By Jules Cantor, ’11, Sports Editor

The 2010 Indians are ready to improve upon their 7-10 record from a year ago, having begun practice this week. The team consists of a multitude of talented players, spanning multiple classes, but the senior class is especially strong, led by pitcher Anna Lemen, center-fielder Becky Hartle, offensive presence Mackenzie Pickett, and first baseman Mariah Reed. Lemen is particularly notable as she is a four-year starter and one of the best pitchers in the city.

“I expect Anna will have a fantastic senior year,” said Head Coach Theresa Hirschauer. “She has worked on improving each year and has developed a new pitch every year.  She will throw at least five different types of pitches.  As an MVC all-league player for three years and all-district as a junior, she has a chance to be all-state as a senior.”

Lemen also led the team with a .429 batting average during the 2009 spring season.

Other key returning players include junior Amanda Young, who, coach Hirschauer believes, is “one of our better hitters,” and sophomores Rachel Neal, Gail Yacyshyn, and Victoria Mairal-Cruz, who all saw significant playing time as freshmen. In addition, junior Karis Kosar returns from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for all of her sophomore season. Hirschauer said she believes she will “be an instant help” in her junior year.

Overall, the key to success for the 2010 CCDS girls softball team will be scoring runs on offense. The team is very deep in pitching as Lemen, Kosar, and Cruz all return to the rotation, but run support for these pitchers has at times been an issue. If players such as Pickett, Reed, Young, and Hartle can live up to high expectations on the offensive side of the game, the team has the potential to make a run for the MVC championship.