By Jane Palen

Managing Editor

The Spring Grove/Caledonia softball team is hoping to defend its title as Southeast Conference champions in the 2005 season. The team ended its last season with a record of 15-8 record overall and 9-1 in conference play.

Michelle Anderson is in her 15th year of coaching and is assisted by Tina Esch.

The teamís chances of a winning season are increased with the return of eight letter winners: seniors Vanessa Augedahl, Angie Ideker, and Cortney Lager; junior Mariah Conway; sophomore Jane Pettit, Jordan OíHeron, and Ashley King; and eighth grader Cassie Gran. Augedahl, who plays catcher, was all-conference and all-section last year and has a batting average of .507. Ideker is shortstop and has a batting average of .342. Conway is a three-year starter at third base. OíHeron has a batting average of .429. Gran, a pitcher and 2004 all-conference player, had an earned run average of 1.64 last season.

ìWe will be working to defend the conference championship against some very good teams in our conference,î said coach Anderson. ìHouston and Lyle Pacelli should once again be tough teams; the other teams have young players who could step up and contribute tremendously.

ìWe return five starters and have some talented sophomores and freshmen ready to earn the other starting spots.î

Some candidates are Karla Tweeten, a sophomore; and Kaysie Otterness and Megan Budde, both juniors.

Anderson said the speed of the team and its offensive capabilities are its strong points this year. She is looking for improvement in the area of defensive errors and wants the players to work on preparing themselves mentally for the games.

ìWe have young pitchers who saw lots of playing time last season, but we still need consistent improvement on the mound,î she commented.

The team to beat this year in the section and subsection is Winona Cotter, said Anderson.

ìSG/C will work hard to be competitive against them as well as the other section 1AA teams.î

The team meets Lyle Pacelli in Austin tomorrow night. The team plays Houston in Caledonia on Monday.

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Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
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507/724-3475

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