By Vern Hee

In regional action the Muckers softball is off to a great start. The Lady Muckers traveled north to Yerington to play in a tournament. The girls went three for four on the weekend, playing two games on Friday and two on Saturday.

They beat Smith Valley 13-3, Lone Pine 6-3, Coleville 17-1, and lost to Whittell 12-6.

Coach Ken Jose was very satisfied with the way his team performed over the weekend.

“We made few errors,” he said. “The first game we did not make any. The defense is still doing a great job. I am real happy with the defense. We are trying to play kids that do not play much too.”

He said he has been playing girls in different positions and experimenting with the pitching, but he believes his positions on the field are set.

Jose said that Whittell beat them because he had been rotating outfielders and the outfield dropped some fly-balls. He doesn’t regret his decision to play those players. It is still pre-season and he wants all of his players who don’t get playing time to play now.

This goes with his pitching too.

“We have been rotating the pitching,” said Jose. We will still rotate the pitchers and try to get three innings apiece. It is still early. I will have Megan Donham start and throw four innings and I will have Bria Galli start and throw four innings.

“That’s the way I do it in the beginning.”

He wants Bria Galli to get those innings. Jose knows he will be throwing his regular pitcher, Megan Donham, when April comes around, but he wants his backup to get the innings during pre-season because he said anything can happen and Donham could get hurt.

“We started throwing our sub catcher, Madison North. We threw her in just before we left and sure enough she had to play during the tournament. Julia Klapper, our regular catcher, was injured while running to first. She tripped over the first baseman and injured her shoulder,” said Jose.

Jose said it is unknown when she will return. Klapper injured herself during the Coleville game and did not suit up for the Whittell game.

In addition to the great defense, the Muckers have been experiencing great offense. In the last four games, the Muckers have generated 42 runs.

The team will play Eureka on Saturday starting at 1 p.m at home.