Softball News and Notes - April 11

Local standings through April 10
Chestnut Ridge, 4-1
Claysburg, 3-1
Everett, 2-1
Tussey Mountain, 2-3
HOPE for Hyndman, 2-4
Northern Bedford, 1-5
Bedford, 0-4

Claysburg riding the Coho effect
   As I noted in Tuesday's Bedford Gazette game coverage from Claysburg's win over West Branch, pitching was the biggest question mark for the Lady Bulldogs heading into this season.
   Losing a player of Ronette Claar's caliber will do that. However, Kiersten Coho, who predominantly played first base last year, is giving Claysburg a very strong replacement for Claar, who led the team to two District 6-A titles, four state tournament appearances, and two trips to the Class A state semifinals in her four years of high school ball.
   Coho, a junior, notes that she received a lot of help from her former teammate, mostly in the mental aspect of pitching.
   "She really taught me how to just be confident in the (circle)," said Coho. "She never gave up and never backed down, and I'm just trying to model myself that way."
   Claysburg coach Mike Barbarini has been impressed in how well Coho has picked things up.
   "She's been solid all year," he said. "Up at Mount Union (4-3 loss), she only gave up a few hits. At Bellwood (1-0 win), she only gave up a few hits, and here (Tuesday's 5-0 victory), she only gave up a couple.
   "Kiersten's come so far over the past year with her pitching. There's really not a big step down between her and Ronette. And she's just going to get stronger with the more games that she's in."
Everett frosh making a difference
   There are four freshmen on Everett's roster this spring, and with only 12 girls overall, many of them were pegged as either everyday starters or regular contributors.
   While the move up from the junior high ranks can be a tough one sometimes, these Lady Warriors are making it look pretty easy.
   But they have been making waves in softball for years. Back in the summer of 2009, the four ninth-graders - Hannah Laidig, Kadie Morral, Raelyn Rice, and Allison Snider - all had a big hand in an Everett youth team taking second place in the state in the 10-11 age group for softball.
   I had the chance to cover a good many of those games that summer (which also makes me feel much older having seen these girls play for years) and knew that the future of Lady Warrior softball was a bright one.
Weekly Glance
   The big game this week is today's foray between Chestnut Ridge and Everett at the Lady Lions' field. Ridge has won the last four District 5-AA titles and is poised to make it five, but the aforementioned youth movement at Everett should make this game, and the rest of the season interesting.