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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 21, 2006 Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Gould-en Opportunity Junior outfielder takes over as catalyst for North Medford’s offense By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune Katie Gould fills many roles for the North Medford softball team. She plays error-free ball in center field, is a team leader on a squad full of inexperience and is an example of hard work paying off. More importantly, Gould is the spark plug to an offense that has suddenly found its groove. Gould and the rest of the Tornado have raced to a 7-4 record overall and 4-2 mark in the Southern Oregon Conference heading into today’s doubleheader at Ashland. Through those 11 games, the slap-hitting left-hander is batting .471 with 10 stolen bases and 10 runs. Advertisement "I think we’ve hit the ball hard," Gould says, "it just always went right to somebody. Now we’re finding the gaps." The speedy junior replaced Deni Rowley, a four-year starter and all-league leadoff hitter, at the top of the batting order this season. And the Black Tornado hasn’t missed a beat. "Last year, Rowley was such an awesome leadoff hitter," says Gould, a returning first-team all-Southern Oregon Conference competitor who’s batted second the past two years. "She would get on and it was my job to bunt her over. This year, it’s my turn. It’s a pretty cool feeling." North Medford moved to within one game of league-leading Crater by erupting for 20 hits in both games of a doubleheader sweep of South Medford last Saturday. Gould kick-started a two-run rally in the first inning of a 4-0 victory in Game 1 by legging out an infield single. Late in the contest, Gould used her speed again to slide in for a catch and rob South’s Simone Hubbard of a hit. Much like the triumph over South Medford, the Tornado’s offense starts with Gould, says first-year Tornado coach Mike Mayben. "For the most part, when Katie gets on, we play pretty well," says Mayben, whose roster includes four sophomores, two freshmen and just three seniors. "If she gets on early (in the game), then our chances of success are always very high." When she’s not wreaking havoc on the base paths, Gould is directing a young outfield — sophomore Alana Coronado plays right and sophomore Kayla Strahm and freshman Taylor Schmidt rotate in left — with spotless play in center. "She’s made a couple of spectacular diving catches this year," says Mayben. "She’s so fast out there. "Katie is definitely the anchor to our outfield. She talks to the other girls and tells them where they need to be." Gould, whose father, Russ, is an assistant coach with North, started out as a catcher when she first took up softball. Then, after a brief stay at first base, she made the jump to outfield to utilize her speed. Even with her natural talent, though, it’s the work ethic that impresses Mayben. "She’s the ultimate team leader," Mayben says. "She works very hard and has the best work ethic on the team. Katie has the skills but she just doesn’t play with the skills she has, she works hard to always get better." One piece of motivation for Gould and North Medford is earning a 25th straight postseason appearance. The Black Tornado, however, was picked to finish fifth in a preseason coaches’ poll — which would be one spot out of making the playoffs. "It seems like everyone underestimated us," says Gould. "We need to come out and finish strong the rest of our games. We just want to prove them all wrong." And underestimating Gould is something the rest of the SOC can’t afford to do. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail Gould-en Opportunity ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s