Posted: 4/14/04

Seniors will lead experienced team

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

A 4-3 extra innings loss to White Bear Lake in the sectional playoffs ended the Forest Lake High School softball teamís season last year. Nine seniors graduated from last yearís team, but head coach Sue Stennes-Rogness is optimistic about the returning group of players.

ìIím excited about the prospects,î Stennes-Rogness said of this seasonís team.

The softball program is made up of five seniors and 13 juniors that will make up both the varsity and junior varsity teams. Letter winner Sam Hough did not return to play her senior year as she is focusing on hockey and the chance to play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall.

Of the returning players, Stennes-Rogness says the core of Tara Jung, Cortney Marr, Jess Griffith, Savannah Svendsen, Lindsey Lingl, Molly Trombley, Jessica Morgan, Amanda Lindholme, Katie Whightman and Sarah Dittberner will be getting the bulk of playing time from what she has seen in the early parts of the season.

ì[Assistant coach] Jamie Benson came up with the same list I did,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìItís appearing pretty clear cut right now.î

Senior captains Marr and Jung will be expected to be the leaders on the team. Marr will be playing center field and Jung third base. The top two pitchers in the early part of the season appear to be Griffith, a junior, who had some varsity experience last season, and Svendsen who has shown improvement since the start of practice.

Lingl and Trombley will split time behind the plate at catcher. When one is not catching, they will be playing first base.

ìItís nice that we can interchange the two like that,î

The leading candidates for second base are Morgan and Lindholme, with Whightman most likely ending up at shortstop.

With Marr in center field, Dittberner will be one side of her when sheís not filling in at third base for Jung, and Svendsen when sheís not pitching.

ìWith Marr anchoring the center field, she goes back on the ball real well and is just a delight to watch play ball,î Stennes-Rogness said.

Other players on the roster include; Rachael Anderson, Ashley Corbett, Abbey Egen, Molly Falck, Cassidy Jones, Krista Landecker, Senna Lipp and Kristel Overson.

Opponents

With three teams, Stillwater, Mounds View and Hastings, getting new head coaches this season Stennes-Rogness thinks the playing field will be pretty level.

ìI think itís a tough time for a team when they get a new coach because the players donít know what to expect and the coaches donít know what they have either,î Stennes-Rogness said. I think we can work that to our advantage.î

Apart from the three teams with new coaches, Stennes-Rogness says White Bear Lake should be a strong team again as well as Roseville. Park should also give Forest Lake a run for their money as they have a coach with the longest tenure in the Suburban East Conference.

ìWe play in arguably the toughest conference in the metro area,î Stennes-Rogness said. ìWeíre also in the toughest section in the state. Itís not easy day in and day out, itís never easy, but there is never a let up game which is good for mental toughness but it can be quite a grind.î

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