Friday, Mar. 21, 2008
CBC hopes to be big hit this year
By Mark McKenna, Herald staff writer

Columbia Basin College rookie softball coach Eric Weisgerber relishes the finer points of the game -- the slap hitting, the hit-and-run, the sacrifice -- all the little things that can decide the outcome.

But in the NWAACC Eastern Region, and especially with the makeup of his new team, Weisgerber will keep it simple more often than not.

 He'll pencil in his best hitters and just let 'em rip.

"Our strength is our offense," said Weisgerber, who took over for Kelly Richards after spending the past seven seasons at Southridge High. "We're going to put some serious numbers on the board. We won't play many 1-0, 2-1 ballgames; it'll be more like 12-10, 11-9 14-8 -- win or lose."

And that's without the services of their biggest bat. Center fielder Jamie Lokken, an All-NWAACC selection last year, has a torn labrum and will be lost for the remainder of the season. Weisgerber said Lokken, who is scheduled for surgery at the end of the month, will receive a medical redshirt.

"It's a big loss. Jamie is arguably the best player in the NWAACC," Weisgerber said.

Fortunately, the Hawks have an abundance of offensive talent, including sophomore Brittany Cherry.

The Pasco graduate, who helped lead the CBC basketball team to the NWAACC title earlier this month, started her season off with a bang last weekend at a tournament at Columbia Playfield in Richland. She batted .600 with four home runs and nine RBIs as the Hawks won three of six games to raise their record to 3-9.

"Brittany absolutely crushes the ball," Weisgerber said. "She's going to have a big year."

Cherry, who hits third in the order, has plenty of protection with sophomore third baseman Jennie Harp (.342, 4 HR, 11 RBIs) in the cleanup spot and freshman shortstop Amy Woodland (.314, 8 RBIs) batting fifth.

Setting the table this season are leadoff hitter Rachel Torrez and Kristine Valdez, who hits out of the second spot. Torrez, a freshman who played at Zillah High, is developing into a dangerous slap hitter with a little pop. Valdez, a sophomore second baseman from Othello, can handle the bat in all situations.

The main thing Weisgerber likes about his team is its versatility. He said almost every player on the 14-man roster will play at least two positions.

"I always tell the kids that if they can hit, we'll find a place for them to play," Weisgerber said.

The Eastern Region has always been about offense. But Weisgerber knows pitching is critical, and the Hawks have a few question marks in that department.

They rely on the arms of sophomore Rebekah Roberts from Liberty Christian and freshman Brittany Heiman from Richland.

"We have two pitchers with pretty good arms, and that's it," Weisgerber said. "They know they have to be prepared to pitch at all times. We'll score runs, we just need them to keep our opponents under control. If they can do that, we should be OK."

CBC opens league play with doubleheaders today at Treasure Valley and Saturday at Blue Mountain.

Notes: The Hawks baseball team concludes nonleague play this weekend at the Walla Walla Invitational tournament. CBC, which is off to a 14-1 start, opens Eastern Region play Wednesday at Big Bend, then returns home next Saturday to take on Spokane.