Print
Comment
Rate
Softball team looks to repeat
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson Bobcats' softball team will start the 2007 season next week with an invisible target on their backs that every team they play will take aim at in an effort to unseat the defending state champions.
The Bobcats will have to defend their 2006 state championship, which capped off a Cinderella season where they finished with a 32-1-1 record, as they defeated 2A, 3A and 4A schools. Many of those wins were decided by the 10-run mercy rule.
The Bobcats ended the season on top, defeating Scottsdale Christian Academy in a 5-4 thriller.
This year, however, Coach Shad Housley and Assistant Coach Ernie Batten said while the Lady Bobcats are in good shape for a repeat, there are 39 other teams in the 2A East Conference, the region and the state that are looking to beat the number one team.
"We have an extremely young squad this year and we are going to practice with the girls on being mentally prepared," Batten said. "We are still going to be playing the best teams in the 2A, 3A and 4A divisions. They know they are the target and 39 other teams are going to do whatever they can to take away the title."
In the 2A East Conference the Lady Bobcats are currently on a 22-game winning streak, dominating opponents for two straight seasons.
In the 2007 season, the coaches said the ladies are going to have their work cut out for them for what they called good Willcox, Morenci and Tombstone teams.
With only one returning senior, Sabrina Molina, the coaches said they are still confident the team will have another dominant season.
One of the main reasons is Pitcher Megan Ellsworth. Named the 2006 2A East Player of the Year, Ellsworth lives for softball. The junior can be seen after school on a regular basis practicing in the off-season, and when she's not practicing she's usually competing in a traveling league.
Over the last year, Ellsworth and teammate Brittney Batten, who is the team's catcher, competed in a summer league in California.
Batten was named first-team all conference in 2006.
With Batten and Ellsworth leading the group, Housley said they are optimistic about the talent that Molina and the group of juniors have.
With Batten and Ellsworth leading the group, Housley said they are optimistic about the talent that Molina and the group of juniors have.
The two girls have already said they think the team has the talent, and with practice a repeat could become a reality.
Coach Batten said the varsity roster was finalized last week after just over two weeks of practice, and after the coaches got a look at the girls in a scrimmage against Salpointe.
In a scrimmage no score is kept, but Housley and Batten said it gave them an idea of where some of the team's problem areas are and got them some competition.
Housely said they played really well in the first couple of innings, but they struggled with errors in the final stretch.
Batten said showing some strong hitting, Ellsworth belted the team's first homerun of the season.
Now, the ladies are ready for some real action with their first regular season action this weekend in the San Manuel Softball Tournament.
Breaking in the new field at Benson High School, the Bobcats will host their first home game against conference opponents the Tombstone Yellow Jackets on Tuesday, March 6. The game begins at 4 p.m.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson Bobcats' softball team will start the 2007 season next week with an invisible target on their backs that every team they play will take aim at in an effort to unseat the defending state champions.
The Bobcats will have to defend their 2006 state championship, which capped off a Cinderella season where they finished with a 32-1-1 record, as they defeated 2A, 3A and 4A schools. Many of those wins were decided by the 10-run mercy rule.
The Bobcats ended the season on top, defeating Scottsdale Christian Academy in a 5-4 thriller.
This year, however, Coach Shad Housley and Assistant Coach Ernie Batten said while the Lady Bobcats are in good shape for a repeat, there are 39 other teams in the 2A East Conference, the region and the state that are looking to beat the number one team.
"We have an extremely young squad this year and we are going to practice with the girls on being mentally prepared," Batten said. "We are still going to be playing the best teams in the 2A, 3A and 4A divisions. They know they are the target and 39 other teams are going to do whatever they can to take away the title."
In the 2A East Conference the Lady Bobcats are currently on a 22-game winning streak, dominating opponents for two straight seasons.
In the 2007 season, the coaches said the ladies are going to have their work cut out for them for what they called good Willcox, Morenci and Tombstone teams.
With only one returning senior, Sabrina Molina, the coaches said they are still confident the team will have another dominant season.
One of the main reasons is Pitcher Megan Ellsworth. Named the 2006 2A East Player of the Year, Ellsworth lives for softball. The junior can be seen after school on a regular basis practicing in the off-season, and when she's not practicing she's usually competing in a traveling league.
Over the last year, Ellsworth and teammate Brittney Batten, who is the team's catcher, competed in a summer league in California.
Batten was named first-team all conference in 2006.
With Batten and Ellsworth leading the group, Housley said they are optimistic about the talent that Molina and the group of juniors have.
With Batten and Ellsworth leading the group, Housley said they are optimistic about the talent that Molina and the group of juniors have.
The two girls have already said they think the team has the talent, and with practice a repeat could become a reality.
Coach Batten said the varsity roster was finalized last week after just over two weeks of practice, and after the coaches got a look at the girls in a scrimmage against Salpointe.
In a scrimmage no score is kept, but Housley and Batten said it gave them an idea of where some of the team's problem areas are and got them some competition.
Housely said they played really well in the first couple of innings, but they struggled with errors in the final stretch.
Batten said showing some strong hitting, Ellsworth belted the team's first homerun of the season.
Now, the ladies are ready for some real action with their first regular season action this weekend in the San Manuel Softball Tournament.
Breaking in the new field at Benson High School, the Bobcats will host their first home game against conference opponents the Tombstone Yellow Jackets on Tuesday, March 6. The game begins at 4 p.m.
 |
||
| 2A East competitive |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
