Friday, Apr. 24, 2009

Richland softball still fighting for playoff spot

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND Even though Richland is 0-4 in the CBBN Cascade Division, it might be a bit early to call it a 'down' year for the Bombers.

Especially since coach Casey Emery knows, minus some costly errors here and there, how good Richland really could be.

"Our goal is to get to regionals. We'll have to clean a couple things up," said Emery, who watched the Bombers fritter away late-inning leads in recent losses to Southridge, Walla Walla and Kennewick. "We're playing better defense. We just can't close games out. But I feel good because by (playoff time) I think we'll figure it out."

Emery has been especially impressed with the progress of Kelsey Jager, a senior who stepped in as the Bombers' No. 1 pitcher this year despite no varsity pitching experience.

Jager, who has signed to play at Concordia (Portland), switched to a 'windmill' style after working with Richland pitching coach Stephanie Hogan, a former Hanford/CBC/ Central Washington product. Jager's velocity and movement improved dramatically, and the result has been a more confident pitcher.

"She's progressing and learning. She's hitting her spots real well," Emery said of Jager, whose repertoire includes a curve, change and a rise ball that continues to improve daily. "She doesn't throw over 50 mph, but she puts everything she's got into every pitch."

-- Pasco is tied for third place in the Columbia Division behind Southridge and Moses Lake, but the Bulldogs got a real boost to their lineup with the return of two-time All-CBL honoree Kaylie Winston.

Winston, who broke her finger right before Pasco's season opener, made a few appearances over the last two weeks as a pinch-runner and went 3-for-8 in her first at-bats of the season last Friday against Sunnyside. Then she exploded for seven RBIs in Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of Eisenhower, going 6-for-6 to raise her average to .643 (9-for-14).

Bulldogs coach Paul Antonovich said Winston, who played catcher during her first two seasons, will play at shortstop this year to help stabilize the infield.

"The last two years I worked her at shortstop. We just had a pretty good shortstop (Sandra Brummett)," Antonovich said. "This year, I knew our pitching wouldn't be as strong as it has been, so we needed (Winston) there."

-- Day 2 of the CBBN district tournament May 16 has been moved from the Kennewick Civic Fields to Columbia Playfields in Richland.