Oakland softball team young and improving

OAKLAND — The postseason has been the rule, not the exception for the Oakland High softball program. But for the first time in six years, coach Bud Maret and the young Oakers stayed at home for the playoffs last spring.

This year, the freshmen who struggled to a 1-16 record are sophomores and are joined by another incoming class of players. And while a return to the postseason is still a longshot, Maret says the future looks bright.

“In a year or two we’ll be back,” Maret said. “That’s not to say we can’t make be in the postseason this year, but we’re still very young. Our goal is to learn, be competitive and win games.”

The team is composed entirely of underclassmen, with seven sophomores and eight freshmen. A platoon of players are looking to replace honorable mention all-Mountain View Conference pitcher Tennille Maples, who exhausted her eligibility.

Sophomore Brittany Baimbridge was Maples’ battery-mate last year, but could move to the mound. Maret calls Baimbridge an all-league caliber player, wherever she ends up playing.

“Brittany is an incredible athlete and will be one of our captains,” he said. “She never told me she could pitch, but we put on a clinic in early drills and she was pretty good.”

Sophomores Elizabeth Lidle and Haley Roeder, and freshman Jessica Rogers could also pitch.

The Oakers will use the preseason to figure out field positions. Chelsea Beecroft moves from shortstop to second base and Lidle has a beat on third base, but Roeder and freshmen Autumn Schultz and Janelle Sherman can all play infield positions.

Sophomores Bree McGinty, Stephanie VanDeHey and Veronica Thomas and freshmen Teresa Ballard, Tana Brown, Dana Fairchild and Adriana Ramirez are competing for outfield positions. Delcina Pepiot is a top utility player.

“The main this is this is one of the better attitude teams I’ve had,” Maret said. “They come to practice every night and work hard.”

Assistant coach Bob Allen also returns for his seventh year with Maret.

Maret picks defending champion Glendale as the team to beat in the MVC.

“They’ve got some of the best players at each position in the league down there,” Maret said. “Andy Owens is the only coach in the league I haven’t beaten once.”