To get a taste for how Bradford High’s softball season could
likely unfold, just ask head coach Nichole Spindler who’s going to
play in her outfield.
“That’s totally up in the air,” Spindler, the Lady Owls’ fourth
year coach, said. “We’ve been on the turf a couple of times, but to
know who’s going to be the best out there, it could be a revolving
door. Who’s ever playing the best that week at practice will
play.”
Unpredictable, sure. But with only 17 players on the 2010
roster, including many with just one year of experience, nothing
is…well…for certain.
“Last year was definitely a learning year. We graduated some
pretty important seniors the year before. And, last year,” Spindler
said, “this year’s seniors were moving into roles as juniors. We
were pretty young and we struggled. We finished 2-14.
“It was a tough year and we had injuries, and everybody had to
move around to every spot. This year is going to be pretty much the
same, I think. We have big holes to fill in the outfield. Every
position is pretty much wide open.”
With its season-opener Friday at Elk County Catholic — and
having just one outdoor practice — things could get rocky early for
a youthful Bradford squad.
While Spindler knows there is a struggle ahead, she does see
positives, especially in her core group of letterwinners.
There are seven of them, starting with seniors Jessie and Jonnie
Mascho, Tate Slaven and Ashlie Harrington. Then, there are juniors
Meagan Hillard and Ryleigh Langianese and sophomore Amber Abers —
Spindler’s lynchpin in the outfield after earning a starting spot
as a freshman.
“I’m hoping she’s (Abers) going to anchor things down, and
hopefully after the first half of the year I’m going to have a
couple other girls step into a spot,” Spindler noted.
Slaven, a returning starter at catcher, and Jessie Mascho, this
year’s unanimous No. 1 pitcher, are looked upon to provide an
immediate 1-2 punch on offense and defense.
Said Spindler, “She (Slaven) was my No. 4 hitter last year, and
I’m looking for big things from her at the plate. Jessie Mascho,
I’m looking for her at the plate, too. If I could pitch her every
game, that’s what I’m going for. As long as she stays healthy, I’d
like her to play on the mound.
“Another girl with power is (Meagan) Hillard. She was my utility
player last year, playing just about every spot on the field. This
year, I’m looking for her at shortstop to come through defensively.
And, I’m hoping to get some good things from (Ashlie) Harrington.
Offensively, she hits the ball very well in preseason, and I’m
hoping that carries over. My last returning senior, Jonnie Mascho,
is my defensive go-to girl. I think she is going to be my strength
at third base.”
Many of those girls will be included in the top half of the
team’s hitting order, Spindler added. Langianese, playing second
base, transformed into a successful designated hitter (DP) for the
Lady Owls last year and will be included in the mix.
From there, as the Lady Owls’ coach would tell you, it’s all
touch-and-go.
Bottom line, these girls are still learning, and that’s
imperative to Spindler who has 10 other players on the roster with
raw talent.
That includes five freshmen (Marisa Cobb, Kate Girard, Kelsey
Langdon, Ashley McCleary, Lexy Pascarella), three sophomores beyond
Abers (Erika Bacha, Rachel Confer, Jenna Moore), one other junior
(Sara Peterson) and a first-year senior (Morgan Dunkle).
“On paper, there are teams we have identified we would like to
play with and play well,” Spindler said. “There are others that are
going to be very tough for us. For those teams that are tough, we
would like to be in the game. And, we have 17 girls, so I’d like to
get them experience against some of those tougher teams.
“Any win will be a big win for us this year. It’s just going to
be one of those seasons. But, if they keep working, I have a very
young team that I would like to see come through and gain on
success.”
