The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PRESCOTT - Spring is creeping up and the WP Lady Tigers are on the prowl for a return trip to the 2B softball state tournament.

The Tigers finished second in district rankings in 2010, suffering heartbreaking state tournament losses to Colfax and DeSales that ended their run for the title.

Head coach Angie Potts returns for her ninth season with the Tigers and will have her hands full with the 38 players that have turned out to compete.

Assistant Marvin Eng, JV coach Nicole Riggs, and volunteer Allan Wilson will combine their efforts in guiding these athletes through the 2011 season.

During the offseason, Potts put forth a great effort visiting college campuses with many of the upper classmen, who have shown interest in continuing their love of the game after their high school careers.

The interaction with upper level players and receiving helpful hints from coaches has only increased the excitement among the players for the upcoming season.

Eight seniors return to lead the varsity team, including 1st team all conference players center fielder Alyssa Hafen, catcher Megan Withers, and 2nd team all conference players left fielder Rachelle Oseth and first baseman Sara Wilson.

Senior short stop Taylor Moon, 2nd baseman Ashley Wilson, and Marihela Iglesias will also bring their experience to the field.

Taking the mound for another year will be senior Kazmira Grende and Jennifer Nichols. Veteran catcher Megan Withers will have to take a back seat this year due to a knee injury she sustained late in the basketball season.

"I tore my PCL against Liberty-Christian," she said. "Sometimes it feels alright, but I'm still leery. I'll miss being out there, but I'll be cheering on my team all the way. There's a lot of talent on the field."

Coach Potts is confident that Withers will be physically able to contribute to the rattle of the bats but will look to 1st team all conference junior Hailey Goenen, Dionna Baker, and sophomore Sam Moss to step up behind the plate.

"We'll continue to let Megan's injury heal and save her for post-season play," she said. "DeSales will be the team to beat. They have a young, strong pitcher and have been working on filling their defensive gaps."

Potts says Colfax is another tough team, so the Tigers have scheduled a non-league game against them to help prepare for playoff competition.

"We have a lot of players this year, so we'll be utilizing both fields to maximize everyone's practice times," she says. "We have strong underclassmen that will get lots of JV playing time, and that will only help them to further develop their skills."

Despite the split practicing fields, senior Rachelle Oseth says that the team has already bonded and the players are there for each other.

"I have faith in us," she said. "We're already a strong hitting team, and we'll only get better. I'm looking forward to a successful season."

This group of girls has been gearing up for this for months, and you can't help but get caught up in their enthusiasm about what the 2011 season has in store for them.

"I feel confident our season will go further this year," says senior Alyssa Hafen. "We're going after the district title."

The WP Lady Tigers begin the hunt for the trophy on Thursday, March 17, at Weston-McEwen at 4 p.m.

WP Softball Team

Baker, Dionna

Brannock, Chelsey

Bundy, Selena

Chapman, Rhionna

Doepker, Taylor

Eng, Sydny

Foxe, Jessica

Fuentes, Enedina

Goene, Hailey

Grende, Kaz

Hafens, Alyssa

Harris, Krystal

Henze, Samatha

Hilliard, Shelley

Hofer, Katy

Lute, Brittany

Miller, Heidi

Moon, Taylor

Moss, Sam

Shepard, Catherine

Sorroche, Luisa

Wilson, Ashley

Wilson, Sarah

Withers, Megan