Coach Jamie Jensen is expecting a much improved softball team after last year’s Allen Community College club finished the season 6-38.
Jensen said the team had a strong fall season, losing only a couple of games, which she thinks will lead to a better team this season.
“I’m expecting good things: Finishing in the middle of the pack in the conference, definitely improving our overall record from last year and starting out strong,” Jensen said. “We play at home this Sunday, so hopefully we get the jitters out and will be able to go down to Texas next week with some confidence.”
When the team takes the field this Sunday at home against Barton Community College, the Red Devil women will look completely different than last year’s team.
“We returned only five players and have 15 freshmen. The sophomores still have that bad taste in their mouth from last year,” Jensen said. “The freshmen are here to win and know what we’re capable of because we had a good fall season. I’m hoping that the fall is a good indication of what we’re going to do this spring.”
The team ended last fall on a five-game winning streak.
Of the five players returning, Jensen said to look out for Cassidy Reynolds, who can play catcher, shortstop and third base. All five had a considerable amount of playing time last year.
“We ended the season with 11 girls, so there was no one who wasn’t a starter,” Jensen said. “They all played and had starting positions since we didn’t have the numbers.”
Because there is so much depth on this season’s roster, Jensen said making the lineup will be competitive.
“It could be all starting freshmen, it could be a mixture. Every day is a tryout and that’s what we stress to them,” Jensen said. “We’re kind of twiddling our thumbs over here trying to figure out lineups because we have so much talent.”
Depth is the team’s strength.
“I would say our defense is pretty solid. We’ve got a solid player at each position,” Jensen said. “We’ve got a combination of power and quickness.”
Of the freshmen, Jensen said pitcher Baileigh Rager, first baseman Ashley Womack and shortstop Alana Renshaw really shined during the fall season. Elysia Acosta-Guerro had a strong bat last fall, but is awaiting word on whether she will need surgery.
With the added depth this season, Jensen said practices are much more competitive. It helps the team can field two teams for scrimmage.
“It definitely makes it nice for competing at practice when they’ve got 2-3 players at each position,” Jensen said. “They have to bring their ‘A’-game every day because someone could take that spot.”
One player competing for a spot will be Humboldt’s Kayle Riebel. The freshman plays first base, but so do three other girls.
“She’s going to really have to compete at that position. It really just depends on her bat, if she’s hitting solid and is one of our strongest hitters, then we’ll find somewhere for her to play,” Jensen said. “Whether it’s a DP (double-play) position or at first base, it all depends on the offense.”
After the team’s home opener on Sunday, they travel to Fort Worth, Texas, on Feb. 20-21 for the Cowtown Classic.
Allen softball welcomes depth
