With just two seniors and three juniors, the 2016 Mountlake Terrace Hawks softball team may not be viewed as a serious, experienced contender in the Wesco League this season. But Hawks’ Head Coach Shannon Rasmussen likes her team’s chances against the league’s top squads.
“While we are a fairly young team, we have a lot of depth and versatility,” she said.
Terrace opens their 2016 season on Friday, March 18, when they travel north to face the Ferndale Golden Eagles in a non-conference matchup at Ferndale High School; first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Rasmussen is stressing the need for consistency and regularity in play this season to a team that finished last year with a respectable 13-11 mark. “We are definitely looking to improve from last year and hope to be more consistent in our level of play,” she said. “We had moments last year where we played really well and other times where we struggled. If we can be more consistent this year we should be able to compete with any team in the league.”
The Hawks return plenty of pitchers from last year’s squad, with juniors Gabby Calhoun and Kira Doan expected to get lots of time on the mound this season.
“Gabby and Kira have been on the varsity team for three years now and we are looking to both of them to be leaders on the team both on and off the field,” Rasmussen said.
Though just sophomores, Sammy Ruiz and Jazz Zenk will also be called upon to help with pitching duties this season. Ruiz will also play at shortstop while Zenk will see time at both third base and catcher.
“Sammy and Jazz had great freshman seasons and we are expecting them to pick up where they left off last year,” Rasmussen noted.
Sophomore Amaya Kaupp served as a backup catcher on last year’s Terrace squad, but will take over as the primary backstop this season, putting into motion a few position changes for the team’s two senior captains, Lauren Miller and Ashley Fitzgerald. Miller will see time at first base, third base and in the outfield; Fitzgerald will become the Hawks’ primary first baseman.
Terrace has added four new faces to the varsity squad this year. Junior Alyssa Soucy becomes a Hawk after transferring from Maryland and will help in the outfield while freshmen Julia Brocksmith, Kennedy Cooper and Sarah Davis “will be getting a significant amount of playing time,” Rasmussen said.
The Hawks will be tested often this season against the always-tough Wesco League competition. After opening the year with two non-conference games, Terrace will host two teams that played in the 2015 3A Softball State Tournament when Edmonds-Woodway comes to Mountlake Terrace High School on March 24 and Meadowdale follows on March 25. The Mavericks finished third in the state tourney last May.
On April 19, the Hawks must face the 3A state runner-up from last season, the Everett Seagulls, on the road.
To view the entire Mountlake Terrace Hawks 2016 softball schedule, click https://www.wescoathletics.com/index.php?league=3&page_name=game_schedule&school=40&sport=15.
–Story and photos by Doug Petrowski
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