Local ASA softball teams look to rekindle past success.

Byline: Paula Lincoln The Register-Guard

Jim Patrick remembers back in the mid-90s when the Eugene-Springfield area was referred to as the "Mecca of softball in the Northwest."

Area ASA teams regularly competed and placed in regional and national tournaments, but that's not the case anymore.

Today, veteran coaches are struggling to field competitive A-level teams in the 18-and-under and 16-and-under age divisions.

"It's really dropping off,' said Patrick, who coaches an ASA 16-and-under team called the McKenzie Rapids.

The Rapids went 39-10 and finished seventh at nationals as a 16B team last year but will compete as an A team this year along with the Golden Gloves. The Sheldon-based Golden Gloves, formerly coached by the late Tim McJunkin, are now under the direction of Irish coach Brian Brancato.

Patrick's team includes Thurston players Amanda Miller (pitcher), Andria Wheatley (shortstop), Alyssa Peterson (catcher), Linsey Stripling (second base), and Emily Urness (outfield). The Rapids are joined by Churchill's Jessica Plummer (pitcher), Ashley Puls (third base), and Sierra Lessel (outfield); South Eugene's Ricci Estey (outfield); Sheldon's Kaitlyn Patterson (outfield); Elmira's Ashley Lokey (first base); and Brooke Toy (catcher) of North Douglas in Drain.

"We don't have dominant pitchers - though they keep the ball around the plate and don't walk a lot of people - so we'll have to play pretty good defense,' said Patrick, adding that defense has been the team's strength thus far and that the squad also has a lot of speed.

The Golden Gloves include Chloe Buerstatte, Gillian Greider, Whitney Hoff, Lacey McJunkin, Sienna Stanley, Brooke McAllister, Karlie Hyde, Taylor and Victoria Pangilinan, Molly Stephenson, Niki Stafek, Kayla Reay, and Claire Christiansen.

Junction City's Mike Campbell is fielding an 18B team and Willamette's Darren Hatefi is coaching a 16B team made up primarily of players from their respective high school programs. Both will compete in Wednesday doubleheaders at the Junction City Complex, where they'll be joined by a McKenzie Rapids 16B team as well as a number of 14B teams, including the North Stars, Lightning, Storm, and Tiger Pride.

Other local 14B teams that have registered with commissioner Don Oyler include the Heat and the Killer Bees. The Thunder, including Marist sophomore-to-be Kayla Braud, are competing in tournaments as a 14A team.

The Oregon Reign, which has been among the top local high school age teams for the past several years, decided to forego a high school age team in favor of a 12A team and a 10B squad.

Churchill's Eric Leyba said it was becoming increasingly difficult to find enough local players to fill the older teams and that the Reign was having to draw too many players from outside the area. The Reign's first-year 10-and-under team began as an A-level team, but after competing in several tournaments where the caliber of pitching was better than Leyba had expected, the Reign dropped down to the B-level.

Leyba said he's enjoying coaching the younger kids though he's had to learn the rule modifications for 10-and-under.

"And, it's a lot more coaching,' said Leyba, who hopes that the Reign's emphasis on younger players will help bring a resurgence of softball success to the area.