When it comes to setting goals for this season, Thomas Jefferson is keeping things simple.
“Our goal this year is just to make the playoffs,” coach Heidi Karcher said.
Anyone around the program last year is well aware of what can happen just by getting into the playoffs.
Last season the Jaguars won their final section game of the season to clinch third place in Section 3-AAA and qualify for the playoffs with a 7-5 section record. The 11-6 team was given the No. 13 seed. They then proceeded to pull four consecutive upsets, knocking off Knoch, Trinity, Greensburg Salem and finally Mars in the WPIAL Class AAA final to win the program’s first WPIAL softball title.
“We didn’t come out with a stellar record in the section,” Karcher said. “We made it in by the skin of our teeth last year.”
Six starters are back from the WPIAL championship team.
“There is a lot of excitement,” Karcher said.
Entering the season Karcher had concerns about the team’s offense but it was the defense that struggled early on. Thomas Jefferson attended the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach last weekend. It lost to South Fayette, 14-4, and to Greene County Tech out of Arkansas, 5-3. It defeated Mountain View, 11-1.
“Right now defensively we are not playing our game,” Karcher said. “The losses that we have, most of the runs were unearned. They shouldn’t have been losses. What I was more concerned with was our bats but that has not been the concern.”
Junior shortstop Rachael Bowers, who bats leadoff, headlines the returning starters. She batted .450 last season.
“It is a luxury having Rachael, it definitely is,” Karcher said. “Our lineup is pretty strong offensively right now. We have about nine strong bats.”
Junior Emily Scheidter was the team’s designated player last year but has been moved to catcher.
Junior Bayli Moon moves from second base to center field. Junior Megean Fitzgerald takes over for Moon at second base. Junior Lacie Lautner is back in the pitcher’s circle and sophomore Lindsay Kalup returns to right field.
The new starters are senior third baseman Bailee Roller, sophomore pitcher/first baseman Alysa Fairman and sophomore left fielder Sydney Flinn. Fairman and Lautner will split innings.
“Lacie pitched most of the games last year,” Karcher said. “This year she will split time with Alysa. Alysa got that one year under her belt and she has been working hard in the offseason, taking lessons and she has improved 100 percent. They are completely different pitchers. I want to say that Lacie throws a little faster and Alysa has a little more movement. They throw differently but they are both pitching unbelievable games down here.”
After WPIAL realignment, Southmoreland, Yough and South Park exit the section and Trinity, Ringgold and McKeesport join Section 3-AAA.
“It is going to be tough getting into the playoffs especially with realignment,” Karcher said. “It will be a battle. We will take tiny little steps to meet the goal of making the playoffs.”
First Published: March 27, 2015, 4:00 a.m.