Charlie Rosenbaugh, a man who has been around local softball for several years including guiding the Cortez Diamonds traveling team to success this past summer, is the new head man for the Montezuma-Cortez High School softball team.

Rosenbaugh takes over in place of Ted Williams who resigned at the end of last year after a two-year stint.

"Two reasons why I took this job was because no. one I really love the sport of softball. When I was a State Trooper in Denver, I played fast-pitch softball. I couldn’t wait to get off work and go play softball. I love watching softball and being involved in the sport. And the reason is these girls right here. This program is not for me but for them," he remarked just before a practice at the Cortez Softball Complex.

One of Rosenbaugh’s top priority is getting a junior varsity program put back together.

"There has not been a junior varsity program here for the last couple of years. I’ve been pushing to get a lot of girls to come out because we will find a place for them. Some girls I know didn’t come out because they know if they can’t make varsity they would get cut. But that is not the case. We’re going to have a junior varsity team this fall. I’m still hoping some girls will change their minds and come out. We still want them to play," he said.

At least the cupboard wasn’t left bare when Williams left. Rosenbaugh has seven seniors listed on the roster and a handful of juniors, most with varsity experience. The seniors are Ashleigh Wilson, Stacy Martinez (from Mancos), Stacey Pottorff, Michelle Davis (Dolores County), Jenna Thompson, Jentri Giesler, and Angela Olguin.

Martinez will probably play first base. Thompson will play second base. Thompson will also see duty on the mound. giesler and Wilson are prospects for third base. Giesler also will do some pitching. Brook Twilley will be behind the plate. Emily Parrish will do some backup catching. Wallace will play some in the outfield and perhaps do some catching. Pottorff will pitch and play short stop. When Pottorff is not pitching, Amanda Johnson will likely be a short.

Rachel Hightower (Dolores County) is a junior outfielder and may play some at second base. Junior Linda Smart is an outfielder and plays some in the infield. Olguin will play in the outfield. Alizia Baker is the lone sophomore and will play some in the outfield. Michelle Davis (Dolores County), who played volleyball last season for the Bulldogs, will also play in the outfield.

Speed is a plus for the team this year. Most girls can run a mile under nine minutes. Running the bases, many of the girls are very quick. Davis, Giesler, Twilley and Smart are all quick and can steal bases.

"We have quite a few girls who are decent sticks. We have been working hard on bunting. We are going to do bunting with our short hitting game when the situtation is right. But we’ve got some good solid hitters and a couple long ball sluggers but mainly line drives," he remarked.

Rosenbaugh coached many of the girls throughout the summer with the Amateur Softball Association Cortez Diamonds, a team under the auspices of the Southwest Softball Association. They played in tournaments in Montrose, Grand Junction, and Gunnison, and some games in Farmington. The girls played some 25 games this past summer.

"If we can keep the girls focused for that hour and half during the game, I think we can have a pretty good season," Rosenbaugh commented. "That’s all I ask for is that they keep their minds on the game. It is not my job, it is their job. They are the ones playing the game."

The Panthers will open the 2000 season with a twin bill at Durango, which is starting a new softball program, at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. They compete in the Berthoud Tournament Sept. 8-9 then play at home for a doubleheader against Delta on Sept. 15. Back-to-back twin bills against Fruita-Monument and Montrose, Sept. 22-23, at Kronkright Field in Grand Junction is next on the agenda.

Home dates are set for doubleheaders against Grand Junction High on Sept. 29 and Central of Grand Junction on Sept. 30. The Panthers travel to Grand Junction to face Palisade at Kronkright on Oct. 6 and then travel to Rifle on Oct. 7.