Softball gets ready

Jo Teeters
Managing Editor
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 5

With a new coach and a fresh season ahead, the Doane Tigers softball team is looking forward to a successful season.
“I think we’re going to be a highly competitive team,” said Barry Mosley, head coach.
Mosley, who joined the softball program in May 2003, said that he thinks that the team will make a better showing this year than in the past. Last year, the team missed playing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament tournament by one game after finishing the season 11-19 overall and 9-13 in the GPAC.
Mosley said that his goal for the team this year is to place fifth in the GPAC. Doane was voted eighth out of 13 teams in the conference in a preseason vote.The team has chosen seniors Brook Ruhter, Megan McKown and Kate Reeson as its captains.
Ruhter feels the team seems to be coming together as a group.
“We really feel like a team this year, more so than in past years,” Ruhter said.
She said that the team will especially miss Monica Smith, last year’s starting pitcher who graduated last May. Smith was named GPAC and NAIA Pitcher of the Week for her performance in California during Spring Break last season. She was also the 2002 GPAC pitcher of the year.
The Tigers will also look to replace Lissa Hagemann who also graduated in May. Hagemann graduated holding five Doane softball records including most career hits and most stolen bases.
Mosley said that he is waiting until after this week’s practices to choose a starting line-up. The team is ready to begin practicing outside, but is waiting for the city of Crete’s permission to practice at Tuxedo Park. Until then, they are practicing in Fuhrer Field House. Whether or not the team will get to play a game before the Spring Break break trip to Tucson, Ariz., depends on the weather.
Mosley said that the team is going to take this season one game at a time.
“We’ll grow from each game, winning or losing,” he said.The softball team’s first scheduled game is against York College at 5 p.m. March 9 in Tuxedo Park.