MAC softball hopes to return at state
MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO pitcher Ran’Dee Charlo warms up with assistant coach Bob Erickson looking on Friday afternoon at Mission High School. (Photo by Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
Last season the Mission-Charlo-Arlee girls softball team experienced an unusual early exit in the Class B-C softball divisional tournament.
The MAC team’s early exit came at the hands of two typical teams with a solid reputation for athletic excellence in Class-B programs.
In Coach Susan Weaselhead eighth season as head coach of the MAC program, last season marked only the second time her team didn’t qualify for state.
In spite of losing seven seniors off of last season’s team, Weasalhead doesn’t think they will miss out on state for the second consecutive season in a row.
“Even after losing my seniors I have some great aspirations and expectations on where we are going to place this season,” Weaselhead said. “My girls aim high and our goal is make it to state this season. I want to work with them and push them towards their goals. It is up to our coaches to help our players get to where they want to be (this season).”
The fact the team consolidates athletes from three decorated valley athletic programs helps with the team’s numbers, according to Weasalhead.
“It makes a big difference because we have 26 kids,” Weasalhead said. “When you have 13 players from Mission, eight from Charlo, and seven from Arlee, one of us alone couldn’t field a varsity team. When we come together, that gives us the ability to field two good teams in the varsity and JV. and gives us a chance to compete against some of the Class-B teams with larger enrollment.”
This season Weaselhead has a luxury most teams don’t have: a starting pitching rotation. Ran’Dee Charlo from Mission, Vanessa Kent from Charlo, and Tomi Brazill from Arlee will all pitch for MAC.
“This is a competitive league, without a doubt and you have to be on the day you play anyone,” Weaselhead said. “There are several teams that look for your weaknesses (in this league) and that has to be something that you really have to be aware of.”
One of MAC’s top pitchers said there is still plenty for the team to work on in the early portion of the season.
“With there being only two seniors from last year’s team, we lost a lot,” Charlo said. “We really just need to work on the fundamentals of pitching and fielding.”
Charlo said she felt her team benefits significantly from her team having a pitching rotation.
“Sometimes it’s a lot of work of work to pitch a whole game,” Charlo said. “When you get tired you can tell a coach that you are tired and they will sit you down to rest.”