March 14, 2018 at 12:51 p.m.
RHS softball team begins practice
RHS softball team begins practice
With plenty of snow still on the ground - and no signs of a major thaw over the next two weeks - DeMeyer said he feels it could be a little while before his team's able to fully prepare for the start of the season.
"It looks like there's a foot, foot and a half of snow on there," he said, regarding the survey he took of the varsity field at Pioneer Park on Sunday. "It's going to be a while. It has to warm up. It hasn't been that warm. I have a feeling we're going to have 3-4 weeks of indoor practice, at the least, maybe more. So I've got to somehow make it fun for the girls. Maybe we'll take a day off here and do a team builder. It's going to be interesting. We've got a lot of work to do."
That work includes replacing four key pieces from last year's squad, including ace pitcher Ali Schickert, four-year starter in center Ivy Packard and the entire left side of the infield with third baseperson Lindsay Juedes and shortstop Erica Counter.
"We've lost some spots and, with that, to be our best defensive team, and have the best chance of winning, we may have to move some people around and put them in positions they haven't traditionally played," DeMeyer said.
Because of that, a little extra practice - even if it's indoors - may actually benefit this year's squad as it tries to figure out who will play where and develop a chemistry among the starting nine.
"That's going to be important for us this year, to trust the other players and have that team concept," DeMeyer said.
Practice began Monday with a fair amount of running mixed in with some basics of pitching, hitting and fielding.
"We want to get some girls batting, do some throwing, strengthen our arms. I want to get their cardio going and their legs strong. They're going to do a lot of that this week," DeMeyer said. "I'm hoping it's a benefit. We can get stir crazy inside but I'm hoping it's a benefit."
In addition to the all the time in the gym, the team will have to contend with some altered schedules the next couple of weeks. DeMeyer said he will be gone on a work assignment next week, so a staff that includes returning assistants Dan McDonald, Joe Mullikin Clara Groskopf and Christie Kondzela will oversee the team, along with first-year assistant Brianna (Gilbert) Scheuermann, who was the ace pitcher for the Hodags only three seasons ago.
When DeMeyer returns the following week, RHS will be on spring break, and a number of players will be on vacation..
"We'll get by. We'll figure it out," DeMeyer said. "That's what we have other coaches for and we've got some senior leadership. We'll get by."
DeMeyer said the team's numbers are similar to what they have been in years past. With 32 girls registered to play, there will be an ample number of players for a varsity and a JV lineup.
Weather permitting, the Hodags will open their season at Northland Pines April 5 and are scheduled to travel to Merrill the following day.
The Hodag softball team is the second team to begin spring practice. The Hodag baseball and girls' soccer teams will get underway next week and the RHS boys' tennis and golf teams are eligible to begin practice March 26.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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