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2010 prep softball preview capsules

Jeff CaspersenPost IndependentGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Matt Stensland Steamboat Pilot & Today
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With high school fall sports kicking into gear throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, the Post Independent will be taking the next few days to preview what’s ahead.Here’s a school-by-school look at what to expect on the softball front:

Head coach: Brooke Whitman, first year (this is Grand Valley’s first year as a varsity program).How the Cardinals fared in 2009: Grand Valley played only a junior varsity schedule last season.Key players: Senior Shawnee Young, senior Sidney Drinkhouse, senior Brooke Ward, junior Emily Marbas, senior Kendra Hill, senior Taylor Conrad.If all goes well, what’s the best the team can accomplish? “I don’t know,” Whitman said. “I feel we can accomplish whatever we put ourselves to, but I definitely see us making it into the districts. From there, I don’t know. It’s kind of up to them, I guess.”

Head coach: Cindy Skinner, 16th year with the program.How the Bears fared in 2009: With eligibility issues throwing a wrench in Rifle’s season, the Bears finished up with a 10-9 overall record. They were just 1-5 in 4A Western Slope League play. The Bears will play in the 3A Western Slope League this fall.Key players: Senior Makayla Wilkins, senior Cortney Cordova, senior Shantel Leyba, senior Vanessa Herrera, senior Crystal Echols (Kaplan), senior Chanler May (Meeker).Promising newcomers: Junior Norisa Navratil, freshman Brittany Middleton, freshman Brittany Nueroth, sophomore Haley Budau, freshman Taylor Gore, freshman Jenny Cross (Coal Ridge), freshman Emma Speer (Coal Ridge), freshman Allie Ehlers (Coal Ridge), freshman Kylie Fleming (Coal Ridge), sophomore Cheyenne Roark (Coal Ridge), freshman Jordan Smith (Meeker).If all goes well, what’s the best the team can accomplish? “We are now in the 3A in league and I can’t honestly say that I know what this will look like for us due to the fact that I have not followed them and that our team is rebuilding,” Skinner said. “I know that Basalt will be a team that we will need to be ready for.”Team goals: “We are building this year, so our goal is to ‘always strive to do our best and never be satisfied!'” Skinner said.- Compiled by Jeff Caspersen


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