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  Expectations high for softball

   
    By Jared Bell
    IV Leader Sports Editor

    Despite the fact that softball coach Cory Tomasson still does not know what to expect from this year’s squad, it does not mean his expectations are any lower than in past years.
    “I hope we finish first or second in our conference. I don’t know if that’s realistic or not, but that is where I would expect to be,” Tomasson said. “We’ve won conference twice and finished second every other year except one. So we’re pretty competitive in that area and we want to keep it up.
    “And then we want to return to the final four of the region,” Tomasson continued. “My first year here we didn’t make it. ...Since that time — the past six years — we have made the final four. We have gotten second two or three times and I think we have the experience, the knowledge to do that consistently every year. So, I think that’s our two goals — return to the final four and hopefully win it — that would be ideal — and finish in the top two or three in the conference.”
    The route the team will need to take to get to those two goals is still foggy with some potentially big questions still lingering.
    What might be the biggest concern of the team is the pitching staff.
    Sophomore Amy Abbott was the No. 2 starter on last year’s team that finished second at the region tournament and will return this season as the ace.
    However after Abbott, the staff has limited amount of college experience.
    Sophomore Jessica Politsch saw limited action last year on the mound as a reliever but will be relied on heavily as the team’s No. 2 starter.
    Behind her is IVCC newcomer sophomore Liz Oseland and returner Amber Pescitelli.
    “The inexperience at pitching is definitely the spot where we’re most nervous,” Tomasson said.
    While the pitching is still a question, the offense is a little more settled.
    Offensively, Tomasson is looking for a trio of players to lead the team.
    The trio includes sophomore Kallie Judge, who will move from second base to shortstop out of necessity, catcher Brenna Jackson, who will make the transition from third base to behind the plate and sophomore Cassie Kelley, who will see action in right field.
    “Those three, I think you can expect them to do big things,” Tomasson said.
    Politsch will start at first base, while first-year sophomore Stephanie Prokup is expected to see the majority of the time at second base. Freshman Laura Butterfield might also see action there.
    Joining Judge on the left side of the infield is first-year sophomore Christa Washeleski, who will play third base.
Freshman Amanda Gargantiel will be in left field, while fellow freshman Lindsey McDonald will start in center field.
Sophomore Amanda Daugherty is expected to see some action as well when she joins the team after the end of the basketball season.
    “Pretty much were well-rounded (offensively),” Tomasson said. “It’s just a matter of people playing up to their potential.”
Over Spring Break in March, the team is scheduled to travel to Florida to play games against other community colleges at the Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
    “We really find out where our players should be playing during the season,” Tomasson said. “When we go to Florida it gives them the opportunity to get out and play before the come back here and play conference games. We can’t just jump right into them.”

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