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Cowgirls feature blend of youth, experience

Crook County returns three all-league players from last season

Crook County High School pitcher Miranda Smith fields a ball while taking infield at a recent practice. Smith is the Cowgirls lone senior.

LON AUSTIN/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

Crook County High School pitcher Miranda Smith fields a ball while taking infield at a recent practice. Smith is the Cowgirls lone senior.

Lon Austin

March 11, 2013

The Crook County Cowgirls are a little bit of an unknown quantity this year.

The Cowgirls finished last season with a 14-13 record, but suffered a disappointing loss in their play-in game, missing out on a playoff spot.

Although the team graduated just four players, this season may still be something of a rebuilding year.

The team has a new coach, and a new look.

“Practices are going pretty good,” said first-year head coach Gary White. “Obviously we lost some key players, but we have some freshmen who are stepping up.”

The Cowgirls lost Taylor Walker, Tasha Azbill, Loran Saenz, and Emily Christiensen to graduation. Then they suffered another loss when all-league first baseman Kelsee Martin injured her knee in basketball and is out for the season.

Still the team has a solid core returning.

The team’s lone senior, Miranda Smith, was named first team all-league as a pitcher a year ago. Smith is expected to provide solid pitching as well as leadership to the Cowgirls.

Shortstop, Jena Ovens was also first team all-league a year ago, while Emily Benton was named to the second team.

Other Players with varsity experience include Kaylee Wright-Johnson, Katie Estes, and Karlee Myers-Hollis.

Joining them on the varsity roster will be Aspen Fuller, Ashley Bond, Ashley Elliott, and freshmen Regan Chavez, Taylor Hilderbrand, and McKayla Younger.

“Obviously it’s a new coach, a new system, and there are going to be growing pains,” White said. “At times there is some confusion, but we are working through that.”

White added that the team is eager to start playing games.

“We are looking forward to our first game,” he said. “We will make our errors, and then we will correct those and go on from there.”

The Cowgirls start their season this afternoon when they host Burns in a 4 p.m. game. The team is back at home on Saturday when they take on Estacada in a 1 p.m. game, then go on the road next Wednesday to face La Pine.