Ask Marysville-Pilchuck fastpitch softball coach KT Allyn how many kids she has and shell answer, 30.
Of course, this is as practice is wrapping up on a balmy 55-degree day. But with just a week of practice under her belt, Allyn is quickly getting back into the rhythm that eight years of coaching experience affords. Still, she is adjusting to new faces on the team she coached two years ago before taking a couple of seasons off to have two kids of her own, Russell, 11 months, and Phoebe, who turns three this month.
Smoothing Allyns transition are a couple of familiar faces on the team seniors Cynthia Meadows-Read and Miranda Rosebrook were freshman athletes on the last team Allyn coached in 2004.
The ingredients are in place for the Tomahawks to have a strong season.
The team is returning from a 14-8 season in which the girls placed third at districts. Additionally, despite losing last years team MVP, senior Nancianne Burman, the Tomahawks lost only one other senior, Kelsey Haugen. Stir in a legacy of state appearances from 1992-2002 and Allyns final season in 2004, and expectations are high.
We were third in league last year, Allyn said, adding that M-P has only offered fastpitch since the 1992 season. Between then and 2004, we qualified for state 13 of those 14 years. We did not in 2003, but did in 2004.
Of the teams 2006 season falling short of a state appearance, she added, Based on the past record, its a bit of a letdown, but thats pretty good, they qualified for districts.
Allyn is expecting big things of her team captain as well.
Miranda Rosebrook has been consistent all throughout her four years, so Im expecting her to have a great senior year, performance- and leadership-wise, she said, adding that Rosebrook is considering playing for Western Washington University next year.
Junior first baseman Skyler Peterson and junior outfielder Anna West are returning from first-team all-conference sophomore campaigns, according to Allyn.
In addition to Peterson and West, who is nursing a sprained ankle from the basketball season, other returning starters include last years team defensive player of the year and senior shortstop Rosebrook, junior outfielder Kristina Sherriff and sophomore catcher Courtney Perrine.
The Tomahawks will open their season March 12 at Mount Vernon at 3:30 p.m.