Story Photos
 LCC shortstop Jessi Hanna takes a swing at a recent practice. Hanna, a sophomore, was named NWAACC Tournament MVP last year. Bill Wagner / The Daily News
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LCC softball preview: Another title run?
Thursday, April 3, 2008 6:26 AM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleCould the Lower Columbia College softball team be ready to make another run at the NWAACC title?
You could try asking the players, but they aren't talking.
After sputtering in the first three innings of its season opener, LCC looks to be firing on all cylinders and is poised to take on the best the Northwest has to throw at them - again.
"They (the players) haven't really said a lot about it," LCC coach Tim Mackin said. "Our sophomores have the idea in their minds and are up for winning another one, but the group doesn't talk a lot about it."
The two-time defending NWAACC champion LCC softball program is a dynasty, having won eight of the past nine titles and a conference-record nine overall.
As for the early-season setback, the Lady Devils dropped their season opener to Walla Walla before winning their next 11 straight. LCC had mixed results in its NWAACC Southern Division opener with Mount Hood, claiming the opener 7-2 but dropping the nightcap 10-2 in five innings.
"The girls were all really nervous in the first game of the season," Mackin said. "As soon as the nervousness went away, the bats came out and they figured out they could hit. They won the next seven games by an average score of eight runs."
Three of Mackin's returning sophomores were key components on last year's title team. Shortstop Jessi Hanna earned Southern Division and NWAACC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, and culminated her season with selection to the NFCA All-American team. She hit .468 with a team-record 24 home runs, 59 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases.
Carri O'Neil pitched LCC to victory in 31 of 36 games and hit .351 with nine home runs, and Hayley Ridout was solid at third base while hitting .405 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. Both players earned all-Southern Division and all-NWAACC Tournament honors.
Hanna has already inked a letter of intent to play next season for the newly formed Boise State University softball team, O'Neil has signed to play at Portland State University, and Ridout plans to attend Humboldt State University in California.
Mackin said that neither Hanna nor O'Neil has dialed down their intensity since inking Division I deals.
"They're playing harder than last season and are always in the batting cage working on their hitting," he said. "They both want to do really well this season so they can use it as a springboard into next season. We're hoping they don't put too much pressure on themselves."
A fourth returner, all-division catcher Ashlee Gieseke from Winlock (.374, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs) is academically ineligible this season after not passing enough classes.
"We're not going to have as potent of a lineup, because it's hard to replace 15 home runs and 60 runs batted in," Mackin said. "What we lack in middle of the order power we'll make up for with top-of-the-order speed."
Hanna returns to the top of the lineup and is followed by freshmen Kayla Vickaryous (Toutle Lake) and Samantha Petrich (W.F. West-Chehalis).
"Jessi does what she does by hitting a home run or a double in the gap," Mackin said. "Kayla is an excellent bunter who can move Jessi over and can also steal bases, and Samantha is a patient hitter who is very solid."
Vickaryous, who led the Ducks to Class 2B state titles in 2005 and '06 as a pitcher/second baseman, moves to left field, while all-state standout Petrich patrols second base.
"Kayla is probably the best left fielder we've ever had because she can run down any ball hit her way," Mackin said. "Samantha is also very capable of hauling in fly balls in foul ground behind first base."
O'Neil and Ridout will hit fourth and fifth, respectively, with freshman center fielder Anna Owen (Kelso), a former all-Greater St. Helens 3A League standout, batting sixth. Freshman Camy Way (Steilacoom) gives Mackin his first-ever left-handed first baseman, freshman Kassandra Myers (Columbia River) goes behind the plate to catch, and a platoon of players will patrol right field.
"Anna hit some home runs in preseason that were as hard and went as far as any I've seen," Mackin said. "She crushes the ball and could easily hit 15 home runs. Camy also has home-run power, and Kassandra is a solid catcher."
Sophomores Stina Rock (.197, home run, 10 RBIs), Ashlea Strode (.379, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs) and freshmen Heidi Craig (Clatskanie) and Amber Diimmel (Port Angeles) will all see time in right field, along with giving Vickaryous and Owen a rest.
The versatile Rock can also catch, play first base and shortstop, freshman Cheryl Waddell (Port Angeles) backs up Ridout at third, and sophomore Kelsey Forrest plays first base and pitches.
Sophomore Tasia Trochim (Mark Morris-Bellevue CC) and freshman Courtney Sherman (Clatskanie) joins O'Neil and Forrest to give the Devils a deep and formidable pitching staff.
"Our pitching has been great in the preseason," Mackin said. "Carri is in better shape than she was last season, and Kelsey has worked hard in the offseason. Tasia is untested, but she's been working her butt off and we're expecting great things. And Courtney has done a good job fooling hitters with location and movement."
Mackin said his troops are anxious to get the league season started.
"They were forced inside to hit during the snow, and they want to get back outside and practice," he said. "Our hitting will be fine. It'll just be a matter of getting in enough ground balls so our defense is ready. We can't afford to get out of the gates slowly in league."
Mackin, who enters his 16th season with a 543-127 record, is assisted by Dani (Fowler) Terry, Brent Harris, Scott Hemberry, Mick Grendon and Ronnie Vegele.
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