Softball: Hungry Tigers looking for more

2012 MVP Ashley Betzold  (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Last spring FHS grad Paul Harrington came home to guide the Tigers to a 17-6 season, a Missota Conference title and their second-ever state tournament appearance. In year two, he is looking for more.

"Our goal at the beginning of every season is get back to the state tournament in Mankato," he said.

Gone from last year's Section 1 champions are four key contributors: Allie Rice, Erin Wurst, Taylor Haakana and Brooke Searles.

Even though that quartet will be missed, Harrington's cupboard remains far from empty. Senior captains Ashley Betzold and Ton Hunsinger lead a list of seven returning letterwinners who will form the nucleus of this year's squad.

Other returnees include juniors Jordyn Kepros and Mackenzie Nelson and sophomores Molly Berdan, Amber Doyle and Taylor Yousse.

All-Missota Conference pitcher Betzold posted all 17 Farmington wins last spring and has been a varsity regular in the circle since eighth grade. The returning MVP was also an offensive force last year, smacking a pair of hone runs in a game at the state tourney.

Senior co-captain Toni Hunsinger (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Hunsinger also made the all-conference team last season while Doyle received all-league honorable mention. Berdan was the won the team's Most Improved Player Award in 2012.

Harrington said there is also an enthusiastic group of newcomers battling for the open positions but with no outdoor practices on which to base performance, it is way too early to predict who will step up to fill the void.

On thing is certain, however. The Tiger coach likes the idea of having Betzold's name penciled in the No. 1 position on his scorecard.

 "Having Ashley back on the mound is a great start," he said. "Every time out she will give us a chance to win. We just need to play good defense and score some runs to make that happen."

Harrington has a bumper crop of infielders but if there are question marks, they would seem to be in the outfield and behind the plate where all-conference catcher Rice starred last spring.

"Those positions will be challenges for us," he said. "Some of the younger kids will have to step up or some our infielders will have to adjust to playing the outfield."

Harrington said his team should be in the hunt for conference and section honors again with Shakopee the biggest challenger in the Missota and Hastings the team to beat in the section race.

The Tigers lost assistant coach Trevor Monroe over the off-season when he accepted the varsity job at Eastview but they picked up a quality replacement in former Tiger Randy Schmitz who coached Lakeville North to several state tournament appearances. Veteran assistants Loren Cartwright and Jim Swedin also return to the staff.

Weather permitting, the Tigers open their 2013 season Wednesday, April 3, with a home game against Red Wing.