Sports from the week of March 30, 2005

TMB softball returns 11 letter winners

By Coach Dave Sogge

The 2005 edition of the Tracy/Milroy/Balaton girls’ softball team has much to be confident about going into the spring season. Graduation claimed five members of last year’s 212 Conference champs, including pitcher and Independent Player of the Year, Megan Anderson, all-conference catcher Steph Kaup, right fielder Emily Miller, second baseman Kasey Loeslie, and first baseman Stef Hebig, but there is plenty of fire power remaining in form of 11 returning letter winners.

Junior Ashlei Carpenter, out right now due to an injury, promises to be the ace of the pitching staff. She throws very hard and has a variety of pitches. Her back up will be sophomore Liz Rayman, who has shown a substantial increase in velocity and has good control of three pitches.

Senior tri-captain Andrea VanMoer is an outstanding, experienced catcher and will very ably fill the catching position. She excelled last year in the designated hitter role, as well as doing some catching and playing third base. Her back-up will be sophomore Becka Zens, junior Mariah Schelhaas will start the year at first base. She has a great glove and will hit conference pitching. Her back-up will be junior Jackie Coulter. Last year’s B-squad supplies another replacement in junior Jackie Vroman who will start the year at second base. Third base will be covered by senior tri-captain Lynn Brockway. Lynn provides solid defense and possesses good power, having led the team in extra-base hits last year. Honorable mention Independent All-Area Alyssa Kirk will be the shortstop. Alyssa has great range, a good throwing arm, and a clutch bat. She will hit in the leadoff spot this year. Sophomore Cassie Miller will provide back-up at short and third. All Area and All-Conference adjectives that apply to both Panther left fielder, senior tri-captain Alissa Lightfoot, and centerfielder, junior Stacy LaVoy. Both are strong defensive outfielders, who hit over 400 last year. Alissa led the conference in hitting. A trio of juniors, Angie Towne, Rachel Gervais, and Brittany Maeyaert will compete for the right field job.

The Panther coaching staff is made up of assistant coach Paul Skoglund and volunteer coaches Jeff Carpenter and Erin Flann. Erin Flann is a physical therapist in Marshall, and she has been the driving force behind the emergence of the Panther pitching staff, made up of Ashlei Carpenter, Liz Rayman, and freshmen Lindsey Daniels and Lisa Bauer.

Weather permitting, the Panthers will open the season on Tuesday, April 5, in Marshall against the Tigers.

On your marks...get sest...first track meet scheduled Tuesday

The Panther boys’ and girls’ track teams are scheduled to open their season at Luverne Tuesday.

The Panthers decided not to participate in the Dan Lennon Invite held at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, South Dakota last Monday because they had not been able to work outside enough due to the weather.

“We will have two full teams next week ready for the Luverne,” said Panther Coach Al Landa.

Two place in state youth wrestling meet

This weekend three Panther wrestlers participated in the 2005 7th and 8th grade NYWA State Wrestling Tournament in Rochester. Luke Prairie wrestled to runner-up honors, Jordan Rolling finished in fourth place and Eric Cooreman went 2-2.

“The tournament was run perfectly and had a lot of room,” said Dan Rolling, father of Jordan Rolling. “They had ten mats with two groups on each mat.”

“The three kids put on a good showing as 2 out of the 3 placed. Seventh grader Luke Prairie ended up in the finals but lost a close 4-2 decision,” said Coach Kent Cooreman. “ Luke won his opening round with a fall and then won in the semi-finals by a 11-2 major decision. Eric Cooreman lost in the opening round 11-0 to the eventual runner-up but came back in the wrestle backs and pinned his first opponent and then lost a heartbreaker by a score of 10-9, which eliminated him from the tourney. Eighth grader Jordon Rolling had a great tourney as well by placing 4th and went 4-2 on the day. His 4 wins came by falls and his 2 losses were by decision to the same wrestler.”