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Young, but experienced Bison
McCook High School
softball team opens 2004
season Thursday against
Omaha Gross, Skutt
The 2004 McCook High School softball team will feature just two seniors -- second baseman Kim Serbousek and outfielder/pitcher Natalie Brooks.
However, coach Dale Lortz' squad will also feature several returning starters and letterwinners from last year's squad that posted a 30-3 record and posted a 1-2 record at the Nebraska Class B state tournament.
The Bison softball team opens the season Thursday at Hastings against Omaha Gross and Omaha Skutt. Game times are 4:30 and 6 p.m.
Returning starters for the Bison are Serbousek, All-Greater Nabraska Athletic Conference shortstop Jillian Bryant, catcher Kayla Wilson and third baseman/catcher Michelle McKenna.
Other letterwinners and part-time starters are pitcher Stephanie Douglas, first baseman Andrea Soden, outfielder Kori Collins and pitcher Taryn Placzek.
Junior varsity players who will press for varsity playing time are Kala Smalley, Lindsey Lawson, Sara Montey, Jessica Harris and Kayla Koetter.
Lortz will have to replace eight graduates from last year's team, including all-state performers Lisa Friehe and Michelle Gaunt.
Friehe, who owns most of the school's pitching records. is now at Doane College.
Gaunt, who owns several offensive marks, now plays at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Lortz' squad will have five pitching prospects in Brooks, Douglas, Placzek and ninth graders Kirstie Hiatt and Marissa Wallace.
"Every position should become two-deep as the season progresses and players fit into a position," said Lortz, who has a 158-47 record in six seasons as the McCook softball coach.
He took two years off in 1998-99 and the team won 50 games under Neal Randel.
The Bison squad competes Saturday at the Holdrege Invitational.
In the first round, McCook plays Gering at 8 a.m. and Cozad plays Grand Island Northwest at 9:45 a.m.
In the other bracket, Minden plays Holdrege at 8 a.m., followed by Lexington vs. Hastings at 9:45 a.m.
Consolation and winner's bracket games will be played at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., followed by third- and seventh-place games at 3 p.m. and the fifth- and first-place games at 4:45 p.m.
The Bison host their own tournament Sept. 4 at the Jaycees Sports Complex.
In addition to McCook, other teams competing are Scottsbluff, Cozad, Chase County-Imperial, Holdrege, Gering, Minden and Lexington.
"The schedule will be very difficult with several Class A teams, including the Columbus Tournament (Sept. 11) and Lincoln Southeast Tournament (Sept. 25)," Lortz said.
"A change in the schedule will be games with Class B powers Omaha Gross and Omaha Skutt on opening day."
McCOOK SOFTBALL
ROSTER FOR 2004
No. Player Grade
1 Sarah Craw 9
2 Jessica Harris 10
3 Tori Davis 9
4 Cody Korus 9
5 Sara Montey 10
6 Kori Collins 11
7 Andrea Soden 11
8 Jessica Einspahr 9
9 Lindsey Lawson 10
10 Kirstie Hiatt 9
11 Hailee Koetter 9
12 Taryn Placzek 10
16 Sarah Leitner 9
17 Marissa Wallace 9
19 Courtney Wudtke 9
20 Kayla Wilson 11
21 Kim Serbousek 12
22 Ashley Carfield 9
24 Austin Wilson 9
25 Natalie Brooks 12
32 Jillian Bryant 11
40 Stephanie Douglas 11
44 Kayla Koetter 11
51 Danelle Bales 11
52 Kala Smalley 11
55 Michelle McKenna 10
Head coach: Dale Lortz.
Assistants: Dan Hilton, Jodi Sheets, Earl Roberts.
Student assistant: Ashley Miller.
2004 SCHEDULE
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Thursday -- McCook @ Hastings: Omaha Gross, 4:30 p.m.; Omaha Skutt, 6 p.m.
Saturday -- @ Holdrege Tournament, 8 a.m.
Tuesday -- COZAD, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 -- @ Holdrege, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 -- McCOOK INVITE, 9 a.m.
Sept. 7 -- @ Lexington, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 -- @ Columbus Tourney
Sept. 14 -- HASTINGS, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 -- @ NP Tourney, noon
Sept. 21 -- @ North Platte, 5:30/7 p.m.
Sept. 23 -- @ Chase County, 4:30/6 p.m.
Sept. 25 -- @ Lincoln SE Classic, 9 a.m.
Sept. 28 -- LEXINGTON, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 -- @ Kearney, 5/6:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 -- GNAC @ Scottsbluff, 10 a.m.
Oct. 7-8 -- District, TBA
Oct. 14-15 -- Class B State @ Omaha, TBA
JV SOFTBALL
Tuesday -- COZAD, 5 p.m.
Sept. 2 -- @ Holdrege, 5 p.m.
Sept. 7 -- @ Lexington, 5 p.m.
Sept. 14 -- HASTINGS, 5 p.m.
Sept. 16 -- CHASE COUNTY, 5:30/7 p.m.
Sept. 21 -- @ North Platte, 5:30/7 p.m.
Sept. 28 -- LEXINGTON, 5 p.m.
Sept. 30 -- @ Kearney, 5/6:30 p.m.