Fastpitch looking to build on 2008

The struggles of the Mercer Island girls fastpitch softball team have been evident during the past four years. Just winning one game has become a goal each preseason. But last year, something happened to the team that gave players hope — two wins and the emergence of a competitive spirit that the program has not seen in over a half decade.

The struggles of the Mercer Island girls fastpitch softball team have been evident during the past four years. Just winning one game has become a goal each preseason. But last year, something happened to the team that gave players hope — two wins and the emergence of a competitive spirit that the program has not seen in over a half decade.

“The girls are working really hard this year,” said Jessica Steinle, third-year coach. “They seem more hungry.”

The fact that Steinle has stayed to see the program through these lean years has made a big impact on the players.

“I think that they are starting to trust in the program again,” said Steinle. “I want them to have fun. I don’t care about the team’s record as much as I want to improve the program.”

That improvement has come with some changes from last year. Gone is the junior varsity team. All 19 girls will play varsity, and each will get more one-on-one time with the coaches. The program has added two more coaches, Mike Bylsma and Rena Parcells. Without a junior varsity splitting the program in half, coaches will have more impact on the girls from day-to-day.

“We are able to spread ourselves out more and focus on the areas they need to improve,” said Steinle.

The Islanders have hope for the future in freshman pitcher Charlotte Pearman. But Pearman will have to step up in her first year, as she will be the team’s only true starting pitcher.

“We need to be there for her as a team because we are going to have some rough games,” said Islander senior captain Katie Garrison. “We know we are not going to take KingCo. But we can have fun and try to win some games.”

Steinle said that her starting pitcher has a good fastball and change that she will have to utilize.

“We are working on inventing some more pitchers,” said Steinle. “We have a lot of new faces.”

Pearman will have the advantage of an improved defense this season.

“Our D is a little stronger,” said Steinle. “But we still need to work really hard.”

The team’s biggest weakness will be on offense as many of the girls have not seen live pitching.

“I just want to see improvement,” said Steinle. “Errors down and hits up.”

Steinle is still having a difficult time getting players to return for more than one season. But things might be turning around as she said the reasons for not returning have less to do with the team and more to do with outside commitments like work or preparing for college.

One player that will be back for her fourth year on varsity is Chloe Snethen. The senior has seen a turnaround up close with the girls basketball team which had just three wins four years ago. Snethen’s absence from preseason workouts could be a beacon of hope, as she was helping the basketball team to win the eighth place trophy at state.

“Last year when we won our first game it was an ‘Oh my God,’ type moment,” said Steinle. “We want to feel better about the program each year and I think we are slowly improving.”