By Scott A. Kolb
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
The Southland Rebels softball team has two starting pitchers coming back this season and that will help with a number of doubleheaders on the schedule.
There are a total of four Three Rivers Conference doubleheaders scheduled for this season, including today’s opener against Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland.
Chelsey Smith, a junior, saw most of the mound time last season for the Rebels. Brandi Schammel, a ninth-grader, saw some relief duty last year but she’ll join Smith in the starting rotation this season.
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"It’s nice to have two quality starters, and I plan on using them both throughout the season," Southland coach Greg Schulte said. "They’ve both looked strong in the pre-season practices. We practiced outside for the first time on Friday and got in some work at our field in Rose Creek. The girls are ready to get the season started."
Six seniors are back for the Rebels this season. Ashley Holdgrafer, Emily Heimer, Kari Anderson, Chelsea Miller, Heather Sheely and Ashley Smith all lettered last season. Most of the seniors are infielders, so the Rebels will be strong defensively with a healthy dose of experience coming back.
Another key defensive player returning the lineup is junior catcher Shari Swenson. The Rebels have good depth at nearly every position, so they should be able to improve on their 5-16 record from last year.
"We came on strong late in the season last year, and won all of our five games in the last couple of weeks," Schulte said. "It will be another tough season in the Three Rivers, but the girls gained a lot of confidence with the way we finished last year. We’ll be a lot more competitive this season."
Schulte ranks Chatfield and Rushford-Peterson, the top finishers last year, as the teams to beat again this season in the conference race.
The coach also looks at GMLOK as one of the tougher teams in the conference, so the scheduled opener today at Ostrander against the GMLOK Bulldogs will be a good test for the Rebels. The home opener at the Rose Creek City Park is then set for Thursday against Plainview-Elgin-Millville.
2008 SOUTHLAND SOFTBALL
ROSTER
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Seniors — Ashley Holdgrafer (infield), Emily Heimer (infield), Kari Anderson (infield), Chelsea Miller (infield), Heather Sheely (outfield), Ashley Smith (infield). Juniors — Bryten Reuter (outfield), Lacey Holst (infield), Megan Mullenbach (outfield), Brooke Hanson (infield), Teryn Coffman (infield), Chelsey Smith (pitcher), Shari Swenson (catcher), Hilary Johnson (outfield). Freshmen — Brandi Schammel (pitcher).
SCHEDULE
(Homes games at Rose Creek)
Apr. 7 — at GM/LO/Kingsland (DH), 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 10 — Planview/Elgin-Millville, 5 p.m.
Apr. 14 — at Wabasha-Kellogg, 5 p.m.
Apr. 15 — at Lewiston-Altura, 5 p.m.
Apr. 17 — Glenville-Emmons, 4:30 p.m.
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Apr. 18 — at Hayfield, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 21 — Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 22 — at St. Charles, 5 p.m.
Apr. 24 — Rushford-Peterson (DH), 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 29 — at Chatfield (DH), 4:30 p.m.
May 3 — Rochester Lourdes, 10 a.m.
May 5 — Dover-Eyota, 5 p.m.
May 8 — Fillmore Central (DH), 4:30 p.m.
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May 9 — at Stewartville Tournament, 4 p.m.
