A pitch for respect.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

When Churchill cruised through the Midwestern League schedule last season without a loss, it appeared the Lancers were gaining momentum for a playoff push.

Then, the Lancers were beaten by Southridge in the first round of the OSAA Class 4A softball playoffs. Churchill's loss to the fourth-place team out of the Metro League looked like an upset at the time, but it later proved to be a tough draw as the Skyhawks advanced all the way to the state final.

"You'd think they'd protect us a bit," Churchill coach Eric Leyba said of the bracket. "We had opportunities to win that game early on, but when you get to that part of the season, anything can happen and anyone can be beaten at any time."

That was a lesson learned by all four Midwestern teams that reached the playoffs last year. Thurston and North Eugene also lost in the first round and Springfield was beaten in the second round, leaving the league without a representative in the championship game for the first time since 1998.

Last year's finish seems to have diminished expectations this year for the Midwestern League. No team from the league received a vote in this week's coaches poll.

"It's funny, we had three years in a row where we were in the finals, and Churchill was in the semifinals and Springfield reached the final once, and the league had been good," North Eugene coach Mike Jodoin said. "We had a bad year last year and didn't play well, but it kind of surprised me that people are looking by us, but in some respects I like that."

Leyba was not surprised by the early polls.

"Our league has been known for pitching, and when Amy Harris left and Jackie Kerrigan left then people really didn't see the kids coming up and they counted us out," Leyba said. "Hopefully that will change in the next couple of years."

The Lancers were picked as the favorite to repeat as Midwestern champions in The Register-Guard coaches poll. Churchill has five all-league honorees back on the roster, including sisters Jessica and Rachel Steigleman, who combined to hit eight home runs last year and were both first-team all-league selections.

Outfielder Krystal Dyer joined the Steiglemans on the first team, while catcher Lily Rogers was a second-team selection and Kelly Dyer received honorable mention.

Those five hitters bring power to the top of the order.

"I think we're going to hit the ball," Leyba said. "Kelly is leading off and she has the potential to hit the ball out of the yard. Rachel is second and she hit one out (against Roseburg) and holy cow, it went over the scoreboard about 260 feet. Lily and Jessica will hit third and fourth and they both have the potential to hit the long ball. Krystal bats fifth and she has got some pop."

Jessica Steigleman missed much of the preseason with an ankle injury, but has moved from first base to third base and will line up next to her sister, who is at shortstop.

Junior Meagan McPheeters takes over at first base, and junior Courtney South returns at second base after sitting out last year.

"The infield will be solid, probably one of the best we've had in the last couple of years," Leyba said.

That's good news for Kelly Dyer, who takes over pitching duties this season. The sophomore has pitched in summer games and threw a lot during the fall to get ready for the high school season.

"I'm really excited to see how Kelly does off the mound," Leyba said. "She throws hard and has good movement on her ball. I've worked with her now since she was in seventh grade and she has improved her strength, her velocity, and her ball movement. She has the ability to change speed on any pitch she throws and she does a good job keeping hitters off balance."

North Eugene is the top contender expected to challenge the Lancers, and if the Highlanders do so, it will probably result in another milestone for Jodoin, who won his 500th game last year. Jodoin currently has 503 victories, which is only nine shy of tying the state record held by former Putnam coach Jerry Stidham.

The Highlanders feature junior pitcher Ashley Likens, a first-team all-league selection last year.

"She is so much stronger," Jodoin said. "She's throwing in the strike zone all the time. She's throwing a lot of drop balls and curves and can come with some speed. That's big."

Junior second baseman Ashley Ficek leads the Highlanders at the plate and is batting over .600. She was moved up from ninth to first in the order, and reached base 12 times in her 21 plate appearances.

Annee McHarry, Denee Johnson, Likens and Jacque Barton follow in the order, and each of those players earned all-league recognition last season. Catcher Sam Johnson, a transfer from Sheldon, received honorable mention.

The Highlanders have averaged more than 23 wins during the past nine years and made the playoffs in each of those seasons. However, the Highlanders equalled their fewest league wins since 1993 last year with a 10-6 record.

Twenty schools received at least one vote in this week's 4A poll, but the Highlanders were not one of them.

"We didn't deserve any based on what we did last year," Jodoin said. "We lost too many one-run games and we didn't finish. As the season progressed, we didn't improve. We've played a tough schedule this year and we've played well against some tough teams already. We've improved. We're better than last year."

COACHES RATE THE MIDWESTERN LEAGUE

SOFTBALL

1. Churchill: Steigleman and Dyer sisters power the Lancers

2. North Eugene: Jodoin closing in on state wins record

3. Springfield: Five all-league honorees return for Millers

4. Thurston: All-league catcher hurt; Colts still in playoff hunt

5. Marshfield: Veteran group returns for the Pirates 

6. Sheldon: Gamez only freshman named first-team all-league

7. Willamette: Better speed, power lift Wolverines

8. Lebanon: Depth helps Warriors in second MWL campaign

9. South Eugene: Strong freshman class bodes well for future

CAPTION(S):

Wayne Eastburn / The Register-Guard Sophomore Kelly Dyer will take over pitching duties for Churchill this season, and she is backed by a powerful lineup. Churchill softball coach Eric Leyba and his Lancers were upset by Southridge in the playoffs last year, when none of the four Midwestern League qualifiers survived the second round.