CHS Lady Jackets Softball hosts year-end awards event

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Chester High School Lady Yellow Jackets ended their 2009 softball season last weekend Saturday, May 23 in the Regional Championship game against Trico. The Lady Pioneers won the contest, 6-3, but the 2009 Lady Yellow Jackets became the first team in school history to advance to the Regional finals.

Coach Erin Ogelsby wasted no time organizing the team's end-of-the-year awards event and hosted a rather unique event to honor the players and include the parents in the process.

Ogelsby and Assistant Coach Christine Kaiping hosted their first ever awards event at the Cohen Complex north of Chester at the same location where the Lady Yellow Jackets now play their home games.

The event began with the 1st Annual Lady Jackets vs. their parents game. The fun-filled activity was played on Field No. 2 where the Jackets play their regular season home games.

Once everyone arrived the girls wasted no time making their way to the field. Parents reluctantly followed but took little time warming up prior to the first pitch. Coaches Kaiping and Oglesby joined the players along with Tim Sullins who was there as a guest of one of the Lady jackets.

The Parents Team featured 11 old timers who had a great time battling the youngsters. Almost every parent commented that they would likely be sore the next day, but the fun and excitement of playing ball once again outweighed the risks of a few aches and pains.

The Lady Jackets jumped out to a brief 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the parents took little time to catch up. In the third inning the girls scored another four runs to take a 7-3 lead. The parents were able to get within one, 7-6, and in the bottom of the final inning with two outs and a man on first and third it looked as if the home team parents might be able to tie or even take the lead to win the game.

A hard hit smash fly ball deep to left field appeared to be the game-winner when Emily Beers made a last second catch just a few feet from the fence on a diving play. She slid into the fence but managed to keep the ball in her glove to end the game with a 7-6 win for the Lady Yellow Jackets.

The friendly competition was a great way to end the season and it gave the players, coaches and parents an opportunity to have fun and share the field of competition in a non-threatening game of softball.

As the final out was apparent Steve Springer, father of senior Jamie Springer, let everyone know that the burgers and hot dogs were done and the entire group made a quick retreat to the shelter to enjoy a delicious meal. Coaches Oglesby and Kaiping furnished the meat and several of the side dishes while the parents completed the meal by adding desserts, snacks and covered dishes. Everyone had much to eat and no one left hungry.

Following the delicious meal Oglesby and Kaiping presented the end-of-the-year player awards. They began with letter-winners and recipients of letter-pins. Letter-winners included Ashley Lindsay, Danielle Homan, Lauren Hoops, Morgan Colvis and Taylor Marks. Rachel Sheely earned her letter and her sophomore patch as did Taylor Crum and Ashley Andrews.

Former letter-winners received a pin for their letter to indicate their letter-winning status for 2009. Those players included Emily Beers, Jamie Springer, Mollie Laramore, and Megan Atchison. Laramore and Atchison, who are juniors, further received their sophomore patches due to the fact that there was no softball awards event last season.

Oglesby and Kaiping then presented the 2009 major awards for Lady Jackets Softball. Most Improved Player of the Year was Emily Beers who Oglesby described as a natural player who always gave the team 100-percent. Beers was a rookie to the Jacket's squad this season. Even though she was a senior, 2009 was her first year playing softball in high school.

Defensive layer of the Year was Morgan Colvis. Colvis was only a freshman but proved her worth both on the mound as the Jacket's starting pitcher and at the plate providing worry for opposing pitchers. Her defensive skills were much appreciated this season and she definitely helped CHS have a competitive season in most contests.

Mollie Laramore was announced as the Jacket player with the most hustle on a regular basis. Laramore earned the team's second-highest award, the Chester High School Athletic Achievement Award for "Team Hustle". Laramore received several regular-season game hustle awards throughout the year and was considered the player with the most overall hustle.

Megan Atchison, junior, earned the team's Most Valuable Player Award for her overall contributions to the 2009 Lady Yellow Jackets. Atchison was the catcher for the Jackets and also led the team at the plate with the highest batting average. Megan also earned the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year Award for achieving the highest batting average for 2009.

Her skills and success behind the plate in the catcher position also caught the eye of opposing coaches in the River-to-River Conference as Atchison became the only player on the 2009 Yellow Jacket squad to earn All-Conference honors. Atchison was named to the 2nd-Team All-Conference for her catching achievements. All-Conference selections are decided by a vote of other coaches in the league. Coaches are not allowed to vote for players from their own teams, thus, the honor means significantly more to players who earn the All-Conference selection.

Finally, seniors Jamie Springer and Emily Beers were recently honored at the school-wide Sports Awards Night held in the CHS Cafeteria. Springer and Beers were co-recipients of the 2009 A-Gamers Award for Softball. The award, which is sponsored annually by Don Daschka of Chester, is presented to a senior softball player who demonstrates loyalty, pride, commitment and dedication to the team and who gives 110-percent at all times. The award carries with it a $250.00 cash scholarship which will be split by Springer and Beers for 2009.

Oglesby thanked all of the players and especially their parents for providing loyal support for the team this season. The 2009 Lady Yellow Jackets were a very young squad with only two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. The 2010 Yellow Jackets will return seven starters and promise to be competitive in the final season as members of the River-to-River Conference before moving to the Black Diamond Conference in 2010-2011.

The 2009 Lady Yellow Jackets Softball Team finished the season strong wining two of their last three games and making it to the Championship game of the 2009 IHSA Regional Softball Tournament. It was the first time a CHS Lady Jacket Team played for a Regional title. Trico barely escaped the Jackets wining, 6-3 in a very competitive contest.

Oglesby and Kaiping further thanked both players and parents for being so supportive and understanding of them in what were their "first-ever" coaching jobs at the high school level. Parents returned the favor by thanking them for their efforts and dedication to the 2009 Lady Jackets. The evening ended as the light of day dissipated and a group of tired players and parents said good-bye to two seniors and to a very successful 2009 Lady Yellow Jacket Softball season.