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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us April 1, 2005 New coach, new attitude By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Robin McCormick isn't about to make any bold predictions. Ashland's first-year head softball coach is well aware of the Grizzlies' downtrodden history. She can count on one hand the number of Southern Oregon Conference wins (two) Ashland has mustered over the past two seasons. Still, after a 6-4 preseason that included several blowout wins - albeit against subpar competition - the former junior varsity coach can't help but feel at least a little optimistic. She's even using the "P" word. ASHLAND HIGH SOFTBALL COACH Robin McCormick runs practice Thursday at North Mountain Park in Ashland. The first-year varsity coach says Ashland has an outside chance at making the playoffs this season. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings "I definitely think there's a chance that we can make the playoffs," she said. "If they play up to their potential, there's definitely a spot for them there. But, the biggest thing for me is seeing improvement every day and seeing that desire out there." McCormick will have a much better idea of where the Grizzlies stand after Saturday, when Ashland travels to Grants Pass both teams league-opening doubleheader. It will be a battle of two teams not expected to make the playoffs. Grants Pass was rated fifth in the SOC's preseason coaches poll - only the top four teams go to state - while Ashland was rated dead last. In order for the Grizzlies to prove the coaches wrong, they'll have to get a big year from starting pitcher Emily McLaughlin (1-0). The junior starts the season as Ashland's ace and will see the majority of the playing time on the mound. When McLaughlin is off or needs a rest, McCormick will call on No. 2 starter Jasmine Smith (5-4), a sophomore. According to their coach, McLaughlin and Smith both have excelled in the early going at mixing up their pitches, with McLaughlin throwing a touch harder. On defense, the Grizzlies are young in the infield, but experienced in the outfield. Senior Alysse Carlson will start at shortstop, but the three bases are anchored by two sophomores (first baseman April Jorgensen and second baseman Michaela Cardoza) and a freshman (third baseman Samantha Gilbert), with another sophomore (Kylie Cantrell) starting at catcher. Junior Bailey Hasty will start in left field, senior Janice Jones will be in center and senior Amanda Cardoza in right. "Those three played together last year as well," McCormick said of her outfielders. "That's just a huge advantage and they just do a great job backing each other up." If the youthful infield does falter, the Grizzlies could be forced to score runs in bunches just to stay close. That's something Ashland hasn't been able to do in SOC play in years, but the preseason offered reason for hope. The Grizzlies currently have four players batting over .340 and are fresh off a doubleheader that saw them score 23 runs on 24 hits. At the top of the order is Carlson, a speedy .455 hitter whose also managed to rack up eight RBIs. Jones will bat second, Hasty third and Michaela Cardoza is the cleanup hitter. Right behind the younger Cardoza in the order is her sister, who leads Ashland with a .464 batting average and 10 RBIs. Junior Emily McLaughlin, Cantrell, Jorgensen and Gilbert round out Ashland's order. Gilbert bats ninth despite her solid .346 batting average because McCormick likes her to set up Carlson. "There is a lot of potential," McCormick said of Ashland's offense. "(Carlson) has just been doing an excellent job in the preseason, just doing a good job getting on base with a single or a double and being very aggressive at the plate." Ashland's first league home doubleheader is April 9 against defending SOC champion Crater, which was picked by the coaches to repeat. Sports editor Joe Zavala can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 3020 or [email protected] DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms Homeschooling Tatoos student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Fasa Student Loans Tatoo Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams