MARCH 24 , 2016 | OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE
PAGE B3
OROVILLE SOFTBALL SENIOR Martin
Hornets looking forward to fun and exciting season BY KATIE TEACHOUT KTEACHOUT@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OROVILLE - Dane Forrester is looking forward to another fun and exciting season on the softball diamond with his Lady Hornets. A decade spent as a coach, Forrester is well aware of the need for fun along with dedication and discipline in creating a team that’s a force to be reckoned with when playing their best. “If a coach doesn’t make it fun, the kids aren’t having fun and they don’t respond as well. So I try to make it fun instead of regimented, and then they are open to learning more at their practice,” said Forrester. “I teach them to be aggressive and try their best to win.” Some serious fun was had last year when the Lady Hornets played a three-way tiebreak playoff at the end of the season against Tonasket and Bridgeport that literally turned into a mudbath. The game was played to determine who got the district tournament berth. “All three coaches agreed to play in the rain instead of just saying, ‘No, it’s too rainy.’ It was fun; the kids were sliding into third base and having a blast,”
Katie Teachout/staff photo
Oroville’s fastpitch softball team includes (front row, l-r) Faith Martin and Alexis Allenby, (standing) Melissa Carpenter, Coach Dane Forrester, Taralynn Fox, Jennifer Cisneros, Wendy Ortega, Madison Whiteaker, Katie Rawley, Sydney Egerton, Coach Brian Martin, Courtnee Kallstrom and Yaneli Alvalos. Not pictured: Hannah Hilderbrand and Pie Todd said Forrester. “We don’t like to pitch in the rain—it’s really tough because the ball gets really slick— but we do like to play in the rain.” Another important element
of the coaching relationship is respect, according to Forrester. “I coach with a lot of respect for the kids, and in return the kids give me the respect I need,”
he said. Communication was also on the list of necessities. “Overall these girls communicate really well,” said Forrester.
“I tell them if we don’t talk we’re going to lose. The more they communicate, the better their chance to win.” If the team is big on fun and
respect, they are small in size, though par for the course for Oroville. Fourteen players turned out this year, and Forrester said the average was 14-16. The lone senior on the team is Faith Martin, named AllLeague Honorable Mention last year; whose father Brian Martin returns for his second year as assistant coach. He and his wife Shelly coached many local softball players in Little League over the years. “Last year’s was a really young team with five eighth graders,” said Forrester. “All five played throughout the season as starters; they were very talented and all of them returned this year. My freshmen are going to be a good strong team. They all progressed from last year.” Returning to the pitching mound are Courtnee Kallstrom (also named All-League Honorable Mention last year) and Hannah Hildebrand. “I was hoping to gain another pitcher this year; I had an eighth grader that turned out with potential to be a pitcher, but she decided to take Track and Field instead,” said Forrester, adding that he didn’t try to convince kids which sport to choose. “I would rather have a group of kids that are there by their own choice; having fun and giving 100 percent.” Forrester said. The Lady Hornets have their first home game Tuesday, April 12, hosting Manson with a 4:30 p.m. game time.
TONASKET SOFTBALL SENIOR Fletcher
Keller
DeJong
Pershing
Tiger Softball diamond set to sparkle with new coaching staff BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
TONASKET The Tonasket softball team is starting anew this season with new Head Coach Johnna Sutton, new assistant coach Jeff Prock and a new volunteer coach, Jim Blair. This is Sutton’s first year
“With a whole new coaching staff, our goal is to focus on the future of this program. This group of girls has untapped potential.” Johnna Sutton, Coach Tonasket Tigers Softball
coaching the softball team, but the Lady Tigers are familiar with her as an assistant coach with the volleyball team last fall. “I started coaching volleyball eight years ago and softball seven years ago in Oregon,”
Katie Teachout/staff photo
The Tonasket softball team includes (front row, l-r) Madilynn Larson, Laura Escatel, Vanessa Pershing, Shiann McCallum, Alejandra Avilez, Nichol Fletcher, Olivia Sutton (back row) Coach Johnna Sutton, Anna McCullough, Shyane DeJong, Megan Powell, Lexi Wahl, Zoe Rodriquez, Trinity DeJong, Alexa Sutton, Vanessa Keller, Samantha Keller, Jewell Keller, Cheyenne Stirek, Jennifer Cosino, Abiah Donaldson and Coach Jeff Prock said Sutton. “I coached my older daughters’ teams (Alex Sutton is a Tonasket junior and Olivia Sutton is a Tonasket sophomore), moving up with them as they progressed to middle school.” The Suttons moved to Washington in 2012.
Sutton said she has a holistic style of coaching, staying positive and focused. As far as coaching strategy goes, Sutton said everything has changed with the new coaching staff and new strategies brought to the program.
“With a whole new coaching staff, our goal is to focus on the future of this program,” said Sutton. “This group of girls has untapped potential. With a positive attitude and hard work we will have success this season regardless of the win/
loss record.” Sutton said she was very excited to have a large turnout of girls this year. With 26 players, she has enough for both a Varsity and J.V. team. Returning seniors are Sammie Keller, Shyane Lewis,
Nichole Fletcher and pitcher Vanessa Pershing, who was given All-League Honorable Mention last season. Also returning after being named All-League Honorable Mention last year are Kayla Willis and catcher Lexi Wahl.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish our North County athletes the best of luck with their upcoming
SPRING SPORTS SEASON!