 squad, which used just two returning starters to pull off a 12-2, six-inning victory over North Marion on Thursday.

It was a refreshing rebound from the Panthers' opener, which saw the wide-eyed team sustain an 11-1 six-inning loss at the hands of Gladstone March 12.

McLean & Co. know, however, growing pains will be part of the process.

"We've got a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the field that have never played in a varsity game and it was the first game of the year," she said.

"We have just two returning starters, so we're writing our own script as far as what the expectations are for the season."

Junior Jenny Cole picked up her first win of the season in the circle Thursday and freshman third baseman Kelsi Christenson drilled a home run for Central (1-1) in the win.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Noon tallied two hits, including a double, scored three runs and executed a diving infield catch at second base to cap the Panthers' highlights.

Central's two returners are sophomore shortstop Ryanne Huffman and senior center fielder Brittney Bettles. Both earned all-league last season.

"We told them at practice, it's kind of exciting because they get to write out how the season is going to turn out because there aren't those expectations coming into it," McLean said. "It's a whole new team, let's see what they can do."

Class 2A-1A

PERRYDALE DROPS GAME TO DAYTON: The Pirates (0-1) sustained an 8-1 nonleague loss at Dayton Friday to open the season. Bryce Baucum took the loss in a game where Perrydale produced three hits and committed six errors. Baucum tallied two hits and Brooke Barnes added the other for Perrydale, which scored on Baucum's RBI single to plate Cheyenne Locke in the sixth inning.