By Kevin Cunningham
Correspondent
Records can be deceiving in sports, especially when trying to evaluate how an entire season went for a particular team. In the case of Whitewater High School’s softball team last season, that was indeed the case according to head coach Ron Sdano.
The team went 13-10 in his first season as head coach, and then a year ago, the team went 3-19 overall. In games decided by just one run, the Whippets went 0-7 in seven games. In games tied, or with a one-run differential going into the final inning, the team went 0-12 in those 12 games.
“I don’t see that happening this year,” Sdano said. “I think this year we’ll be able to win some of those close games. I think it was an aberration. My first year, when we were 13-10, we won the close games. Not being able to win one close game was really tough, and we had a lead in a lot of those. It usually ended up being a misplay on defense that cost us, and I think we’re going to be better defensively.”
Sdano talked about the difference between last year’s team and what this year’s team will be. A couple aspects he mentioned were the cohesiveness and losing four key players from last year’s group, but on the field, this year’s team will have a lot more youth and speed.
“I’m excited for this year,” he said. “We’re a young team. I have four seniors, two juniors and I’ll probably have three sophomores and four freshmen on varsity. The younger girls – a lot of them are playing club ball, so they’re coming in this year and they have really good skills. We’re going to be young, but I think we’re going to surprise some people.
“The infusion of young players, it just seems like there is more energy. In my three years, these are by far the best practices I’ve had and as far as skill-level, this is the most skilled team I’ve had. This is the most speed I’ve had. Especially the younger girls, we have very good team speed. The younger players also have a much better knowledge of the game coming in. Those two things, the understanding of the game and the team speed; I see those being a huge plus for us.”
Sdano mentioned the team’s defense when losing close games and that they can’t afford doing that this year. He wants the team to play better small ball as well. He expects the team to be in every game because of the better defensive play and overall speed for scoring runs.
The Whippets don’t have a set lineup just yet, but the third-year head coach talked about a number of girls to look for as the season approaches. The first game for Whitewater is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start on March 25 at Johnson Creek High School.
“My top pitcher is Sarah Johnson,” Sdano said. “She’s a sophomore, but she did a lot of pitching last year. Then her sister, Jacee Johnson, and Kailey Ruhl, they will be the other pitchers that can come in if we need help. We have a key senior in Sage Babcock, who was Second Team All-Conference last year; she’ll be playing either third base or outfield. I expect her to do a good job.
“I’ll probably have a freshman catcher who is very good. Potentially there are three freshmen who will be in the starting lineup. The freshman catcher is Alyssa Schumacher, and her sister was Michaela Schumacher, who was our starting catcher last year. And then we have Bryce Hibbs and Jacee Johnson are a couple other freshmen who I’m expecting a lot of things out of. I have two other sophomores too, Kailey Ruhl and Jocelin Beecroft, they batted one and two for us as freshmen – they’ll be batting one and two for us as sophomores, so I expect big things from those two girls.”
With the season just days away, Sdano said there was a desire to get the season started.
“We have no injuries right now, but to be honest with you, if we did have an injury, with the younger talent we have coming in, I think we’re going to be able to better replace that player,” he said. “I don’t know a lot about Johnson Creek, but I know they have a pretty good softball program. I’m excited to get the season going because I’m excited to see what we’ve got.
“We’ve got a number of girls who are on spring break who won’t be at the game and could be in our starting lineup, but we still are going to be in pretty good shape. I’m just looking forward to seeing how these younger players pan out. I’m excited to see what happens. I can’t wait to get the season going.”
The season starts for the Whippets starts this Saturday at Johnson Creek at 11 a.m.
