The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/60656
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, March 28, 2012 D-3 belt but are off for this week and resume next week against the North Da- viess Lady Cougars at North Daviess on Tuesday, April 3, at 5 p.m. They play at Loogootee High School on April 5 at 5 p.m. before returning home on April 10 for the first Pocket Athletic Conference game against the Tecumseh Lady Braves starting at 6 p.m. There are 25 team members this season and the Lady Chargers will also play a full JV schedule this year. Most of the JV games follow the varsity games. Team members, front from left, are: Emma The Pike Central Lady Chargers already have two games under their Crow, Sierra Russell, seniors Hallie Richardson, Alexa Kluemper and Kar- ley Mills and Lexi Shoultz. Second row: Lacy Miller, Haylea Harden, Taylor Stuessel, Chance Lee, Jordan Like, Ashli Riley, Kirstin Gladish and Kim- mie McCammon. Third row: Christy Miller, Nikki Williams, Rachel Roettger, Olivia Whann, Morgan Hudson, Stephanie Richardson, Jessica Boudakian, Marisa Aders and Lauren Morton. In back: Head Coach Alicia Tharp, Assis- tant Coach Dennis Bishop, Assistant Coach Larry Morton and Beau Johnson, manager. Not pictured: Jaccie Fears. Experienced team hopes for great year Pike Central Lady Chargers Softball perience are two positive factors the Pike Central Lady Chargers softball team will have to build on for the 2012 season with high hopes to again challenge for the Sectional 31 title. The Lady Chargers By Mike Johansen Depth and returning ex- ended the season dodging lightning, injuries and good teams, but made it all the way to the Sectional 31 finals before bowing out to Vin- cennes Lincoln. The Lady Chargers beat Washington handily and pulled off a re- venge win over Southridge before falling to Lincoln. The Lady Chargers were 11-15, overall and 2-6 in the PAC, but closed the season with a strong finish. The Lady Chargers are the only Pike Central team to get an early start to the season. They beat North Knox 10-0, but lost game two 4-3 to the Vincennes Lincoln Lady Al- ices, the defending Sectional 31 champions for the past two years. The Head Coach is Ali- for the season. Hallie is back and better than ever," said Coach Alicia Tharp. Last season Hallie nings last season striking out 30 and had a 4.75 ERA. Junior Haylea Harden is pitched 124 innings to strike out 133 batters and walk only 21. Her earned run av- erage (ERA) was 1.92. She was big at the plate as well carrying a .356 batting aver- age. plus for the team and for her as she is a very dedicated softball player and has had a tough run and worked hard to get back to be ready to play. Having her back is a big the No. 3 pitcher on the staff at this time. "She brings a lot of enthusiasm to the team and works hard. She will be strong at the plate for us as well," said the coach. Hard- en pitched 12 inning of var- sity last season striking out 14 and had an ERA of 1.11. Another pitching pros- brings a good attitude to the team and through the off season has worked to im- prove as well," said Coach Tharp. The best part of this large pect is Ashli Riley. She sat out last season for medical reasons and is back for her junior year. "She is excited to be back and we are ex- cited as well. As a freshman play second base and the outfield. "She struggled a lit- tle at the plate last year with a batting average of .179. Karley is a true infielder, but played some outfield to help her team out. She can play anywhere and does that with an outstanding attitude. She is always willing to do what is best for the team," said the coach. Jordan Like is one junior Senior Karley Mills can First Week of April Games Tuesday, April 3-at North Daviess, 5 p.m. Thursday, April 5-at Loogootee, 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 10-Tecumseh, H, 6 p.m. cia Tharp and she will be assisted by Dennis Bishop and Larry Morton. There are several returning play- ers and letter winners this season. One of the returning player participation was in doubt until late this winter. Hallie Richardson, the No. 1 pitcher last season, suf- fered an injury during the season and was unable to pitch in the Sectional finals against Vincennes Lincoln. "She had a rough end to the season last year. She suf- fered from as major back injury, but has since been going through therapy and has recovered just in time Lady Chargers team is that she is not alone on the pitch- ing staff and has two veteran pitchers sitting right behind her. Both will see JV and var- sity action depending on the needs of the team. Stephanie Richardson is probably the No. 2 pitcher for the Lady Chargers and saw action in both of the first two games this season. Richardson pitched the first four innings and Richardson took over in the fifth. "She is a sophomore and filled big shoes last year with Hallie's injury. She came out strong and we have high expecta- tions for her this season as well," said Coach Tharp. She pitched 35 varsity in- she pitched for the JV team and worked hard every day to improve," said Tharp. The Lady Chargers also have several returning in the field to back up the pitching staff who have one or more years of experience including two seniors. Alexa Kluemper is a se- nior infielder and can play the outfield. She will most likely be at first base when able to start in the next couple of games. She led the team at the plate last year with a batting average of .384. She had seven dou- bles, a triple and two home runs showing she can hit with power when connect- ing with the softball. "She for a successful Spring Sports Season! Members American Institute of Certifi ed Public Accountants FAX: (812) 354-6974 THE BEST Wishing all Charger Teams WILLIS & COMPANY, P. C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS & CONSULTANTS GREGORY K. WILLIS, CPA CARLA D. WILLIS, CPA (812) 354-6274 705 MAIN STREET PETERSBURG Indiana CPA Society 625 N. Ninth St., Petersburg Phone: 354-8776 who will play in the outfield. She plays at first base and the outfield. "Overall she is a great kid with lots of heart. She is always looking to help her team however she can," added the coach. She fin- ished last season with a bat- ting average of .266 and the coach hopes she can pick that up this season. Another junior is Lexie short stop. "Taylor strug- gled at the beginning of the season at the plate but even- tually found herself," said the coach. "She was a stud for us on the field and nev- er afraid to stop any ball." Stuessel had a batting av- erage of .220 and the coach said she hopes to see it im- prove this season. Junior Chance Lee is starting at shortstop and can also play third base. She had a batting average of .291 and can hit with power. "She did a great job last year at shortstop. She has worked hard in the off season and we expect even more out of her for the upcoming sea- son," said Coach Tharp. Another junior is Kirstin includes freshmen Olivia Whann (infielder), Kimmie McCammon (outfielder) and Emma Crow (outfielder and infielder). JV players trying to work into the var- sity roster include sopho- mores Jessica Boudakian (outfielder), Christy Miller (outfielder), Sierra Rus- sell (outfielder) and Marisa Aders (outfielder). Fresh- men include Jaccie Cannon (infielder and outfielder), Morgan Hudson (outfielder and infielder), Lacy Miller (outfielder and maybe first base), Nikki Williams (out- fielder) and Rachel Roettger (outfielder). The student manager is Beau Johnson. Last year the Chargers Gladish. She has some ex- perience in the outfield and could step into a start- ing position this year if she works hard. "Unfortunately Kirstin did not get a whole lot of playing time last year, but she has definitely been working hard for this sea- son. She has impressed the whole coaching staff with her improvements," said the coach. Shoultz at second base. "She is one player I wish we had 10 of. She has the best atti- tude during every second of the game whether winning or losing. She pushes all the girls to play their best," said Coach Tharp. Junior Taylor Stuessel will be back at third base or ton is back at catcher this season and started the first two games this year. "Lau- ren had a big spot to fill last year with the graduation of Taylor Horrall (now playing for Wabash Valley College). She did great and has been working hard in the off sea- son. She struggled a but at the plate and hope she picks up in that area this season. I know she has been work- ing hard to improve her hit- ting this year," said Coach Tharp. Morton had a .152 batting average last season. The varsity team also Sophomore Lauren Mor- only had 15 players and lost two during the season. They did not play a JV schedule. This year they will have a full JV schedule. "We have a great group of incoming players. A few of them will provide help at the varsity level. Ultimately we are excited to have so many players this year to continue building the program," said Coach Tharp. The Lady Chargers beat North Knox 10-0 in six in- nings March 20 behind two five run innings. They lost 4-3 to defending Sectional Champ Vincennes Lincoln on a three run seventh in- ning. back in action next Tuesday at North Daviess at 5 p.m. with the JV game following the varsity game. They will play at Loogootee at 5 p.m. April 5 and have their next home game on April 10 against the Tecumseh Lady Braves to open the Pocket Athletic Conference season with a 6 p.m. game. The Lady Chargers get Go CharGers! Wishing all Pike Central Chargers the best of luck this season.