The 2008 Highline
softball team will have a different look from the 2007
team that finished with a 19-26 overall record,
including a 17-13 Western Division record simply by
being quite a bit larger. The team will start the winter
season with 13 bodies out for the first day of practice.
Five players were lost from the 2007 team that
earned a third place finish in the West and a trip to
the NWAACC tournament where they lost to a very strong
Clackamas team 7-1, followed by a loss to Peninsula 4-0.
Overcoming a tremendous number of season-long obstacles
(major and minor injuries, low numbers, people playing
other positions) to get to the tournament built the
character of each player and showcased the tenacious
spirit they were known for by other teams in the league.
Opponents were leery of the team's tremendous offensive
potential and outstanding defense. The lessons the 2007
team learned will carry them into 2008 and the coaching
staff expects a lot from this year's team because of the
quality of sophomore leadership and talent that is
returning.
Five sophomores return who developed a strong team
cohesion in 2007 and exhibit the kind of work ethic that HCC softball players must have. That core of talented
returners will have plenty of new teammates to work with
in the 2008 season. The T-birds have 9 incoming freshman on the
winter roster.
The returning sophomores are lead by first team
all-league selections catcher/shortshop
Ashley
Carey and first baseman/pitcher
Carrie
Draeger along with second team players
centerfielder
Lexi Nichols and
outfielder/catcher
Caitlyn Ratcliffe.
Third baseman
Rachel Comstock
(second team) will redshirt the 2008 season after having
reconstructive knee surgery in June. The batting average of the sophomores was an
impressive .429 season and .380 overall. Those offensive
numbers will be a foundation of our success this year.
The incoming freshman class is one of the strongest
Highline softball has seen in a number of years. Leading
the recruits are two outstanding pitchers who have
tremendous potential to carry the team to the
post-season. Cara Chaet (Helena High, MT) and Carrie Crookshank (Auburn-Mountainview) have great control and speed. Catcher
Michaela Hector (Kentridge), shortstops Deisha Pico (Molokai, HI) and Kayla Leliefeld
(Deer Park), third basemen Jaclynn Wills (Enumclaw), Lisa Visintin (Chickasha, OK)
and Shanna Shepard (Evergreen) will be vying for starting
spots in the infield. Outfielders Alea Litvinenko
(Enumclaw), Carrie Crookshank and Cara Chaet will see a
lot of action as we rotate through spots in fall ball.
"I expect great things from these women," head coach
Anne Schmidt says. "We have such a strong group of
sophomores returning that are leaders and understand
what it means to represent Highline everyday. The
freshman class is outstanding and I get the feeling that
they are ready to go out and play hard. It is a going to
be fun to watch them gel and develop that sense of team
that is so vital to our success."
