Posted: 4/16/03

Rangers ready for loaded SEC

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

Sue Stennes-Rogness considers it a blessing. Others would consider it a curse. The others are probably more accurate.

Donít tell Stennes-Rogness that, though, because she considers playing in the toughest softball conference in the state a blessing.

Most consider White Bear Lake, a Suburban East Conference foe, to be the best Twin Cities-area softball team. Fellow conference foes Park and Stillwater arenít far behind the Bears, either.

ìWe have to face those teams day in and day out,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìI guess itís a blessing.î

Forest Lake already has gotten a taste of what life in the SEC will be like this year. The Rangers opened the season with a narrow 5-4 defeat against Mounds View and then suffered a 6-0 loss at White Bear Lake before falling 5-0 to Roseville on Monday.

Yet, the Forest Lake softball coach knows itís a long season and teams are just getting a feel for playing outside and she likes the way her team shapes up.

It starts on the mound, where the Rangers will rely on junior pitcher Sam Hough. Sophomore Jessica Griffith will serve as the No. 2 pitcher.

Hough saw limited action on the mound as a sophomore behind Tiffany Kogler, but is ready to be the Rangersí ace this year.

Stennes-Rogness called the junior, ìa competitor,î and said she has a chance to make an impact if she uses the right combination of pitches.

ìShe has improved so much from last year,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìI feel confident with her on the mound. As long as she uses her change-up frequently enough to keep people off-balance, sheíll be in good shape.î

Hough also will be one of the main cogs in the Ranger batting order as one of the top returning hitters from a year ago. Stennes-Rogness also hopes to take advantage of her speed and knack for getting into scoring position.

ìShe always finds a way to get on base,î she said.

When sheís trying to keep opponents from getting on base, Stennes-Rogness said Hough will have one of the best infields in the conference behind her.

Senior Mary Sobiech, an all-conference selection each of the last two years, has made the conversion from shortstop to first base for the Rangers.

Tall and athletic, Sobiech is likely to be a first baseman if she plays in college and itís also the position which best suits her and the Rangers this spring, Stennes-Rogness said.

ìWith this combination of players, itís where I think she fits in best and the others fit in best,î she said.

Senior Lindsey Gervais could also see playing time at first base for the Rangers.

Taking over the shortstop position is sophomore Kaity Wightman. What she may lack in varsity experience she makes up for in defensive ability and speed, Stennes-Rogness said.

ìI think once she settles into her role, sheíll fit in great,î the coach said.

At second base is senior Jamie Falck, who is a natural shortstop and could play three different infield positions. Senior Melesa Freerks also will see some time at second base.

Third base belongs to junior Tara Jung, who has been swinging a good bat during early-season practice.

Stennes-Rogness has a pair of catchers she can use. Senior captain Margo Taylor will see a bulk of the playing time while junior Lindsey Lingl is also in the mix.

Junior Amanda Lindholm and sophomore Sarah Dittberner could also see some playing time in the infield this season.

ìWe love our infield. Weíre excited about the possibilities,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìThatís an athletic infield defensively. I think both in terms of arm strength and range, itís a very solid defense.

ìIím of the opinion that you have to have strong pitching and solid defense, first. And I think we have that.î

Stennes-Rogness, a former centerfielder in college, also is excited about her outfield.

Senior captain Becky Colter, who Stennes-Rogness called the most improved player on the team, brings a big bat and strong arm to left field.

In centerfield is the speedy Cortney Marr. Stennes-Rogness called the junior, ìlightning quick,î and said she will have as much range as anyone in center.

ìIím excited about having Cortney in center,î she said. ìSheís going to cover a lot of ground.î
In right field is a trio of players competing for the starting job. Freerks and junior Andrea Lehner were the front runners out of early practices, but senior Mindy Trombley could enter into the mix later this season.

Although Trombley played for the Rangers last year, she must sit out the first 10 games of the year this season because of the transfer rule.

She originally moved to Texas last summer with her family, then moved back to stay with relatives. Because of that, she is subject to the Minnesota State High School League transfer rule.

Seniors Alicia Maki, Dana Anderson and junior Jessica Grafft could also figure into the outfield mix this season.

Stennes-Rogness said this is one of the deepest teams she has had in Forest Lake, which can and has made her job a little tougher.

ìThatís one thing that stands out with this team. Itís a pretty even talent pool from 1-19,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìThatís what makes some of the coaching decisions so difficult.
ìThey make our decisions difficult because of the depth of the team.î

Itís that depth and a better sense of team chemistry this season which could lead the Rangers to greater success than in the 2002 season.

Team captains Sobiech, Taylor and Colter are trying to make sure that happens.

ìWe have three outstanding captains. In a lot of ways, they are almost coaches on the field,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìThey are three awesome captains and they want in the worst way for the team to have great chemistry this year.î

Another key factor will be how the Rangers do in the tight games. Forest Lake has struggled in one-run games the past two years ñÝespecially in 2002.

By comparison, when Forest Lake was the state runner-up in 2000, the Rangers were 12-1 in games decided by just one run.

ìIím hoping weíll win more of the one-run games,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìWe have to figure out how to win a majority of those games.î

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