Lady Vikings softball aims for better season

MOSES LAKE — It was not an easy 2009 season for the Big Bend Lady Vikings’ softball team to say the least.

First year coach Jeremy Iverson and the Lady Vikings struggled though a 2-42 season, including a 1-27 mark in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) play.

So now with the 2010 season pending, Iverson enters his second year at the helm with his first recruiting class in the fold and the old adage, it can only get better, as true as ever.

“We have a big Group of new freshman and it will be exciting to see how they respond to the NWAACC experience,” Iverson said. “Hopefully this will be the start of a different kind of softball program here at BBCC.”

One of the keys to improving a program which hit rock bottom is being able to outwork the competition.

“Right now our work ethic is our greatest strength,” Iverson said. “They show up every day and get their work in.  It is great to see.”

Amanda Martin (Warden) and Brandy Cole (Lind/Ritzville) are the only two returnees from last year’s squad.

Martin is set to play third-base and shortstop and will aim to improve her .246 batting average while Cole is projected to fight for an outfield position.

Newcomers this season include Moses Lake’s Crystal Mertes (left field), Ephrata’s Jessica Wald (Second baseman, left field), Kalli Heller (catcher, outfield), Britney Miller (catcher), Amber McDaniel (infield), Lesa Hearst (Shortstop), Ali Hirschi (first base), Brooke Vincent (pitcher, first baseman), Erika Hanson (pitcher), Rachel Eng (pitcher), Angelica Castaneda (right field), Sam Calahan (center field), and Kendra Schwulst (outfield).

A team composed of such a large number of freshmen will ultimately have early season struggles while finding their way around a junior college diamond.

“Right now I would say we have to improve our patience,” Iverson said. “They all want to perform to the best of their abilities all the time, and if they don’t sometimes they let the frustrations and emotions of the moment affect the rest of their game.”

It will be key for the Lady Vikings to keep their cool as Iverson believes his team can turn things around in the NWAACC Eastern Division.

“I would say that you have a good shot at being successful if you can put together a group of kids that can play some ball,” Iverson said. “We need to take care of business in the classroom, and come together and compete as a team, instead of as a group of individuals.”

The Lady Vikings open their season tomorrow against Grays Harbor Community College with the first pitch scheduled for noon.