With progress, Lady Vikings want more

MOSES LAKE — Normally a team’s level of success is judged by a cursory look of its record and the assumptions and judgements begin.

Take a closer look at some squads with impressive won-loss records are soon discovered to have underachieved or beat up on a weak schedule to eventually get knocked out early in the post season by a stronger, better tested, club.

On the other had if one sees a squad with only a small amount of wins in comparison to its losses, many will label the team as underperforming, underachieving, or just plain old bad.

However, when it comes to the Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings softball team in this now completed 2010 season, neither scenario exists after a closer examination.

Yes, Big Bend finished their season 8-36 overall with a 4-24 record in Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) play.

But second-year coach Jeremy Iverson saw his team win more total games this season than in the past two years (2-40, 3-33) combined and doubled their number in NWAACC wins over that same period of time.

So Iverson’s belief that the program could be rebuilt after hitting the rocks right before he came aboard has shown some merit.

“I feel the program took a step in the right direction,” Iverson said. “We were more competitive than we have been the last few years, we won more games, and we had more support than we have had the last few years. I would like to say thank you to all that came out to support the kids.  The kids represented their program well, and the season was an enjoyable experience.”

Some of the highlight performances came from Amanda Martin who batted .353 with 15 doubles and 21 RBI, Kalli Heller (.313, four HR, four triples, nine doubles, and 18 RBI), and Britney Miller (.292, eight doubles and 14 RBI).

Pitcher Erica Hanson finished her season 4-19 but still led the staff with some strong performances.

“She only let her opponents hit .278, and she had 106 strike outs on the year,” Iverson said. “That is in the top 10 of the entire NWAACC.  She pitched the most innings for us this year, with 144.”

Brooke Vincent was also noted for her consistency at the mound and Rachel Eng was used mainly in relief.

Lesa Hearst led the team in steals with 10, while Heller added eight, and Martin picked six as well.

Iverson noted his team’s chemistry, their ability to keep playing hard, a strong work ethic, and good attitudes as reasons for the program’s steady progress this season.

Still, Iverson and his players surely would hope to up the ante in 2011 and as nice as this season’s eight wins look after further review, they all know they would like a bigger piece of the pie in the future.

We just need to keep working, and continue to build,” Iverson said. “We need to find a level of consistency.  I would say the biggest thing that hurt us this year was the amount of errors committed.  When we tighten up the defense a bit, it will only help us take the next step forward.”