While the Albert Lea High School softball team registered only two wins all of last season, coach Sherrie Gayken and the Tigers are optimistic this spring.

Wednesday, April 07, 1999

While the Albert Lea High School softball team registered only two wins all of last season, coach Sherrie Gayken and the Tigers are optimistic this spring.

It’s because they graduated only two seniors.

The Tigers have nine returning letterwinners, a group that includes some excellent all-around athletes.

With that experience, talent and what Gayken calls an outstanding work ethic and attitude, the coach is very confident the team will improve in all aspects of the game.

&uot;I think we have a bunch of girls this year who have real good attitudes,&uot; said Gayken. &uot;They’re real determined. They want to do better than last year, and they seem to be putting forth the effort in order to do that.&uot;

The only seniors lost from last year were the captains, Samantha Haroldson and Amy Hickman.

This year’s captains are seniors Candice DeYoung and Amanda Evenson.

The other returning letterwinners are seniors April Borge, Carrisa Christensen and Stacy Troutner, juniors Amy Adams, Kim DeYoung, Jess Hanson, and sophomore Afton Delger.

The rest of the varsity includes juniors Kari Kamrath, Kristi Mueller, Stacy Sundve, Trisha Sydnes and Nicki Thompson.

&uot;This year we have a lot more experience than last year, especially in pitching and defense in general,&uot; said Gayken.

They also have more depth.

Adams returns as the No. 1 pitcher, though Candice DeYoung, Delger and Sydnes also pitched at the varsity level last year.

Adams is likely to start the season on the mound but, according to Gayken, any one of the four could see action at a given time.

&uot;All of them have a little different style,&uot; said the coach. &uot;Maybe one’s a little faster, maybe one has a little more control. Right now, Adams is the most experienced.&uot;

Gayken’s biggest concern is hitting.

&uot;We’re working on it, and we need to continue to work on it,&uot; she said. &uot;We need to build our confidence in it. In practice there are days when we look good, and days when we don’t. Time will tell.&uot;

Gayken also feels that the fact the Tigers expect to play better defense will remove some pressure from the offense, and help them improve in all aspects.

&uot;If you feel success in one phase of the game, it carries over to others,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s just mental confidence.&uot;

And that’s something she feels good about.

&uot;As far as the mental part of the game, the girls are really into it,&uot; said Gayken. &uot;They’re going out there and working hard. The girls expect a lot from themselves and they’ve really pushed themselves to get going.

&uot;They’re really a bunch of very nice young ladies. I hope and I feel that their hard work will pay off.&uot;