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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
Page 6 HERMISTON East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald Wednesday, March 16, 2016 Bulldogs to be aggressive on bases in 2016 Mikayla Kopacz (center) leads a Hermis- ton soft- ball team optimistic about the 2016 season. Hermiston Softball COACH: Kate Greenough, 1st year 2015 SEASON: 7-18, 1-11 CRC (4th) POSTSEASON STORY: The Bulldogs last made the playoffs in 2013. LOSSES: OF Abi Drotzmann, INF Bobbi Hofbauer, INF Kalene Wheeler, INF Makenzie Juul, OF Ashley Moser. RETURNERS: INF Mikayla Kopacz, sr.; P Breyanna Naylor, sr.; OF Amanda Baron, soph.; P Alex Barton, jr.; OF Kylie Green, soph.; OF Kiersten Miller, sr.; C/ OF Kylie Hinkley, sr.; P Julissa Almaguer, soph.; P Taylor Betz, sr.; C/OF Jaime Hinkley, sr.; P Alex Barton, jr.; INF Ellery Jones, sr. File Photo By SAM BARBEE East Oregonian K ate Greenough brings experience and knowledge to the dirt diamond at Rocky Heights Elementary. The ¿rst-year Hermiston coach, who teaches special education at the high school, pitched collegiately for Northern Illinois then Utah State, before returning to Oregon to coach scholastic ball. “I was very excited about being a part of the program, however may look,” she said. “I have lot of softball experience with high school and college and I guess I ¿t the part.” Greenough wants to run. With an athletic roster, Greenough envisions lots of ground balls and aggressive base running. She doesn’t want to have runs handed to her Bulldogs. She wants to take them. “We are gonna be aggressive on the bases, hit the ball hard and score a lot of runs,” she said. “Softball has become a hitter’s game, and so we are gonna ¿t that part and score as many runs as we can at all times. We plan on running a lot, hitting the ball on the ground, moving runners all the time.” To employ that style of play, Greenough is hoping seniors Mikayla Kopacz, twins Kylie and Jaime Hinkley and Ellery Jones can shoulder most of that load. Kopacz slots in at the shortstop position, and Jones will ¿t in at third, giving Hermiston a strong left side of the in¿eld to go with a decent pitching staff. That staff, led by sophomore lefty Julissa Almaguer, Taylor Betz and Breyanna Naylor, is hoping to be a main area of success. “I’ve seen some huge leader- ship with some of those seniors,” Greenough said. “Taylor Betz has showed up and has been ready to play. It’s been exciting to see them show up and want to be a part of something special.” Greenough inherits a program that has struggled in recent years. From her perch, the ¿rst-year coach can feel the mentality changing a bit. “From day one, we’ve treated them like adults and expect that’s how they play,” Greenough said. “They’ve risen to that expectation. They’re playing like they’re a winning program. They’re not playing like things have been mediocre. They expect to win games. That’s exciting to see, especially when you’re coming (to) a building program.” Greenough takes over a program that resides in the competitve CRC, with perennial power Pendleton just down the highway. She isn’t overwhelmed, though. “I’d love to come in at the top of conference, that would be ideal,” she said. “I’d like to win as many games as we can. That’s pretty general, I guess, but there’s no reason why we can’t be at the top of conference. However that may fall in the rankings, we can compete with everyone in this conference. 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 15 Mar. 18 Mar. 21 Mar. 22 Mar. 25 Mar. 29 April 1 April 11 April 16 April 18 April 19 April 23 April 26 April 30 May 3 May 6 May 13 *League game vs. Ridgeview vs. Liberty (DH) at Putnam Spring Break Bash at Putnam Spring Break Bash at Pasco (WA) (DH) vs. Summit at Reynolds (DH) at Canby vs. The Dalles (DH)* at Kennewick at The Dalles* vs. Hood River (DH)* at Hood River* at Pendleton (DH)* vs. Pendleton* at Hood River* vs. Pendleton* GOOD LUCK HERMISTON BULLDOGS! GO DAWGS! Auto • Home • Business Health • Life* • Retirement Over 30 Years of Experience Keeping Your Car Looking Its Best! Building essentials for a better tomorrow TM www.jmeagle.com 1-800-621-4404 31240 Roxbury Rd., Umatilla 620 E. Main • Hermiston • 541-567-3908 Go DAWGS! 541-567-7171 80496 N. Hwy 395 Hermiston Under the American Flag www.nwmetalfab.com CCB #66293 GOOD LUCK BULLDOGS! 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