Softball squad heavy on youth
For the Hillsboro High School softball team, 2003 will be the year of the young player.
Twenty-two girls went out for softball this year, but just two of them are seniors and two are juniors, according to head coach Carolyn Long. That leaves a huge group of sophomores and five freshmen to make up the bulk of the team.
And out of the four upperclassmen, just two letter-winners are returning this year: senior April Funk and junior Danielle Goosen.
Eight seniors graduated from last year's team, including standout pitcher Holly Lindsay. Coach Long also lost her catcher and outfield.
But Long thinks that her team will surprise themselves and their fans this season, she said.
It's obvious that most of the team's pitchers competed in summer leagues during the off-season, Long said. Sitting in this year's pitching lineup are Marissa Diener, Laura Lindsay, Funk, and Erin Wiebe.
The team hasn't logged much practice time outside because of several rainy days and spring break, Long said. The first several games of the season should be a learning time for the team, when Long will finalize her lineup and assign positions.
The Lady Trojans start their season Thursday afternoon against Marion, a team that's returning 13 letter-winners, Long said.
