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Show Attitude key to Brave, 'Cat soffball success Wildcats win two straight, while Vikes, Darts and Braves struggle in preseason play Editor i note: This is the second in a two-part two-part series previewing Davis County prep softbalL By ALAN HAACKE Clipper Correspondent BOUNTIFUL The girls' Softball season is under way, and for the past two and a half weeks teams have been scrambling to ready themselves: narrowing the player roster, refining skills and forgetting about last year's records. This is only the second year for girls1 Softball in the high schools. But unlike many areas in Utah, south Davis is at a disadvantage. While most districts have had girls i Softball programs in the junior high schools, as well as summer leagues, the south Davis District has not. And, while the outlying schools have the option to use freshman on their high school rosters, again, South Davis is at a disadvantage. But the four south county high schools now have a year of experience experi-ence behind them, and in a sport where the under-hand pitch burns across the plate as fast as a hardball, these teams are poised for season play. Bountiful Bountiful Brave coach Brad Christensen is in his second year as head coach of the girls Softball team. Last year, coach Chris-tensen's Chris-tensen's team placed fifth in region six and went to the first round of the state tournament. With nine returning players, Giristensen's veterans will be hard to beat. Also adding to the team's strength is the addition of assistant coach Robyn Riley, who spent the past four years playing for the University Uni-versity of Utah. "Our region has some of the best Softball players and teams in the state. Murray and others have had Softball clubs in the past, and we're kind of new at it out here.' "We hope to be real competitive, though. Our girls really feel they can do well - so do I," says Christensen. Chris-tensen. The Bountiful coach says his top players, both seniors, provide some t great leadership for the rest of the team: Robin Holzer, second and third base; and Mardi Larrabee. "They've got some great skills, and I know they provide a lot of help to the rest of the team." Christensen says that a number of returning juniors will also provide strength and depth to his team. Bountiful lost by a large margin of 13-7 last week against Clearfield. But, just as the rest of the local team's coaches Christensen believes in his team's potential. "We approached the game as a 'preseason' game. I just wanted to play every team member as much as I could. There were no problems that I could see. Each game we'll see progress. ' t Woods Cross The Woods Cross Wildcats are far more positive this season after what coach Kevin Wilson described as an "awful season" last year. "We were destroyed. We only won one game," he says. "The problem last year was that we only had two girls that even knew anything about the game. This year is going to be the complete com-plete opposite," says Wilson. With only two seniors returning to play, Wilson admits he's challenged with a majority of young players. "I think the real core of our team, our real strength, will come from our sophomores, he says. The 'Cat coach gives a lot of credit to Charity Richards and i i Rosemary Beam son, both sophomores. "Charity is an excellent left-handed pitcher, and she's also a great hitter, basically an all-around good athlete. Rosemarie plays third base and catcher, and also shows a lot of promise. ' ' Junior Denise Boam also looks to play an important role as the first-string first-string catcher, though currently on the injured list suffering a sprained ankle. Although the Wildcats were routed last week against a tough Layton team, Wilson isn't worried, "preseason doesn't mean a thing," he states, explaining that preseason SEE SOFTBALL ON B-2 Woods Cross Tuesday, Coach Paige Adams was "very pleased" with her team's performance. "At one point we were ahead and I felt like my backups needed the experience, so I pulled my varsity players out," said Adams. Thursday's tournament at Box Elder, however, showed a little more vulnerable side of the young Viking team. Viewmont lost the first match to Box Elder, 18-0, and the second to Cyprus, 7-5. "Box Elder dominated us the whole game," said Adams. "But by the second game, our timing (batting) started to come together." Viking members Wendy Merrill, Char Holmes and Stacie Henderson were the batting force responsible for bringing in the five runs. M Bountiful Coach Brad Chrisensen's Lady Braves battled Tooele through seven innings of rain and snow, only to fall to the Buffaloes for a final of 12-2. " We ' re young , " s ai d Chri s-tensen s-tensen after the freeze-out. "We were happy with what we saw, but we just don't have a lot of confidence con-fidence yet." The Bountiful squad led Tooele after the second inning, 2-1, but defensive mistakes form the less seasoned Braves took a toll, dropping dropp-ing them behind for the rest of the game. "We know we can do better, and we will," said Christensen. Woods Cross Meanwhile, the Woods Cross Wildcats are on a streak, dropping Viewmont Tuesday afternoon, 22-10, 22-10, in preseason play, and Judge two days later, 10-5, for their first league win. "Even though we won Tuesday, everything really started to come together during our game with Judge," said Coach Kevin Wilson. Rosemary Beamson led the 'Cat batting attack, hitting in four RBIs, while teammate Charity Richards added two of her own. Viewmont Although Viewmont fell to "We've got some good experience as coaches, and we've convinced our girls that they 'U do well. ' ' In softball action this week, Woods Cross jumped to a two-game two-game winning streak, while Viewmont, View-mont, Davis and Bountiful struggled. struggl-ed. Davis Last Tuesday's match between Davis and Hillcrest was called after four innings, succumbing to rain and snow. The game ended with Hillcrest leading Davis, 5-0. But even snow, rain and a loss didn't dampen the Lady Darts' spirits. "We lost, but we played much, much better than when we played Olympus a week ago," said Coach Chi mane Creer. The Davis-Hunter game was also postponed due to the weather, but will be re-scheduled for later in the season. Softball CONTINUED FROM B-1 games are only means of trying out the talents of his new team. "Even after losing to Layton lasi week, we're far ahead of where we were at the end of the season last year, as far as talent and ability are concerned," says Wilson. ' ' We 're in a tough region. Murray High has everybody but one back this year, and they took state last year. I told the girls that our goal this year is just to refine our skills and get into the region playoffs." Both Wilson and assistant coach Stan Buchanan have had several years playing fast-pitch softball. |