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Craig softball eyes rebound season

JANESVILLE — Like all the other high school spring sports, Janesville Craig’s softball team has been forced indoors for most of its preseason preparations.

The Cougars, who are scheduled to open the season this afternoon at Waunakee, have only been able to venture outdoors twice. Compounding the problem is the fact that Craig is practicing at Marshall Middle School because of construction at the high school.

But despite the conditions and lack of indoor practice space, Craig coach Dan Bayreuther remains upbeat.

“We’ll get through this right now even though we have no field to practice on,” Bayreuther said.

“When you look at the prize in the long run, hopefully, it’s worth it,” Bayreuther said of a new fieldhouse at Craig that will be serviceable in 2010. “It doesn’t do us any good now, but hopefully the weather will get better.”

Craig was 7-14 a year ago, including 5-11 in the Big Eight. Middleton won the conference title a year ago with a 16-0 record, and Bayreuther looks for much of the same this year.

“Until someone beats them, Middleton has got to be the favorite,” Bayreuther said. “Not many teams came close to beating them last year.

“We’ve got things that we have to improve on, but our attitude is good, and we’re working hard despite not being able to get outside much.”

Craig’s outfield returns all three starters from a year ago, led by Jillynn Mortensen. The junior was second-team all-conference a year ago and led the team with a .299 batting average.

Mortensen will start in left, senior Kelly Lyke in center and senior Brianne Gohlke in right. All three are in their third year on varsity.

“Those three are in midseason form, and they should be,” Bayreuther said. “They have the experience and are solid defensively.

“I really felt like our defense let us down at times last year, and I hope with those three in the outfield, that’s an area where we are better this year.”

Senior co-captain Mandy Smith will handle the pitching duties, along with junior Audrey Freeman and freshman Bailie Whitaker.

“It comes down to beinh able to throw strikes,” Bayreuther said. “We won’t have Mandy for the first seven games, so that’s a chance for Audrey and Bailie to get some valuable varsity experience.”

Although there is varsity experience returning, the infield will be a new mix of players.

Senior co-captain Abby Geiger will either catch or play first, while sophomore Gabrielle Cassady will play wherever Geiger is not. Geiger and Cassady were both honorable mention all-conference a year ago.

Whitney Storbakken is the second baseman, and sophomores Whitney Oliver and Felicia Zajicek are battling at short. Junior Abby Sullivan is expected to start at third, with senior Anna Fagerli serving as the team’s designated hitter.

“We have to play better defensively, and we have to do a better job of putting the ball in play,” Bayreuther said.

“We only batted .231 as a team last year, and we struck out 104 times as a team. That’s way too many strikeouts.

“I’d say we have above-average speed, so that’s is something we will have to try and take advantage of.”

Craig’s schedule:

Home games at Dawson Field

MARCH: 31—At Waunakee, 5 p.m.

APRIL: 1—At Middleton, 4:30 p.m.; 3—At Madison Memorial, 4:30 p.m.; 7—Janesville Parker, 4:30 p.m.; 9—Madison West, 4:30 p.m.; 11—At Sun Prairie, 4:30 p.m.; 15—At Madison East, 4:30 p.m.; 17—Madison La Follette, 4:30 p.m.; 24—Middleton, 4:30 p.m.; 26—Beloit Memorial (doubleheader), 11 a.m.; 29—Madison Memorial, 4;30 p.m.

MAY—1—At Janesville Parker, 4 p.m.; 5—At Madison West, 4 p.m.; 7—Sun Prairie, 4 p.m.; 9—Madison East, 4 p.m.; 12—At Fort Atkinson, 4:30 p.m.; 13—At Madison La Follette, 4 p.m.