1/22/07: New Look Mountaineers

January 22, 2007

May 8th of last year is a day the EOU softball will not forget, but instead use as motivation going into this season. Eastern watched an upset and a regional birth slip through their hands, dropping a heartbreaking and season-ending final inning loss to Concordia.
Coach Missy Wheeler is excited on the outlook on the 2007 season. It’s a fresh start with some new faces and some familiar ones. Coach Wheeler returns two pitchers and a catcher, but every other position in the infield will be filled with a new player. Despite this new look, Wheeler says the team chemistry could not be better.
Michelle St. John, an outfield transfer from North Idaho College, is a help to this chemistry after being described as, “Extremely energetic,” by Coach Wheeler. Chemeketa transfer Lydia Holm was also mentioned as key newcomers as being, “Positive and vocal.” This is obviously an asset in the infield which will need balance with the bulk of it being freshmen.
Along with new faces, Eastern will have a new field. Last year’s games were played at Pioneer Park a few miles off campus, but this season the Mounties will have a definite “home” field advantage. The new field is adjacent to the football field and is close to complete.
“The new field is a huge advantage, it actually feels like home. It gives us a sense of ownership and pride in our new facility.” Wheeler continued, “The weather has been an issue, the moisture on the field makes for a challenge. Constantly going from inside to outside is a tough thing to do. My prediction is we will have a lack of time to practice on the new field before March 6th, the first home game versus Walla Walla College.”
Coach Wheeler sees her team as “Late Bloomers” in the Cascade Conference this season and predicts about the same kind of outcome as last year’s finish. Defending champions, Oregon Tech returns much of their team and is the team to beat. Concordia, Albertson, and Southern Oregon should follow not far behind, and as for Eastern, Wheeler says her team is right the middle of the pack.
EOU will have the advantage of team bonding when they travel to the Tucson Invitational in Tucson, Arizona for Spring Break. However, Coach Wheeler views this far from a vacation; Eastern will play six games in three days against competition from Washington, Minnesota, and Iowa.
The month of March looks to be quite a challenge for the young team, 17 games in only the second month of play is a lot to ask of a team with only three seniors. Will it be just a speed bump for the Mountaineers or a brick wall?
Eastern’s first scrimmage is fast approaching on February 17, and first official game will be on March 2.