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Four represent Chetek at all-star games
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| By: Amber Gieseke |
June 24, 2009 |
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Randy Books (left), Mallorie Moon and Emily Christensen were chosen to be part of the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches senior all-star games June 15-16 in Stevens Point. Sandy Newell (far right) was chosen by Books to be his assistant coach.
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After helping their team become repeat Heart O' North conference champions and go into the second round of regionals, Mallorie Moon, Emily Christensen and Randy Books were chosen to participate in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association's all-star games in Stevens Point. Books then chose Sandy Newell, the Chetek JV coach, to be his assistant.
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Cooperation, teamwork, trust and fun were all a part of the 2009 WFSCA all-star games, agreed the Chetek participants.
"Our skill levels were all the same so it was less stressful playing," commented Moon. "We trusted each other to do what needed to get done."
Christensen added that it helped her mentally as a pitcher. "Even if they were hitting my pitches, I knew the fielders were there to back me up so I didn't feel as though I should be taken out of the game," she explained. "It was teamwork and that made it fun."
Having equal abilities and full understanding of the game from each girl affected not only how the girls felt while playing the game and how they played, but how the game was coached as well.
Books, who said he was honored by being chosen by his peers to coach at the games, stated, "There was not a lot of coaching going on. These girls are gifted athletes ... [and] just wanted to play. I just needed to play and bat the girls in the order of their strengths, to best put them in a position to help each other."
And that he did; the D3 red team the four Chetek representatives were on won both their games.
In their first game against the D3 white team, the red team won 7-3. Christensen pitched four innings and only allowed three hits and three earned runs. Moon was a big hitter.
"[My hit] felt awesome. I hit it and it was a line drive over the second baseman's head before it dropped. I made it to first and brought the girls on second and third base in."
It wasn't easy for Moon, though. "There were a lot of different pitches and almost all of them were accurate," she said. "It made it more challenging. We just had to remember to relax and that any hit was a success, whether we got on base or not."
Christensen said travel ball readied her for the challenges the other pitchers would throw across the plate, but she was never a real strong hitter and didn't mind not connecting as many times as other batters did. She has her pitching, which suits her just fine, she said.
The girls made numerous friends while playing, and although they may not keep in touch, Moon pointed out that it was fun to joke around and know each of the girls' names by the end of the day. Christensen added that there wasn't as much joking as there was on the high school team, but that's because it is easier to joke around and have fun with girls you've been playing with for years.
It was fun for the coaches, too.
"I enjoy coaching, it doesn't matter what type of game, and as a coach it was fun to see and be part of this level of competition," Books said.
But at the end of the day, he stated, "The game is still played one pitch at a time."
Both girls, 2009 graduates of Chetek High School, hope to keep softball a part of their lives in the future.
Christensen will attend the Milwaukee school of engineering. Although their team is on a two-year losing streak, she doesn't mind.
"This way there won't be as much pressure so I can focus on my academics," she said. "I'll want to help my team win, but if we don't, I won't feel as though I'm letting them down."
She plans on majoring in biomolecular engineering with a pre-med minor so she can research diseases and cancer and hopefully find a cure. Her back-up plan? To be a forensic scientist.
Moon will attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where she will try out for the softball team. She plans on majoring in biology and physical therapy so that she can work with athletes.
"My injuries have made me want to help others," she explained.
The WFSCA all-stars had to fundraise money to play in the games. The money then went to the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, which benefits breast cancer patients. More than $15,000 was raised, the girls said.
They got to help cancer victims and play with the best of the best.
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©The Chetek Alert 2010
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