2B | SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Siuslaw
from 1B
only has two seniors with
any varsity level experi-
ence — from two seasons
ago.
“We're just trying to
build around that,” O’Mara
explained. “We're trying to
get more girls out, which is
hard to do in this situation
where we don't have the
kids all in school every day.
So, our numbers are kind
of in that in-between zone
in terms of whether or not
there will be two teams [JV
and varsity]. It’s just trying
to do the best you can with
what you’ve got and coach-
ing the girls that show up.”
The two players return-
ing with varsity experience
are junior Bailey Overton,
who plays shortstop, and
senior Lizbeth Garcia-
Galvan, who plays second
base. Aside from those two
positions, O’Mara says
things are still very much
in the air.
“We’re still evaluating,
trying to decide,” he said.
“We’re evaluating all the
players and their positions
and moving them around
— and I’m assuming that,
right up until Monday’s
practice next week, we’ll
still be trying to make
some solid decisions on
who will be a starter, who’s
more of a substitute and
who might not really see
any game time in the first
game.
“There are still a lot of
decisions to be made.”
The issues a coach would
normally face in the pre-
season have been amplified
by the lack of time coaches
have to get ready for that
first game.
“It’s a very, very fast
turnaround,” admitted
O’Mara, “but everybody’s
in the same boat with
that. We have such a wide
variety of experience —
including no experience
at all —and trying to deal
with that in six practices
and get ready for our first
game. So, it’s going well,
but there’s a lot of work to
do.”
Another issue O’Mara
is facing is that some of
his players are still partic-
ipating in this final week
of Season Two [fall]
sports, so they haven’t
been able to make prac-
tice this last week. These
players will only have
Monday to get prepared
with their team for their
first game, which takes
place Tuesday.
“We have some softball
players that are cheer-
leaders,” said O’Mara,
“and they’ve still got a
game on Friday night to
cheer at. So, there’s a little
bit of overlap for the shar-
ing of the athletes going
on this week, and after
that the numbers should
somewhat stabilize.”
The first day of prac-
tice, O’Mara had 15 play-
ers show. Thursday, that
number increased to 18.
“So, it’s getting better in
terms of numbers,” he
said.
It will be a quick start
but, fortunately, as long as
weather allows, the team
will get to compete in the
same number of league
games as they would in a
normal school year.
“We really have not lost
any league games,” said
O’Mara. “The state set a
limit on the number of
games we could play with
COVID, and it just hap-
pened to be the exact
number that we would
normally play in league.”
But what is different is
that there are no non-
league “tune-up” games
prior to taking on Sky-
Em League opponents.
“That’s when we try to
work out all the kinks,”
said O’Mara. “So, we lost
those. But in terms of
league play, we’re going to
see everybody — weather
NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
Sean O’Mara watches the team practices running from third base to home plate
in a drill designed to teach situational awareness aroud the diamond.
permitting — when we
would normally see them.”
Although O’Mara is
looking forward to compe-
titions, this season his
focus is more on the whole
player than on the big win.
“I think that some of the
goals we are starting to talk
about for the season defi-
nitely deal more with our
skill development, our atti-
tude and our effort that we
can bring to practice every
day,” said O’Mara. “So,
we’re trying to focus on the
things that will make us be
more responsible, have
better self-discipline, over-
come adversity and, at least
at the beginning, we’re try-
ing not to be focusing so
much on that big game
moment — that win or that
loss.”
Long-term, O’Mara feels
that this approach will
bring more meaningful
improvement to his play-
ers.
“We’re focused on
improving ourselves, meet-
ing each individual where
they are, and saying, ‘Okay,
now how do we get you to
be better with whatever
skill you need, and be bet-
ter with your mental
approach to adversity,
challenge and those kinds
of
things,’”
O’Mara
explained. “And those
things aren’t necessarily
new in my program, but
they’re magnified this year
due to the lack of time we
have with them and the
quick turnaround.”
With this season playing
out the way it will, the
coaches have a short time
to work with their players
and begin to build back
some of the momentum
lost from their programs in
the past year. Building back
this foundation now is vital
to programs returning to
normalcy next school year.
“We want them to come
back,” said O’Mara. “We
want them to have a great
experience so that they will
want to come back out next
year when things are hope-
fully more normalized.
“If we do end up falling
short of numbers for two
teams [this year], by them
having a good experience,
that word spreads. And
pretty soon you’re in good
shape; you're at that 24
number or so when you
can easily have two teams
and keep continuing to
develop even more, and
just keep the ball rolling.”
If O’Mara can reset the
stage during this shortened
six-week season, the Lady
Vikings have a lot to look
forward to next spring and
seasons to come.
One advantage O’Mara
does have this year is that
he is one of the only return-
ing coaches in the league.
“I don’t know about
Junction
City,”
he
explained, “but all the rest
of [the teams in the league]
have a new coach; I may be
the only returning coach in
the league.”
According to O’Mara,
this season will be telling
as far as learning each
school’s new coaching
style.
“You never really know
what you’re going up
against
coaching-wise
when you've got new
coaches until you get out
there and play them and
see what their mentality is
about the game,” he said.
“Are they short gamers or
are they long bombers?
Are they wanting to run
different kinds of strategies
that you don’t normally
see, or are they more stan-
dardized softball? In that
way, it will be a very inter-
esting season as every-
body’s trying to get a read
on what everybody else
does and how they operate
to see if they can counter
it.”
Overall, there are simply
a lot of unknowns with this
coming season. But O’Mara
and the Lady Vikings will
take it one day at a time
and, for now, he is finding
the positive — including
being grateful for what
they do have, such as time
on the field.
“The weather’s been
pretty cooperative, so it’s
been nice to be outside
again,” said O’Mara.
Siuslaw’s first softball
game this season will be
away at Cottage Grove on
Tuesday at 5 p.m., followed
by a doubleheader at home
next Friday with Elmira, at
3 and 5 p.m.
FLORENCE FOOD SHARE
Here to alleviate hunger and enhance the health and dignity
of people in Lane County. Because no one should go hungry.
Ever wondered if you qualify to receive food from us?
Your income has to be at or below
the income level in this chart:
HOUSEHOLD
SIZE
MONTHLY
INCOME
ANNUAL
INCOME
1
$3,190
$38,200
2
$4,310
$51,720
3
$5,430
$65,160
FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MEMBER ADD
$1,120 PER MONTH OR $13,440 PER YEAR
We also need:
Your Name - Number of household members & your address.
2190 Spruce Street
Florence, OR 97439
(541) 997-9110
fl orencefoodshare.org
WE ARE NOW HIRING!
CAREGIVER POSITION
Are you a caregiver or have you ever considered becoming one? Spruce
Point Assisted Living & Memory Care is seeking compassionate,
service-oriented individuals who have a knack for providing assistance
to those in need. You don’t have to be certifi ed; we will train you and
help you get up to speed, if you’re not already! If you desire to work in
an upbeat and supportive environment that is packed full of love, give
us a call or send us your resume. $250 Sign on bonus.
COMPETITIVE WAGES • FRIENDLY WORK ENVIRONMENT
PROPER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING • SUPPORTIVE TEAM & COLLABORATION
FAIR HOURS
SPRUCE-POINT.COM • 541.997.6111 • FLORENCE • BWINGFIELD @SPRUCE-POINT.COM
Do you part and volunteer today to help support
these organizations in our community.
We need your help! Florence Habitat ReStore
is in need of cashiers on Saturdays. If you have
spare time and want to give back to your
community in a fun environment give
Floyd a call! 541-997-5834
Assisting those in need in our Community.
Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
HELPING HANDS COALITION
New Location:Community Baptist Church
4590 Hwy. 101, Florence (Across from Fred Meyer)
Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer
relies heavily
on volunteers.
Th ere are many opportunities to
volunteer and a variety of skills
and talents are always in need.
Volunteer interest forms may be
found online, at the shelter and
at our Th rift Shop on Bay Street.
www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/
Saving men one
PSA test at a time.
541-997-6626
maribob@oregonfast.net
Someone to talk to...
who understands!
To include your organization
in this directory, please call us
@ 541-997-3441
Faith – Friendship - Fellowship – Fun
CHURCH DIRECTORY
To include your organization in this directory,
please call us @ 541-997-3441
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
2705 Munsel Lake Road, All are welcome!
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Zoom Worship Services: 10 AM & 11:30 AM Sunday.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m.
Bishop Larry Farnsworth 541-999-1979
Wednesday Bible Study returns this Fall.
Website: florence4square.com
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN E.L.C.A.
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
21st & Spruce Streets—997-8113
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –
Pastor Jim Abbott, All are welcome.
Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
Sunday in-person worship service@ 10:30.
Also available to you on website
www.florencenewlifelutheran.org.
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533
Sunday Services are 9am and 11am and on
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
Facebook live and KCST at 11am
3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136
Wednesdays at 7pm
Internet and in person Sunday services at 10AM,
https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online
Call the church for details.
Other platforms update after the service.
Reverend Greg Wood
florencecrossroadag.org
All Welcome. Come as you are.
office@florencecrossroadag.org
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Since
we
meet
in homes, we are taking a mindful pause.
2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational
Call
997-4237
or 902-9511 for information.
Service is on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Service also streaming live at 10:00 am
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S.
at florencechurch.com
Worship Services 10am 1st & 2nd Sunday
and 8am 3rd & 4th Sunday
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
85294
Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
DVD
of
Weekly
worship service available.
1833 Tamarack Street
www.puppro.wixite.com/rlcflorence
(2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
www.churchofchristflorence.org
Welcomes you to Worship Services
Sunday
at 9am and Wednesday at 11am
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
2135
19th St. – 997-6600
1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523
Reservations
Required Call or Email
Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School)
standrewssecretary19@gmail.com
Mid-Week Activities, all ages.
Labyrinth & Garden Open Daily 8am - 5pm
www.standrewsflorence.org
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
COVID-19 Compliant Masses have been scheduled.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
Please call our office for details.
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer.
Until it is safe to meet in person, Sunday Worship Services
are available 24/7 on our website: www.florenceuuf.org
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Link to Sunday services at
www.florenceunitedmethodist.org
or find us on Facebook.
Give us a call
541-997-3441
to get us your updates or
email to:
mberg@thesiuslawnews.com