Bravettes look for more improvement
Coach Jeremy Van Zee began practices June 1 for the first COVID-19 era edition of the softball Bravettes.
“We feel really good about our returning pitchers (Kallie Robison) and (Abby Pope), Van Zee said.
“Kallie was an 8th grader last year and started 90% of our games for us. She had worked really hard in the off- season and is showing improvement in multiple areas.”
“Pope came in to games last year in relief and did a great job as an 8th grader,” Van Zee said.
“Carissa Van Zee is a returning starter behind the dish for us,” the coach said. “Carissa brings GREAT leadership to the team from behind the plate and that is going to be needed with a very young infield.”
“Our outfield is going to be very solid! Chloe Latcham in left field returns along with Kassidy Mathes in center. These 2 started about every game for us last year in the Outfield,” the coach said.
“We are really excited to get Katie Reynolds back on the field after she sat out of softball last summer. Katie is a left handed bat in the lineup and does a nice job tracking balls in the Outfield.”
“On the infield we are going to be VERY young! We have a handful of girls that are battling for some positions right now. We are excited to see what 8th grader Izzy Roorda can bring to the table this year.
She has a cannon of an arm and showing some nice glove work in the 1st week of practice.”
“Tia Shaffer, a sophomore, has shown a great deal of improvement over last year and looks to be seeing innings in the infield this year, Van Zee said.
“We have a couple freshmen in Haylee Walters and Kalynn Wanders that also look to see some infield innings as well. Another 8th grader we have eye on is Jaydn Sharer as she is showing a lot of promise both in the infield and outfield as well.”
“We will have 3 if not 4 lefties in the line-up which will be fun this year along with the fact that we are going to be really quick on the bases which we have not been the last couple years,” the coach said. “I believe that when we get on base we are going to put some pressure on teams.”
“We are practicing social distancing to the best of our ability before, during, and after practices. The girls are taking temperatures before they come to the ball field each day and we are documenting that as well,” Van Zee said. “The coaching staff is sanitizing equipment, fence rails, and benches outside the dugout before and after practices. Everyone is using hand sanitizer on a regular basis at practice.”
Coming into last season, finding a primary pitcher was a big concern. But eighth-grader Kallie Robison stepped in and picked up eight of the team’s 10 wins.
She threw 125.3 innings and struck out 83 batters.
Two girls who backed her up, Abby Pope (21.7 innings, one win) and Carissa Van Zee (14.3 innings and the other win) also return.
Improving their hitting was another issue for last year’s team. The Bravetttes made progress and will look to continue to get better.
Van Zee, now a senior, led last year’s batters with a .321 average. She’s a slap-hitter and also an effective bunter.
As a catcher, Carissa threw out seven runners attempting to steal.
Van Zee had nine steals, Kaprice Wearmouth had seven and Kassidy Mathes had four.
Van Zee was second in runs scored with 18.
The Bravettes open their season Monday, June 15, at Iowa Valley. The game will start at 5 p.m.