In their first outdoor practice of the season, M-P fastpitch coach KT Allyn has her players working on base-running techniques.
From rounding first to selling the steal and sliding back to base, the early going is all about the fundamentals.
Its shaping up to be a tough season in Wesco North, particularly as strong Everett and Monroe teams return their ace pitchers. But senior co-captain Skyler Peterson believes her team is positioned to improve on a 2007 season that ended in a tiebreaker loss to Snohomish that sent the Panthers to the playoffs and the Tomahawks packing.
I think this year will be a lot better because we all know what to expect of Coach Allyn, she said. I think overall this season will be a lot more successful than last year. I think the girls are starting to realize the tradition.
The tradition at Marysville includes 11 straight state appearances between 1992 and 2002 and a 12th in 2004.
Though M-P went 6-10 last season, the Tomahawks return a half-dozen starters including Peterson, co-captain Chrissy Atterson, sophomore pitcher Jen Rosie, senior shortstop Kristina Sherriff, senior outfielder Anna West and catcher Courtney Perrine. Another three saw substantial playing time last season including sophomore designated hitter Michelle Newman, outfielder Jessica Tanigawa and designated hitter Jessica Nielsen.
With the loss of senior pitcher and shortstop Miranda Rosebrook to graduation, M-P has a hole in its rotation. While Allyn was reluctant to name the rest of her pitching squad or the roughly three new faces expected to join 2008s varsity squad, several possible newcomers could be freshmen who played with Rosie and Newman on their U14 Snohomish County Express team last summer. Rosie was part of a trio of pitchers including freshmen Sacha Clow and Riley Fritz. Another freshman, Megan Rollings, played second base for the team that went 57-15-2 and won six tournaments last summer.
Peterson said she expects to see Tanigawa have a breakthrough season at the plate, where the lefty has improved on a solid 2007 season.
Looking ahead to the new season, Peterson and Atterson picked three values to build their new season around: work ethic, discipline and mental toughness.
Peterson said of mental toughness, We chose that because when somebody gets down, it brings the whole team down.
Discipline can go with all factors of our lives, added Atterson. On the softball field or in the classroom.