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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2016)
8 Wednesday,June1,2016The Nugget Newspaper,Sisters,Oregon Outlaws coach can’t wait for 2017 By Tom Mauldin Correspondent SistersHighSchoolsoft- ballCoachDaveSmithsays theOutlawssoftballprogram is alive and well, and that plansforthe2017seasonare underway. In a season that almost wasn’tduetoalackofplay- ers, the Outlaws got a late startandwonjusttwoof18 games.Buttheenergylevel and growth of the youthful teamledtosteadyimprove- mentduringthecourseofthe season. “Lookingbackatthesea- son,Inoticedalotofgrowth withtheteam,especiallywith thefreshmen,”saidSmith.“I had girls in the first week whohadahardtimehitting theballoffofaT,andbythe endoftheseasontheywere puttingtheballintoplay.” This year’s Outlaws var- sityconsistedof14players, including seven freshmen. Butonlyoneweekpriortothe season opener, the Outlaws hadonlyeightplayers.Ittook alast-minuterecruitingeffort by Smithandthoseeightto maketheseasonhappen. As a result, the Outlaws didnothaveacompleteteam practicepriorthestartofpre- leaguegames.Theyfinished 2-13intheSky-EmLeague, recordingapairofwinsover Cottage Grove, 19-9 and 24-14. During the first two roundsofleagueaction,they struggled against Elmira, JunctionCityandSutherlin, but scored in each of their finalthreegames. “I can’t wait for next year,”saidSmith,whonoted that2016hadabiglearning curve. “Iamlookingforwardto nextyear’steam,”saidSmith, a former college football player.“Thisyearwasawild ride at the beginning with alltypesofchallengesfrom (lackof)numbers,injuriesto runningpractices by myself to not knowing how many kidsweregoingtoshowup during the first two weeks withspringbreak.” These girls in the program and the ones coming up are motivated... —Coach Dave Smith Several of the Outlaws had not played softball previously. “The one thing the girls are lacking and to no fault oftheirs,istheexperienceof playingonasummerleague,” said Smith. “That’s where they really develop their skillsandbegintounderstand thegamebetter.Orbygoing todifferentcampsandwork- ingontheirskills.” Despitetheirlackofexpe- rience,theOutlawswerelong oneffort. “Theonethingthatstood outthemostwastheheartand determinationinthesegirlsto notgiveup,”saidtheircoach. Smithsaidhehadanum- ber of players who want to continue practicing during thesummer.Hesaidheplans on having pitching, hitting and fielding camps as often aspossible. Smith said, “These girls intheprogramandtheones coming up are motivated andwillingtoputinthehard work.And that’s why I am willing to go the extra mile with them and work with themanychancetheyhave. Theyknowtheycancallme ortheothercoachesanytime toworkonskills.” Smith was assisted by HarleyRoweandMcKibben Womack. Those two, along withhisreturningplayers,are already recruiting for 2017. TheOutlawsgraduatedthree seniors(LeahMcIntosh,Zoe Nason and Marie Coffee), andjuniorShaunaFerrellis movingtoWashington. But lack of players shouldn’tbeanissuein2017. Key players returning will be All-League pitcher AmandaSmith,KyleSteiner, SavanaRyan,SophiaAffatati, G r a c e M a i d e n , S a r a h Hartford,NancyMontecinos, Beth Anne Yount, Haley Maglecic and Kennedy Smith. Coach Smith, who was hired a short time prior to the start of practice in late February, said he wishes he had a enough players to form a summer team. Only hisdaughter,Amanda,plays Congratulations, SHS Graduates! Your Care wishes you a healthy dose of success! Come In… Relax…Enjoy! Tim Westcott Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey Mary Morgan 541-588-6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. Come in, Relax, Enjoy! Your Care... Sisters’ Choice for Walk-In and Urgent Care! summertravelball. “I asked the girls who would want to participate in summer ball and I had a showingofaboutsevengirls, sowewereafewshort,”said Smith.“Moreofthemwanted toplay,buttheyhadcommit- tedtosummertimejobs.” Smith hopes to get his players involved with FastpitchNorthwest,anorga- nizationthatconductsPlayer Evaluation Camps (PEC) and a College Exposure Tournament in Washington in late July. Sisters High SchoolwillhostaFastpitch NorthwestPEConJune20. “If I could get my girls ontheteamtogotoanevent likethis,itwouldchangethe whole dynamic of our team and our program at Sisters High,”saidSmith.“Thelevel oftalentattheseeventsmakes the girls push themselves beyondwhattheythinkthey can do, and the best things isthelevelofsportsmanship and how many new friends theymeet.Howoftencana youngpersonsaytheyplayed on a team with girls from Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Hawaii,Canada,Washington andOregon?” He added that a lot of people are working hard at the youth level and that the numbers are increasing, but thatcoachingconsistencyis needed.TheOutlawshadthe sameheadcoachfrom2007- 2010 when the team was Sky-Em co-champions. But since,theyhavehadfourdif- ferentheadcoaches. “The one thing our pro- gram is lacking is consis- tencywithcoaching,andthe only ones that are hurt by that are the kids,” he said. “I would like to develop a programwheremystaffand playersarehelpingoutatthe middle school level. I want goodcommunicationwiththe coachesthereandthatweare heretohelpinanyway.” Sisters Owned! Grand Opening! — Open House — Friday, June 10, 4 to 8 p.m. 541-548-2899 3818 SW 21st Pl. Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds) YourCareMedical.com Complimentary Consults Free Drawings for Products and Services Appetizers & Drinks Lisa, Sarah, Rylee, Jessica, Angelena, Sara Skin Tightening & Resurfacing Wrinkle Reduction Vein Treatments Body Sculpting Fat Reduction Age Spots Vaginal Rejuvenation Laser Hair Removal Hair Restoration And Much More Call TODAY for introductory specials! 541-588-6503 | 354 W. Adams Ave.