04/07/2017
TOWANDA JH BALL PLAYERS OPEN PLAY NEXT WEEK:
The Towanda junior high softball and baseball teams are preparing for their season openers next Wednesday when they play host to Canton, with 4:30 starts. and the coaches and players are excited for a successful campaign.
The first-year girl's softball coaches Maggie (Bride) Pratt and Caitlyn Doerner have high hopes of a good year.
Pratt, who was a softball star a few years back for the Lady Knights, says of her team and the season ahead:
"I am really looking forward to this first year of the new Junior High Softball program. I hope that I am able to pass on my love for the game to the girls on the team.
My two biggest goals for this season are to prepare the girls for the next level of play and to have a FUN season. The girls have been working hard and I expect to play some competitive games this season!"
Doerner, who was a high school athlete at Wyalusing, echoed Pratt's outlook:
"Our goal this season is to teach the girls who are coming in with little experience or no experience at all--the fundamentals of the game. It is also our goal to prepare the girls that have that experience for the next level of play.
We also want to help them develop a love for the game. We hope to have a fun season that will make the girls excited to come back next year."
Ten experienced eighth graders will spearhead the girl's team, led by Shaylee Ackley, Erin Barrett, Kacee Davidson, Sailor George, Saige Greenland, Whitney Maloney, Lizzy Matera, Mackenna Maynard, Samarah Smith and Blaze Wood.
Heading the 11 seventh graders are Brooklyn Miller and Maddie Maynard, along with Jocelyn Bennett, Aleah Birdsall-Decker, Zoe Deloach, Ciana Frisbie, Raelyn Jennings, Madison Johnson, Kyann Kjelgaard, Shania Maines, and Lilly Schoonover.
The team will also include the following ninth graders: Emma Bass, Leanne Cretelle, Taylor Marshall, Shelby McKernan, Janae Overpeck, Raelyn Slater, Adrianna Stroud and Delana Sullivan.
Baseball coach Wecker has been working with an 18-man roster and he is looking for a fun season.
"Our goal is to master the fundamentals of the sport. Some of these kids have had a lot of baseball experience whereas others have very little. If we can understand the fundamentals and continue improving throughout the season then I think it will be a success.
We'd like to send these boys up to the varsity and JV levels ready to contribute. I'm excited to see what our potential is and I think the boys are excited too. It should be a fun season."
Nine eighth graders and as many seventh graders will form this year's boy's baseball team.
Eighth graders include: Haven Benjamin-Fee, Cody Griffith, Evan Johnson, Mason Johnson, Trent Kithcart, Alex Perez, Will Pitcher, Ethan Sparrow and Clayton Watkins.
The following seventh graders will also be on the team: Aaron Bardell, Alexander Braisted, Octavius Chacona, Garrett Chapman, Colin Cretelle, Ryan Elliott, Brady Harrington, Chase Parker and Bradley Scott.
The season schedules are as follows:
Wed., April 12 -- G/B Softball/Baseball vs. Canton at Towanda -- 4:30 p.m.
Wed., April 19 -- G/B Softball/Baseball vs. Wellsboro at Towanda -- 4:30 p.m.
Sat., April 22 -- G/B Softball/Baseball vs. NEB and CV at Towanda --10 a.m.
Sat., April 29 -- G/B Softball/Baseball at Canton --10 a.m.
Sat., May 6 -- Girls Softball at Wyalusing Tournament
Sat., May 6 -- Boys Baseball at NEB Tournament
Thu., May 11 -- Girls Softball at Wellsboro -- 4 p.m.
Sat., May 13 -- Boys Baseball at Wellsboro -- 10 a.m.
