Perhaps it’s fitting that, in the year the pitching circle has been moved back 3 feet, a position other than pitcher could highlight high school girls softball.
With power hitters Nicole Hudson of Standley Lake and Arvada West’s Erica Haugum returning for their senior seasons, 2010 could be remembered as the year of the catcher in a sport long dominated by pitching.
“They have that ability,” Arvada West coach Tod Bunker said. “They are power hitters more than average hitters. They hit for a good average too, but they both just wallop the ball.”
Hudson clubbed 12 home runs and drove in 47 runs last season and Haugum hit seven homers to go with 41 RBI — and that’s when the distance from home to the pitching circle was 40 feet. Now it’s 43.
“I think it will help hitters once we get adjusted to it,” Haugum said. “Not many girls throw over 62 mph anyway, and anything under that seems slow.”
Coaches have been told that the increase has more to do with allowing pitchers more reaction time on comebackers — “they’re going to need it,” Bunker said — and many players and coaches have indicated the change also could benefit pitchers because it will allow for later break on pitches.
Realistically, it will provide hitters more of chance to shine while afforded a split second more against the upper-echelon pitchers who routinely rack up no-hitters and ridiculous strikeout totals.
Perhaps catcher will be the first position glaringly moved to the forefront, with Legacy’s Buggs Torrez and Central (Grand Junction)’s Brittany Hoppe among the other marquee players at the position. Hudson, who committed to Northern Colorado on Monday, is considered the best of the best entering the season, but she isn’t trying to duplicate or surpass last fall’s 12 homers.
“I think anyone would love to think about a home run anytime they’re up,” Hudson said. “But the odds of that are rare, so I go up thinking base hit. When I hit those homers last year, I was thinking ‘wow.’ “
Hudson said she chose UNC because it fit her desires to play Division I softball and stay close to home.
Uncommitted so far, one thing Haugum is not doing is put pressure on herself to produce mammoth numbers in hopes of wooing potential colleges.
“Really, I don’t pay attention to my stats,” Haugum said. “I know I’m a good hitter, and it’s more about what you do in the future.”
The future of her sport in Colorado, in a breath of fresh air to some, appears to be more of a hitters’ game.
Softball/preview
Key dates:
Today: Season opens
Oct. 16: 3A districts and 4A and 5A regionals must be completed.
Oct. 22-23: State tournament — all classes at Aurora Sports Park
CLASS 5A
RANKINGS
1. Legacy
2. Central (Grand Junction)
3. Eaglecrest
4. Pomona
5. Mountain Vista
6. Ralston Valley
7. Chaparral
8. Green Mountain
9. Brighton
10. Standley Lake
Top 10 players
Mikayla Duffy, Central (Grand Junction) Sr. P; Rainey Gaffin, Legacy Jr. P; Erica Haugum, Arvada West Sr. C; Brittany Hoppe, Central (Grand Junction) C-IF; Nicole Hudson, Standley Lake Sr. C; Raya Johnson, Eaglecrest Sr. P; Kelsey Kimminau, Pomona P Sr.; Melissa Marcovecchio, Legacy Sr. IF; Kelley Reeves, Ralston Valley Sr. IF; Buggs Torrez, Legacy Sr. C
CLASS 4A
RANKINGS
1. D’Evelyn
2. Mullen
3. Wheat Ridge
4. Lewis-Palmer
5. Erie
6. Broomfield
7. Pueblo Central
8. Windsor
9. Widefield
10. Golden
Top 10 players
Christine Anderson, Lewis-Palmer OF Sr.; Kendal Bergman, D’Evelyn Sr. 1B; Mariah Bledsoe, Erie Sr. P; Kellie Eastman, Mountain View Sr. IF; Brandi Hawkins, Mullen Sr. C; Shannon Lembeck, Mullen Sr. IF; Elle Madsen, Wheat Ridge Jr. OF-P; Holly, Reinke D’Evelyn Jr. P; Lauren, Shanks, Widefield Jr. OF; Alexa Snyder, Pueblo East Sr. IF
CLASS 3A
RANKINGS
1. Valley
2. Holy Family
3. Platte Canyon
4. Faith Christian
5. Lyons
6. Platte Valley
7. Florence
8. Burlington
9. Brush
10. Middle Park
Top 10 players
Tiffany Bakarich, Faith Christian Jr. C; Haley Hutton, Valley So. IF-P; Taylor Hutton, Valley P-IF Sr.; Daiva Jarasius, Holy Family Sr. P-OF; Jenny Marshall, Platte Canyon Sr. IF; Jessie Marshall, Platte Canyon Sr. P; Jaicy Sutak, Lyons Sr. P; Myndee Thompson, Faith Christian Sr. IF; LaNae Vigil, La Junta Jr. IF; Rebecca Walker, Brush Sr. C
