Oregon Republican Reporter, Mt. Morris Times
SPORTS
SECTION B
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Hawks look for more success on baseball field Tournament run in 2013 should help in 2014 By Andy Colbert Reporter Last year, the Oregon baseball team had a 10-14 regular season record and was the No. 5 seed at the 2A regional. In a stunning post-seasons run, the Hawks advanced to the super-sectional. “That did a lot of good for the program,” Oregon coach Adam Albrecht said. “The kids got a taste of what it takes to be successful.” One key to Oregon pulling off upset after upset was timely hitting. “My mentality is to be disciplined,” Albrecht said. “We need those timely hits to move runners and give yourself an opportunity to score.” The Hawks return seven
starters, but lost star pitcher Alex Cain to graduation. “We don’t have that power pitcher. It will hurt not having Alex’s arm,” Albrecht said. “We need to rely on defense and eliminate mistakes.” After Cain developed problems in his throwing arm, Oregon was forced to find someone to fill that void in the regional and sectionals. That player turned out to be Matt Murray. “Matt Murray was excellent in the post-season,” Albrecht said. Murray became the goto guy and one of the better pitchers in the area, but an unlikely source also came up huge in sectional final win over Byron. Mason Smith was brought up and responded with just enough to help Oregon win the title. Another sophomore called up last year was outfielder Skylar Short. Smith and Short lead the way among this year’s junior class. It will be a strong senior class that will set the tone
for this season. Murray will be the throwing ace and he will have his battery mate returning in Joey Rowe. “As a catcher, Joey really came a long way last year,” Albrecht said. Tyler Blume brings his big bat back and will play either first or second base. Another strong bat will come from third-baseman Sawyer Reynolds. Besides being clean-up hitter, Reynolds will also provide value as a pitcher. Currently, he is out for a couple weeks with a hand fracture. The infield should be a definite strength with shortstop Adam Bettner joining Blume and Reynolds. “On defense, Bettner is a cog for us and bats well,” Albrecht said. Paul Rypkema will be relied on for utility work and Luke Ziegler returns as a designated hitter. After going from an average team to something special in the post season,
Albrecht realizes that other teams will look at his team differently in 2014. “I would imagine teams will want to put a hurting on us. Nobody is going to be looking past us,” Albrecht said. In the Big Northern conference, Albrecht sees Byron and Rock Falls as the teams to beat. “Byron returns almost everybody and Rock Falls is always tough,” Albrecht said. So far, four games have been called off for inclement weather and/or poor field conditions. It is hopeful a Thursday afternoon contest at home against Harlem will be played. The Hawks have another home scheduled against another NIC-10 team Rockford East, on Monday. On April 15 and 17, Oregon will play Byron in back-toback games, for what could to be the top regular-season match-up. Each BNC west division team will be played Matt Murray pitches against Eureka at the Rock Island Super Sectional on May 28, 2013. Murray is one of the twice. pitchers for the Hawks this year. File photo
Youth, talent key to Lady Hawks softball season Fundamentals to be key for team this year By Andy Colbert Reporter Oregon’s softball team has a new coach, but Jay Holley is no stranger to the game. Holley becomes the third Lady Hawk coach in three years and brings a wealth of experience with him. “Basically, from the junior class on down, I know the girls,” Holley said. For the past 16 years, Holley has coached youth programs (5-18 years old) in Oregon and Mt. Morris. To be more specific, he has run an Ogle county 11-12 and 13-14 softball and baseball program. “My coaching philosophy is fundamentals. A lot of kids forget what got them here,” Holley said. “I am a disciplinarian, but will listen the girls. Discipline is a big part of fundamentals.” Holley grew up in Mt. Oregon High School junior Abby Baker is the number Morris and was a 3-sport one pitcher for the Lady Hawks this season. File photo athlete there. He learned
under coaches like Frank Swingel, Vern Welp, Gerry Allison and Doug Shank and became a student of the game. “When I was younger, I wanted to coach. This is a dream come true for me,” Holley said. “I’ve based my coaching on understanding the game better than the opponent. A lot of that spilled over from my high school coaches.” Holley has his hands full replacing one of the best players ever to come out of the softball program, in Bree Tourtillott, who was recruited to play at UTEP. Also gone is power hitter Hope Smith. “The team will by young,” said Holley, who has five sophomores on the varsity roster. “We have some talent and will be competitive.” An example of that was found in an opening 13-0 win over West Carroll. “Every time the ball was put into play, there were red uniforms on it, communication and back ups. That shows they want to do it and love the game,” Holley said. “For a coach, that’s a blessing.” The Lady Hawks also
pounded over 15 hits, demonstrating offensive firepower. “Things look promising, but defense wins games,” Holley said. The top returner is senior Kasey Lapp, who will catch and can play both infield and outfield. “She brings a lot of motivation, is a hard worker and a leader. And, she has a positive attitude,” Holley said. Another senior expected to make key contributions is Emma Crandall. Unfortunately, the 4-year senior is out with a ACL injury suffered in October. Her status is uncertain. “She still comes to practice and we utilize her leadership skills,” Holley said. Infielder Brook Logan is back after a 1-year absence and will be an asset as both a slap and regular hitter. Two other seniors, Katilin Oltmanns and Melissa Youngren return and will be used utility players. “I was excited to see Katilin have two hits in two at bats against West Carroll,” Holley said. The No. 1 pitcher will by
junior Abby Baker, who saw a load of varsity time last year. She will also play first base. “Abby knows the game well and understands it well – there’s a difference between the two,” Holley said. Junior Alana Leamanczyk will help the line-up by being a left-handed batter, especially in advancing runners with her bunting. Another junior, Tayla Smith (no relation to Hope Smith) will play utility. Holley plans to use the sophomores as both infielders and outfielders. Bre Bicksler and Bella Holley will also back Lapp us at catcher. Alley Bartling will be the No. 2 hurler behind Baker. The other two sophomores on varsity are Sommer Rhea and Alli Henson. Holley sees Stillman Valley and Rock Falls as the teams to beat in the BNC. Both have stellar pitchers. “Our goal is to finish in the top three in the conference and try to win regional’s,” Holley said. Last year, the Lady Hawks won their first two games of the regional, but lost 9-0 to Stillman in the finals.
Sauk Valley Media Player of the Year
Lambrigtsen wins newspaper’s award — again By Dan Woessner Sauk Valley Media Plaques hang on the wall next to both sets of doors leading into the gymnasium at the Mt. Morris Coliseum, commemorating the donation of the backboards and goals in the name of John Ghibellini. Inscribed on each plaque is the statement: “For future Mt. Morris athletes.” Since their installation, the plaques have witnessed the growth of those very athletes. Hundreds of stories with various plots and climaxes, to the background score of sneakers slapping off the hardwood and voices echoing in the rafters. Maybe of all the stories, the coliseum knows one best of all. It starts with a 4-year-old girl named Sam skipping into the gym with her mother, Wendy, following close behind. Sam probably wore a ponytail and a smile – even now, she confesses to not having a serious face.
Sam’s arms are thin and short, and they hug the round orange orb like she would a teddy bear. Most likely, it started with dribbling – the natural inclination being to slap at the bouncing ball rather than letting it come to her hands. Thousands of times it bounded off the floorboards, growing with purpose each time. The first shots tickled the bottom of the net without reaching the rim. That changed too ... boy, did it ever. Roughly 14 years after Sam Lambrigtsen first stepped into the coliseum, she returned to talk about basketball, the future, and her life. Lambrigtsen, the all-time leading scorer in the Oregon girls basketball program, is Sauk Valley Media’s player of the year for the second straight season.
Oregon Lady Hawks jacket that zips up in the front, a pair of jeans, and brown boots. She brings a basketball and the keys to the coliseum. Her mother is the president of the coliseum board. Access to the court, which is just a couple blocks away from the Lambrigtsen home, is easy for Sam. “I’m not here that much during the season,” Lambrigtsen said. “But in the summer, if I ever start getting bored, then I just come down here and start shooting. I’ve spent a lot of time here, ever since I was like 4 years old.” The gym is where Lambrigtsen developed the skills that would lead to 2,044 points in a 4-year varsity career for the Hawks. It’s one of nine girls basketball records she holds at Oregon. Most of her visits to the coliseum were supervised by her mother, a former basketball coach at Oregon, Home away from home or her father Boyd, an avid Lambrigtsen arrives at athlete and Sam’s constant the coliseum wearing a red foe in ping-pong on the
dining room table. “They almost always wanted to come along,” Lambrigtsen said. “They’d be there to give me tips and push me.” Her parents were always there, even during Wendy’s battle with breast cancer that first reared its head during her sophomore year and
continued throughout her junior season. “She never missed a game,” Lambrigtsen said. “I told her that she could, but she wouldn’t do it.” The left-handed sharpshooter will continue to visit the gym in the coming weeks and months as she prepares for the next step in
her playing life: college. She hasn’t decided where that life will take place yet, but she’s keeping her options open as she looks for the right fit. Oregon coach Kristy Eckardt has encouraged her to take her time in the Turn to B2
Oregon’s Sam Lambrigtsen has been named Sauk Valley Media’s Player of the Year. Photo by Philip Marruffo