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This year's Gibsonburg softball team isn't going to make Golden Bears fans forget about the Jamie Wonderly-led Bears teams that won three straight Division IV state titles from 2001-03.
The Suburban Lakes League coaches picked second-year coach Kyle Leatherman's squad to finish fifth in the seven-team league this season, but the Golden Bears are already raising some eyebrows with their play through 14 games.
“If you would have said we'd be 12-2 at this point,” Leatherman said Monday, “I would have chuckled and said that would be great. The record surprises me, but it doesn't surprise me how hard the girls are working and how good they are becoming every day because of their work ethic.”
Heading into Tuesday's SLL showdown with defending league champion Eastwood, the Bears were indeed 12-3, including 3-1 in the SLL. Gibsonburg had won 11 in a row – with league wins over Otsego, Woodmore and Genoa — before a 4-2 loss to Elmwood last Wednesday and Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Eastwood.
Against Eastwood, Gibsonburg scored first in the opening inning and Eastwood got their two runs in the top of the third. Mostly it was a pitching duel between Eastwood's Chris Foster and Gibsonburg senior Samantha Stainbrook.
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| Samantha Stainbrook |
Leatherman said the Bears have been able to carry over the success they had at the end of last season, when they finished 14-10. Their 2009 season ended with a 1-0 loss to Elmwood in the Division III district semifinals.
“We more or less talk about how bad that hurt last year,” Leatherman said. “After that loss to Elmwood, the next night we ended up playing the eventual league champion, Eastwood, and we beat them in the final game of the year and we kind of built on that win. That last week of the season, we were playing very well. We said this team could be very good, but we have to continue to work hard every day to get better. If we do that, we're going to be OK.”
Senior shortstop Aubrey Goetz is tied for the team lead in hitting, with a .362 average. She also has four doubles, seven RBI and 16 stolen bases.
“I expect a lot out of our girls, to improve from year to year,” Leatherman said. “Aubrey worked hard in the offseason and has changed a few things in her swing and has become a valuable part of leading the game off and getting the offense going.”
Junior catcher Katey DuShane is hitting .362 with five doubles and 12 RBI.
“Katey is doing well,” Leatherman said. “She's thrown out a few runners this year and she has changed a few things offensively. She has bought into our philosophy and has continued to become a better hitter from a year ago.”
Stainbrook, an honorable mention All-SLL pitcher last year, is 11-3 with a 1.51 ERA in 93 innings. She has 90 strikeouts with just 11 walks, and opponents are batting .180 against her. At the plate, Stainbrook is hitting .292 with seven doubles and 13 RBI.
“She hasn't added any pitches, she's just spotted her pitches better and is keeping hitters off-balance,” Leatherman said. “Sam and Katey have worked hard together to get to what she likes to throw in certain situations. Anytime she gets in a jam, she works hard to get out of it, and our defense has played very well behind her when it counts.”
Leatherman has moved a few players around defensively, and the results have been positive. Goetz, for example, was a second-team all-league center fielder last season but has done well at short this spring.
“We had an injury during basketball season to the girl (sophomore Morgan Meredith) who was playing short at the end of last year,” Leatherman said. “We knew Aubrey was athletic, so we said let's put you at shortstop and see how it goes. She didn't question it one bit and has worked hard to become the best shortstop she can possibly be.”
Junior Abby Copley, who shared time with Meredith at short last year, has moved to second base.
“Abby might have played second base for a handful of games when she as a young kid,” Leatherman said. “She has really grown into that position and has become a decent second baseman.”
Leatherman also praised junior third baseman Taylor Henline and his seniors, including left fielder Stephanie Fisher, first baseman Emily Kohler and designated player Jackie Mitchell.
“The seniors have done a very good job,” Leatherman said. “Stephanie Fisher had some arm trouble this year and has been a pleasant surprise with how hard she's worked and how hard she's swung the bat. Emily Kohler has improved offensively as well. She's constantly tried to make herself better at the plate and has been a very good defensive first baseman. Jackie Mitchell didn't play last year because of an injury and has worked hard to get back to playing and has been a contributing factor to our offense.”
With every SLL team saddled with at least one league loss through April 27, the conference race is still up for grabs. Gibsonburg's last SLL championship came in 2004.
“If we continue to work hard, at the end of the season we'll see how it shakes up,” Leatherman said. “We have as good a shot as anybody.”
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