Document text
83 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 1, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 3, 2004 South Medford pitcher Jen Mendenhall, the reigning SOC player of the year, leads a strong Panther squad. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Moving on up South Medford goes from SOC underdog to conference favorite By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune South Medford took a meteoric rise from the first floor to the penthouse suite of the Southern Oregon Conference over the course of the past two seasons. The worst-to-first jump from a 1-13 campaign in 2001 to a co-SOC softball title shared with North Medford last season took most conference coaches by surprise. With nearly its entire lineup returning from a 12-2 SOC campaign, South Medford won’t be overlooked this time around. "This year, no question, people will be ready for us," says second-year Panther coach Dan Marshall. "They know we have a lot of returning starters. "It’ll be a different scenario than last year." Advertisement The Panthers received four first-place votes from the conference coaches and are a narrow favorite to claim the league title with 46 points. North Medford claimed two first-place votes and is picked to finish second with 43 points, while Crater was picked third after gobbling up the remaining two first-place nods for a 40-point total. Grants Pass is picked to finish fourth with 30 points, while Roseburg (26), Eagle Point (19), Klamath Union (14) and Ashland (7) round out the voting. The Panthers had been a blip on the SOC radar screen until pitcher Jen Mendenhall blew up the familiar conference landscape with one perfect outing. "Nobody expected us to win the conference (last season)," says Marshall. "Then Mendenhall throws that perfect game against North and everybody seemed to take notice." South has been hard to ignore ever since. The SOC favorites return conference player of the year Mendenhall along with three other first-team all-SOC performers in junior Jackie Chaplin and seniors Katie Kaufman and Christin Palazzolo. Pitcher Darci Byrne is the lone Panther graduation casualty, on a roster stocked with both pitching and offense. "Dan’s obviously done a good job with that program," says North Medford coach Brent Barry. "I’d say right now they’d have to be the favorite. "They have great pitching and they play solid defense. They’re running on all cylinders right now." Mendenhall and sophomore Jill Jeter, who leads the Panthers with five pitching wins, make up a formidable duo, while Chaplin, a first-team all-state third baseman, highlights a potent offensive attack. "We only have three seniors on the team, so we’re still pretty young," says Marshall. "You know what you’re going to get from the older players, but a lot of our success will depend on how the young kids progress." Newcomer Simone Hubbard fills in for first-team all-SOC catcher Alex Jordahl, who will miss the season with a broken fibula. Marissa Towry (infield/outfield) and Taylor Robinson (utility) will also see time. "We’d like to win the conference and go deep into the state playoffs," says Marshall, whose team dropped a first-round playoff game to Forest Grove last year. "We know it’s going to be tough. "The pitching won’t be as good as last season (in the SOC), but you just can’t overlook anybody. It’ll be a real dogfight." Despite graduating several top-notch hurlers, the SOC still possesses some of the best arms in the state. The Black Tornado, which will be looking for its 10th straight piece of the conference crown, send out juniors Kendra Strahm and Mallorie Hoover. The two have led North to a 4-1 record, with Strahm already owning a victory over South Medford in nonconference play. "We have a lot of new faces," says Barry, who lost six seniors from last year’s 27-3 team. "I think Kendra and Mallorie will keep us in every game." Junior Stephanie Haskett returns to fill catching duties, while seniors Laura Tarkon (first base), Darcy Cordell (shortstop) and junior right fielder Deni Rowley bolster the North lineup. "Darcy’s a pretty clutch hitter," says Barry. "She’s a solid No. 3 hitter for us. Laura is also off to a pretty good start (at the plate)." Crater lost almost its entire infield to graduation, but brings back two of the state’s best pitchers. Senior pitcher Jenni Bittle and fellow junior hurler Janelle Cristofaro will keep the Comets competitive in any game, while junior shortstop Ty Sutherland — the lone holdover from last season’s infield — Allesha Spradling (senior center fielder), Justine Bettencourt (junior catcher) and Becca Shelamer (junior outfielder) also return. Spradling, the team’s speedy leadoff hitter, has posted a plus-.500 batting average thus far. "We have a lot of hungry kids coming off a disappointing showing last year," says Crater coach Chris Arnold, referring to the Comets’ one- and-done performance in the state playoffs. "Pitching is definitely our strong point. We kind of build around that." The 2003 Grants Pass squad advanced further in the state playoffs (semifinals) than any Caver team in school history despite a fourth-place finish in the SOC. This season’s version may also find success, but will have to blend in many new faces. "The big difference (from last year) is that we had five seniors that had played a lot of ball," says GP coach Clay Rounsaville, who holds the longest coaching tenure in the SOC at six years. "This year we have a lot of younger players that can play, but are just unproven. "We expect them to keep the high level that we like to play at." Junior shortstop Justine Cerda will provide the big bat in the Caver lineup this season, while third baseman Jenny Austin and catcher Karyne Sander are the only seniors on the squad. Allie Farmer, Jennifer Dolmage and Kory Seymour are three of the newcomers that should play big roles in GP’s success. Freshman Trista Morton, the younger sister of former Caver standout Jessica Morton, and Ashley Franko will get the brunt of the pitching duties. Roseburg is led by sophomore second-team all-SOC shortstop Ali Paz and junior center fielder Denay Martin. Paz batted .320 last season and should be the strength in the middle of the Indians’ lineup. Eagle Point returns Kristina Bateman, slugger Shannon Richardson, Kelsey Heider, Randi Mapes and Toni White to lead a young team headed up by first-year coach Jackie Auchard, while fourth-year player Bess Fagan returns to the Klamath Union squad. She’s joined by Kristen Croxford and Ashley Willhite, who will try to improve on a 5-9 SOC finish. Ashland sends seniors Amanda Bolsinger and Aimee Jeska to the mound, while Liz Clason, Jackie Renteria and all-SOC honorable mention performer Jenna Randall look to head up the offense. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times