Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (March 10, 2004)
S ports M arch IO, 2004 T he C lackamas P rint «11 Softball works toward season opener Softball looks to improve their 2003 NWAACCfinish Frank Jordan T he C lackamas P rint The Clackamas softball team is cautiously optimistic about their chances on improving . on an NWAACC second-place finish from last season. “We have a pretty good team right now, but I feel now how I feel at this time every season,” said Head Coach Paul Fiskum. “Are we ready? Can we get ready? We have been practicing really hard, but we have had problems getting all of our players together at the same time. We have had injuries and a rash of illness. Hopefully, all of the pieces will fit together.” The Cougars are facing several questions, but many of those questions will be answered before the first game, in the Fresno City College tournament March 20-21. The team returns several players from last year’s team that lost 3-2 in the NWAACC tide game to Lower Columbia College. All-tournament players Randi Middagh, Angie Roberti, Kim Kraxberger and Carleen Lessard anchor an experienced group of nine sophomores. Throw in returners Brady Adelhart, Brieanne Thurn and Nicole Obrist, and the Cougars have rea son for optimism. “The game starts with pitching and Lessard has had a great fall and winter. Thurn is continuing to FRANK JORDAN C lackamas P rint The Clackamas softball team warms up for the 2004 season as sophomore catcher Brady Adelhart works the plate during a March 8 practice. . be plagued by heart problems, but is working her way back into shape,” said Fiskum. “We have two freshmen, Holly Marlow and Chelsea Koch, that are strong pitchers who will give us some needed arms.” Kraxberger had a good offsea son and returns as the team’s emo tional leader. Fiskum describes Middagh as “talented as any player in the league.” Clackamas basebailers open season with split The Clackamas baseball team opened the 2004 season on March 6 with a split at Blue Mountain CC in Pendleton, Ore. All Cougar baseball games are doubleheaders in league play. In there first game of the sea son the Cougar Basebailers lost game one 5-4. Offensively the Cougar Basebailers scored four runs off seven team hits. Defensively the Cougar Ballers held their own only allowing one errot. Sophomore Cory Suker pitched the opening game loss for the Cougars. Game two the Cougar Ballers were triumphant 4-1. Once again the Cougar bailers scored four runs off seven hits and only com- mited one fielding error. This time Sophomore Brad Neffendorf hurled the win in the second game of the season. This doubleheader leaves the Cougar Ballers with a 1-1 record overall. This weekend the Cougar Ballers will travel Longview, Wash, to participate in the Lower Columbia CC Tournament. Look for more extensive Clackamas baseball coverage dur ing spring term. —Compiled by Nie Del^ell Roberti is coming along well, having been converted to first base from playing mainly designated hitter last year. Roberti has also been described by Fiskum as “probably our smartest player.” In fact, she received a presti gious scholarship from the Northwest Women’s Sports Foundation. This foundation only gives out one scholarship to a community college athlete in the Northwest every year, and Roberti was able to get it this year. It says a lot about her as an athlete and as a student. Obrist and Adelhart have also improved tremendously over this offseason, and figure prominently in the Cougars’ plans this season. “Obrist’s batting average could go up 150 points this season, she has worked really hard on her hit ting,” said Fiskum. “Brady (Adelhart) has done a great job for us at catcher. She has split time with freshman Kayce Ernst at the position and will provide a great presence on the field.” Freshman Ashley Olsen, Kelly Rattay, Cijay Koanui, Makenzie Marineau and Nicole Winkley are having good preseason workouts and have impressed Fiskum with their work ethics. “Koanui may be the most ver satile player we. have ever had,” Fiskum said. “We are playing her at third now; but she has seen time at second and at catcher. She’s a switchhitter and has good speed. A multi-faceted talent. Olsen is a real find, but has been hit by the adversity bug lately. She has been sick, had oral surgery and has been hit by migraines. But she has a tremendous upside to her game. Rattay has seen a lot of time at second, she is very athletic, but has also been struggling with a rib injury.” Lower Columbia has been picked by many as the team to beat in the NWAACC, but only because they are the defending champs. Mt. Hood CC and Chemeketa CC, along with Clackamas and Lower Columbia look to be the teams that will contend for the title. “Bottom line, we need to get healthy, and then get the girls together for a couple, of weeks to see where we stand. As with any team, unity and morale will be a big key to any success we have this year,” said Fiskum. “There are always sacrifices that have to be made for the good of the team. These girls seem to want to get to that point, and that is always a good sign.” 2004 C lackamas S oftball S chedule March 20 April 2 April 3 April 6 April 9 April 10 April 13 April 16 April 1 7 April 24 April 27 April 30 Fresno City College Tournament @ Fresno, Calif. Chemeketa CC 2 p.m. Southwestern Oregon CC 2 p.m. Mt. Hood CC time TBA @ Gresham Grays Harbor College 3 p.m. Pierce College 2 p.m. Centralia College 3 p.m. South Puget Sound CC 3 p.m. @ Olympia, Wash. Lower Columbia College 1 p.m. @ Longview, Wash. NWAACC Crossover Tournament @ Salem Southwestern Oregon CC 3 p.m. @ Coos Bay South Puget Sound CC 3 p.m. *Home games in bold 2004 C lackamas B aseball S chedule March 12 Lower Columbia CC Tourney @ Longview, Wash March 19 Columbia Basin CC Tourney @ Pasco, Wash. Mandi 30 SWOCC 12 p.m. April 3 Mt Hood CC 1 p.m. @ Gresham April 6 Chemeketa CC 1 p.m. ‘Home games in bold *Not complete season Dont drink ¿ ár/V¿ Wéty Mts sm liws. Cake's BRAKE SERVICE 830 SE 46th Ave. (Corner of 46th & Belmont) PORTLAND, OR 97215 (503) 232-6440 All items are made homemade, fresh daily Students can get the daily special for $4.25 Just bring in your student ID card to get the discount 212 Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 (503) 655-7197
