Young CHS softball squad anxious to get going

After barely missing the playoffs last season, the Carson High girls softball team enters the 2009 season with plenty of resolve.

The Senators would like to reach their first goal which is to make it to the 4A Regionals at Bishop Manogue in May, and if they do, they will accomplish it with one of the youngest teams in school history.

Coach Scott Vickrey has seven first-year varsity players and three more in just their second year.

"It's a pretty young group," said Vickrey, who guided Carson to a 17-8 record a year ago. "It's probably close to the youngest I've ever had. It's surprising that with four seniors how young we are.

"We have a good group of girls. Even though we're young, we have a lot of depth and versatility. We tried to set it up so that we could have two people at each position."

Key returnees from last year's squad are pitcher Cassie Vondrak, Krista Mattice, Daria Leid and Katie McEwan.

Vickrey did lose three players from last year's squad " Nikki Keller, Loretta Cagle and Elizabeth Cagle. Keller opted to play club volleyball in hopes of landing a scholarship, while the Cagles, Loretta and Elizabeth, moved to Fernley.

The loss of Keller is huge. She was expected to team up with fellow senior Cassie Vondrak to give the Senators a formidable 1-2 punch in the circle.

"She (Keller) had a good bat," Vickrey said. "She was good in the circle, too."

Keller's absence leaves the pitching in the hands of Vondrak (0.75 ERA) and Leid (0.98) primarily, though junior Natalie Morrow and freshman Lindsey Ashbaugh also have experience. Ashbaugh has been clocked in the high 50s in recent workouts.

"Daria worked a lot in the summer," Vickrey said. "She picked up some velocity and she has more control. She has a couple of pitches she is working on."

Does that put too much pressure on Vondrak?

"She (Cassie) is relaxed enough to go out throw (more)," Vickrey said. "If she has an off day, we have others who will pick her up."

If Vondrak had her choice, she would take the ball every game. She said the team will miss Keller, who hit .412 with 19 RBI last year.

"I'm disappointed she won't be out here," Vondrak said, referring to Keller. "We could have used her. We have a lot of good talent.

"I'm the competitive type. I like to throw. There is some extra pressure."

There will be a new face behind the plate. Abby Rankl and her .522 average is gone. Junior Megan Hein and sophomore Kristin Withrow (.241 last year) are battling for the starting job. Hein was especially effective defensively over the summer.

"It's pretty even," Vickrey said of the battle. "Both have great bats. Kristin has good speed."

Morrow and Lauren Knorzer, both former JV players, are at first. Hannah Shaw (.342, 9 RBI) and Elayna Shine are at second, Mattice (.323, 13 RBI) and newcomer Marissa Lucido are battling at short , while Leid (.430, 30 RBI), when she isn't pitching, and Lindsey Ashbaugh will play third.

Withrow could end up in the outfield along with Belen Munoz (.184, 6 RBI) and McEwan (.250, 3 RBI). Mariah Hartley, Mattice and Ashbaugh also are getting practice time there, too.

Vickrey said Vondrak, who hit .412 with three homers and 24 RBI, will DH when she's not pitching. One key to Carson's success will be if the hitters behind Vondrak are strong enough so that the CHS slugger gets some pitches to hit.

The Senators will face a newly aligned Sierra League. Gone are Hug and Reno. Coming in are Bishop Manogue, Fallon and Galena. There certainly is more parity. It's doubtful that anybody will go undefeated like Reno did a year ago.

"There is a lot more parity," Vickrey said. "There will probably be two pretty good teams left out of zone. Fallon always plays hard, and Galena and Manogue are two well-coached organizations. Tahoe is getting better and better each year.

- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling 881-1281.