Softball Preview: Only The Beginning for Heritage

They have expectations now.

Not that the members of the Heritage softball team did not have any last season, but this time, it’s different.

This year, the Timberwolves come into the season with a little taste of success.

Guess what? They’re still hungry.

“I feel like practice is a lot more structured. We’re actually trying harder because we have to live up to higher standards,” senior catcher Brooke Sorenson said. “Last year, we were the underdogs. Nobody really expected anything out of us. This year, we want to hold our place and move up.”

There is only one more spot to go up for the Timberwolves, who went on a winning run last season to finish second in the Class 4A state tournament. Just a few years removed from a 2-18 season, Heritage finished second in the 4A Greater St. Helens League, then won the district tournament before advancing to the state finals.

Even right after that defeat — a one-run loss in extra innings to Kelso — the Timberwolves believed this was only the beginning.

As the 2011 season starts, this year’s Timberwolves are out to make sure that they are no one-hit wonders.

“I just make sure that every time we’re doing something, I ask them, ‘Is this going to get us back to state?’ ” Heritage coach Angie Michaelis said. “I’m constantly reminding them of the end-goal. I remind them that every corner we cut is one mistake we’ll make in a big game.”

Not that she has to do that very often. Even with the rain that delayed the start of their season for a week, and all the mundane, indoor practices, Michaelis said that this squad is self-motivated. That one playoff run was enough for all of the players to want another.

Players to watch

Erin Carson, sr., Camas; Chelsea Creech, jr., Prairie; Kaylee Cropper, jr., Battle Ground; Brittney Dawson, sr., Union; Kylie Gaspar, sr., Mountain View; Emily Holt, sr., Woodland; Grace Middelstadt, sr., Prairie; Kiley Monson, sr., La Center; Brooke Sorenson, sr., Heritage; McKenna Spieth, sr., Union.

Leagues at a glance

4A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE: Heritage has the target. The Timberwolves finished second in league a year ago, won the district tournament, then finished second at state. A lot of coaches also like Skyview’s chances. Then there is Union, moving up to the 4A ranks after consecutive state appearances as a 3A team. Evergreen and Battle Ground are looking to surprise some teams with their young squads.

3A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE: Kelso, which has won the past two 4A state championships, is now a 3A team. Mountain View, which has made it to the 4A state tournament in three of the past four years, is now a 3A team. Camas returns eight varsity players from a team that reached the 3A state tournament last year. Prairie has made it to state the past two years and has a strong tradition. Speaking of tradition, no one counts out Columbia River. The Hudson’s Bay Eagles are optimistic they, too, can compete for a playoff berth. Every game could be a battle. Oh, and it’s already been a special year at Fort Vancouver. The Trappers ended a 57-game losing streak with a win in the non-league schedule.

2A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE: The Woodland Beavers lost one player to graduation after last season. So, yeah, the defending 2A state champs are looking really good, especially with ace Emily Holt back in the pitching circle.

1A TRICO LEAGUE: Castle Rock has been deemed the favorite in the Trico League. La Center has the 2010 offensive MVP — Kiley Monson — back for another season.

“It’s fun coaching a team that is this excited,” Michaelis said. “It makes it easy on me.”

Senior Veronica Ellis is expected to take over for most of the pitching duties after the graduation of Brooke’s older sister, Britney Sorenson.

“I just have to keep my head held high no matter what the situation is,” Ellis said. “Just do what I do: pitch. I believe in myself, and I believe in the defense behind me.

“We can really go far again this year.”

Junior Emily Kutzera, who was second-team all-league at third base last season, said the Timberwolves can thrive despite entering the season with a different mind-set.

“Being the underdog meant we really had nothing to lose. But we had a lot of faith in our team. If we worked hard, we could show them what the underdog could do,” Kutzera said. “Now, there’s pressure. We know our program has a high standard now. We have faith we will live up to it.”

Still, the Timberwolves also understand that last year’s success does not guarantee anything for 2011. While Kelso is no longer in the 4A GSHL, Union has moved into the league. Skyview is expected to be tough.

Heck, just playing in Southwest Washington means quality competition. Kelso has won back-to-back state titles. Woodland won the Class 2A state title a year ago. Union and Prairie played each other in the state’s third-place game in 2009. In 2007, Mountain View was second at 4A state. Prairie won the 4A state title in 2006. Prairie and Skyview each made the 4A state semifinals in 2005. Prairie ended up second that season, as did Columbia River in the 3A tourney.

Notice a trend? This region can play softball, and there are a lot of different teams that can play.

“The competition is really intense,” Brooke Sorenson said. “Everyone is on an ASA (summer) team. They all know what they’re doing. You have to capitalize on the mistakes because teams don’t have many weaknesses. There are just so few mistakes so you have to capitalize on them.”

The Timberwolves learned how to do that last year. They gained valuable experience in beating Kelso by one run in extra innings in the district championship game. And they gained valuable experience in losing to Kelso by one run in extra innings in the state championship game.

They also learned that playing until the final day of the season in late May is memorable and rewarding.

And worth striving for again.

For coach-submitted reports on area softball teams, go to The Columbian’s high school blog at www.columbian.com/weblogs/highschoolsports.