SPRING SPORTS 2009: Elverado Softball Expects Great Season
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ If the return of nine experienced letter winners-three of those pitchers-can't get people excited about Elverado High School Softball, then nothing ever will.
The Lady Falcons, 11-13 and Class 1A regional finalists in 2008, are shooting for much higher goals in 2009.
Elverado opens play March 23 at home against Egyptian.
"We are definitely shooting for a 20-win season," third year coach Donette Wheatley (25-25) admits. "Its always a goal to win the conference and that's something we are very capable of doing this year. We have the ability. We just have to stay healthy and stay focused all season."
Pitching ace and John A. Logan College recruit Jenna Cochran missed a large part of last spring with injury, but is back at full strength. She will be joined in an experienced pitching circle rotation that includes junior Kelsey Tuthill and sophomore Kelsi Teague.
Cochran, Katie Watts (C) and Mallory Winthrop (1B) are returning senior starters with Courtney Morse (CF) anchoring the outfield.
Chelsea Cochran (so.) and Rachel Hunziker (jr.) hold down third base with Tuthill, J. Cochran and Sami Hicks (so.) competing for the shortstop position.
Two sophomores-Lacie Tow and Ashley McKinney-along with freshman Lacey Qualls-complete Wheatley's 12-player roster.
"We have eight returning starters and three really good pitchers," Wheatley said. "We will take one game at a time and do the very best we can."
Again, 129-student Elverado will face a rugged schedule. The grind includes defending state champions Cobden (1A) and Carterville (2A) in addition to the Black Diamond Conference slate.
Non-BDC opponents include West Frankfort, Sparta, Vienna , Goreville twice, Class 3A Mt. Vernon and Du Quoin.
The Lady Falcons will again host the annual Elverado Invitational while also playing in Benton's late season tournament.
2009 Elverado Softball Schedule
March 23-Egyptian, 4:00
March 25-Sparta, 4:00
March 27-@ Chester, 4:00
March 30-@ Goreville, 4:00
March 31-@ West Frankfort, 4:00
April 2-@ Dongola, 4:00
April 3-@ Galatia, 4:00
April 8-Goreville, 4:15
April 9-@ Hamilton County, 4:30
April 10-@ Woodlawn, 4:30
April 11-Webber Twp. (2), 10 a.m.
April 14-Vienna, 4:30
April 15-Mt. Vernon, 4:00
April 16-@ Carterville, 4:30
April 17-18-Elverado Invitational, TBA
April 20-Cobden, 4:30
April 21-@ Fairfield, 4;30
April 23-Trico, 4:30
April 24-Crab Orchard (2), 3:15
April 28-Carmi-White County, 4:30
April 29-@ Trico, 4:30
April 30-@ ZRC, 4:30
May 4-@ Meridian, 4:15
May 5-@ Johnston City, 4:30
May 6-@ Waltonville, 4:30
May 7-@ Eldorado, 4:30
May 9-Benton Tourney, TBA
May 12-@ Du Quoin, 4:30
May 14-@ Century, 4:30
May 15-@ Shawnee, 4;15
May 18-IHSA Regionals week, TBA