MCHS softball players chosen for SWL all-Conference teams

MCHS softball players chosen for SWL all-Conference teams

Nov. 16, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

JUNIOR LINDA SMART, shown in this file photo from an early workout, was chosen Southwest League All-Conference after participating on this past fall’s varsity softball team at Montezuma-Cortez High School. She played right field for the Panthers.

A total of five Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity softball players were honored recently by the Class 5A Southwest League coaches.

Seniors Brooke Twilley, Ashley Wilson and junior Linda Smart were chosen 2000 First Team All-Conference. Senior Stacey Pottorff and junior Jenna Thompson were named Honorable Mention. MCHS girls were up against 5A girls for post-season honors although they competed in the post-season as a 4A team.

Twilley, who actually attends Dolores County High School but played softball this season for MCHS, was chosen as catcher. Kristian Cameron of Central of Grand Junction was the other catcher selection. Both are repeat choices from last year’s elite team.

"She did a majority of our catching and she did an outstanding job for us," MCHS first-year head coach Charlie Rosenbaugh announced. "She was a very good leader for us."

Twilley had a fielding percentage of .784. She threw out 17 runners trying to steal. She had a healthy .345 batting average with an on-base percentage of .371. She ended up with 19 hits, including three doubles and two triples. Considering she is a catcher, she had 14 stolen bases.

Wilson played third base for the Panthers, who finished the season with a 10-10 overall record.

"She played very solid at third base for us this season," Rosenbaugh remarked. "She was a very steady player for us. She hustled hard."

Wilson had a fielding percentage of .853 with only four errors for the season. Although she had a batting average of .246, she did what she needed to do to help push players around. Her batting stance was changed but she later went back to the way she was more comfortable with and her average went up. She had 18 hits, including a home run and a triple.

Smart played right field for Cortez.

"She played an excellent right field. She played the position very smart for us. She picked up big hits (many slap) when we needed them," Rosenbaugh commented. "She came on real well towards the middle of the season. Smart really improved a lot."

Smart had a fielding percentage of .892. She only made two throwing errors for the whole season. She threw out five batters running to first base. She had a solid batting average of .328 with 20 hits. Smart knocked in 11 runs.

Senior Natalie Marsh of Grand Junction High and Jami Carson of Central were chosen first-team pitchers. GJHS senior Juanita Gonzales was named to the infield along with Central’s Brooke Jones. Gonzales and Marsh were repeat all-conference performers. Stacy Reeves of Montrose, Michelle Roberts of Central and Karen Thiels of Durango were named to the outfield spots. Grand Junction’s Angela Hart and Central’s Bree Brennan were named utility selections. Brennan was named to the first team a year ago. Also chosen were Fruita-Monument’s Savannah Byers and Laura Sloan.

The Coach of the Year, for the second consecutive year, was Central’s Mark Vanna, who led the Warriors to the SWL title.

Pottorff was chosen to the Honorable Mention list as a pitcher. Pottorff, who played some a short stop when not pitching, was the Panthers’ go-to pitcher until she broke her thumb on a throwing hand. She had a 3-1 overall record with a 1.62 earned run average before she was injured. Pottorff fanned 22 batters. Pottorff had a fielding percentage of .938.

"She was having a good season for us on the mound before she got hurt. It was just too bad it came towards the end of the season. When she was on her game, she was hard to hit. She improved a lot over the summer," he noted.

Thompson was named a utility player. She pitched and played second base and left field. She had a win-loss record of 5-5. But her main contribution was hitting. She led the team with a .469 batting average with an on-base percentage of .541. Thompson picked up nine RBI.

"She would play anywhere we actually needed her," he said. "Jenna was our number one hitter and she came through with many big hits."

"I’m very proud of those girls. They all had a good season and deserve recognition for their efforts," Rosenbaugh added.