Softball looks to reign the NWAC
STORY BY SAM W ESTON
As the rain-drenched fields slowly dry,
the Cougars women’s softball players are
ljcing up and getting into the season. This
year’ s workouts are in full swing.
| The sophomore-heavy squad looks to
return to the top in this upcoming season
to claim the title at this year’ s NWAC
tournament. Placing fourth last season,
the Cougars were left with a disappointing
result. However, with many of the players
returning this year, the team is looking
at a much better position to take home
the title.
Jessica Buel is returning for her ninth
season as head coach and looking to bring
Clackamas its first NWAC title since 2012.
When askedhow she feels going into the
season, Buel had a lot to say.
“ We have a lot o f sophomores, so I’m
excited to see how they’re going to lead
this group,” said Buel. “We came up a little
short last year at the NWAC tournament,
so they’re driven, and I’m excited to see
what some o f the newcomers can do.
They have a lot of talent and should be
contributing quite a bit.”
«The team will play away from home for
t^e first m onth, so traveling will be a big
part of the early season for the Cougars.
W hen asked about this concern, Buel
seemed optimistic.
“ It helps with the bonding,” Buel said.
“w e have been practicing for so long but
“ With our team bonding
and the chemistry
we have and the
sophomores growing
from last year to this
year, we could win it
a ir
-K a tie Rose
getting out on the road, staying in hotels,
and all those kinds of things helps with
the bonding.
“ I also think it puts more pressure on
the girls to perform. We always travel the
day we play, so we might travel four hours
and they’re going to get out of the vans
and be ready to play. It prepares them
for long days and unknown situations,”
said Buel.
One o f the retu rn in g players is
sophomore pitcher Ceidi Nobriga, who
was considered as the num ber two
starting pitcher. She gave some insight
into how the team’s preparation is going.
“ It’ s way tougher than last season,
The team gathers for training in the gymnasium on Feb. 23.
f
Clackamas Print MARCH 1,2017 théclactemasprintcom
which is really getting us ready for the
actual season,” Nobriga said.
N obriga also com m ented on her
personal goals.
“ I want to hold myself accountable and
do what I have to do on the mound,” she
said.
An other returning player, pitcher
Megan Berrigan, was asked about what
she’s looking forward to most this season.
“ Winning the NWAC championship,”
Berrigan said.
The Cougars finished an admirable
fourth place in last year’ s tournament;
and w ith a m ajority o f the starters
returning to this year’s squad, the outlook
is promising;
“ We’re all hungry because of last year,”
Berrigan said. “ We ended on a note that
we didn’t want to. We have a majority of
a team that’s been there before, so we
know what we want and are pretty hungry
to go get it.”
Returning sophomore catcher Katie
Rose shared the same optimism.
“ I believe we can win it a ll,” Rose
said. “ With our team bonding and the
chemistry we have and the sophomores
growing from last year to this year, we
could win it all.”
The overwhelmingly optimistic squad
is hoping to be firing on all cylinders
this season, and they have much to look
forward to. The team is putting in a lot of
work to bring home that title. Their first
home game is March 21 at3 p.m . against
Lower Columbia College.
photos, by Marjorie Guttery
Pitcher Megan Berrigan hones her skills for the upcoming Season.