SOFTBALL PREVIEW: AGOURA GETS A FRESH START : NEW-LOOK PANTHERS HOPEFUL.Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer Everything is new for the Agoura High softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' team, and it will either be good - meaning the Chargers will compete for a playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. berth - or bad, if the team doesn't adjust. The biggest change is new head coach Jill Veres. She takes over for Pat Grennan, who left to coach at the junior college level. ``Everything is completely different,'' junior first baseman Kim Refkin said. ``We have to get used to a new coach, a new system and a new way of doing things. I think we coming along OK and I think we're going to be a better team this year.'' Last season the Chargers finished well out of the playoff race in the ultra-competitive Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. , and although the league is equally tough this season, the Chargers can't be counted out. The team might struggle early as Amanda Oleson adjusts to her full-time pitching role. Oleson, a junior, was the team's shortstop last season and plays shortstop on her travel team. At 5-foot-10 with excellent speed and range, Oleson was one of the region's best shortstops but she will pitch out of necessity. ``It's weird,'' Oleson said. `I'm not used to it yet. Basically I'm doing it because the team needs me there.'' Oleson said she last pitched on a regular basis in her late elementary school elementary school: see school. years, but moved to shortstop once she started playing travel softball. ``I need some practice and hopefully I will get better the more practice I get and the more games we play,'' Oleson said. Oleson is a tremendous athlete and has a strong enough arm that she should be successful and give the Chargers an opportunity to win most games. She will be backed up junior Kristy Jacobson and freshman Holly Pearce. The team is still relatively young. There should only be two senior starters and there are a number of freshman and sophomores on the team. ``We have a lot of talent,'' Veres said. ``And I expect good things from this group of players.'' The players expect it too. ``We think we have a chance to compete for a playoff spot,'' Refkin said. ``We really do. This team has excellent chemistry, everyone get along so well. I think teams might look at us as a team they can walk all over, but we're going to surprise some people.'' In its first two games, the Chargers showed they can win tight ones games and are capable of an offensive bounty bounty, payment made by a government bounty, amount paid by a government for the achievement of certain economic or other goals. It often takes the form of a premium paid for the increased production or export of certain goods. . The team blanked St. Joseph of Lakewood 2-0 and blasted blast·ed adj. 1. Used as an intensive: I hate these blasted flies. 2. Slang Drunk or intoxicated. 3. Blighted, withered, or shriveled. North Hollywood 9-3. AT A GLANCE Coach: Jill Veres, first year Record in 1999: 2-0 Top returners: Kelly Havel, Jr. 3b; Melissa Fetman, Sr. SS; Kim Refkin, Jr. 1b; Amanda Olseon, Jr. P; Alicia White, Jr. 2b; Lauren Casper, Sr. C; Diana Pagan, Jr. OF Top newcomers: Allie Hansen. Fr. OF; Holly Pearce FR P/1b/OF; Erin Saunders Saun´ders n. 1. See Sandress. , So. 1b; Tracy Saunders, Jr. OF; Meredith Petit PETIT, sometimes corrupted into petty. A French word signifying little, small. It is frequently used, as petit larceny, petit jury, petit treason. PETIT, TREASON, English law. The killing of a master by his servant; a husband by his wife; a superior by a secular or religious man. , Sr. C: Kristy Jacobson, Jr. P/OF P/OF Pinhole Occulter Facility ; Veronica Rodarte, So. OF CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO (Color) Former shortstop Amanda Oleson will wind up pitching this year. Tina Gerson/Daily News BOX: AT A GLANCE (See text) |
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