The Carlton girls softball team has many of the same problems that other teams in the area are fighting - cold weather and snow. With a new coach and facing a season without players from Wrenshall, the Bulldogs will have needs to address.
"We are a young team with very little overall varsity experience," said first-year coach Jill Mundell. "I feel the girls have worked hard during preseason and have been given the tools to play."
The Bulldogs will rely on two seniors who are returning starters, Nicole Kramer and Brandi Lundquist. Kramer will see time at second and third and Lundquist will play both in center and at first base. In all, 10 varsity players return from last year's team.
"We have Melissa Clark who will be our catcher, and she is very intense and has one of the toughest work ethics of any player I have coached," mentioned Mundell. "Monita Gibson will be playing shortstop and she has an excellent arm and a take-charge attitude."
The Bulldogs will need to rely on eighth-grader Savannah Schramm as pitcher since sophomore Mia Saunders has been fighting illness.
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"It looked like Savannah was going to be backing up Saunders, but Mia has been out with an illness," commented Mundell. "Both will share pitching duties when Mia returns."
The Bulldogs are a very young team with very little experience, but the team has been working hard during preseason to get ready for the regular season.
"I think we will have some ups and downs at the beginning," stated Mundell. "I feel as our game experience increases, we will have more ups than downs."
Carlton will rely on three seventh-graders and four eighth-graders who all should see some time on the varsity this season.
Assisting Mundell will be Tresa Lamphier.
Pine Journal sports reporter Kerry Rodd can be contacted at: kdrodd@aol.com .
