Lady Warriors return strong core

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    The Southern Aroostook Lady Warriors opened their season on Saturday with a 31-20 win over host Hodgdon. (Details in story above.)
    Southern Aroostook coach Rob Betschner knows his schedule will become tougher as the season progresses.
    “I’ve been watching a lot of these teams and I think Class D is going to be really competitive,” he said. “You still have Class C teams dropping down into D, and a lot of the teams are getting better.”
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
SAFE — Umpire Avon Stewart begins to signal safe, as Southern Aroostook’s pinch runner Kayla Whitney  makes it to home plate, as the ball squirts away from Hodgdon catcher Jessi Tracy during last Saturday’s game in Hodgdon.
    The Lady Warriors return a strong core of 10 players from last year and added nine new faces this season.
    Handling the pitching duties will be junior Rochelle Sirois; senior Kaitlyn Sommers and freshman Jessica Nye, with Mataya Hartin handling duties behind the plate.
    Betschner will rely on his four seniors — Jessica Charest, Jillian Diaferio, Sommers and Olivia Raymond — for leadership, with hopes of making the playoffs.
    Returning junior lettermen are Katie Goodall and Sirois; sophomores, Cheyenne Dawes, Sable Altvater, Hartin, Jess Tucker and Kayla Whitney.
    Newcomers to the squad are freshmen Shaydin Lillis, Shanna Porter and Katie Prescott.
    “We can’t look past anyone,” Betschner said. “We have a very tough schedule this season.”
    The Lady Warriors look as if they will be among the top teams in Class D, but time will tell.
    “There is nothing for sure. I think the girls are very coachable,” said Betschner. “The only thing I ask out of them, anytime, is to do their best. I would like us to be better at what we are doing than when we started. That’s all you can ask.”
    With the Lady Warriors brushing off the rust and honing their skills for the coming season, Betschner would like his defense to support his pitching.
    “Our defense last year was OK,” he said. “But, defense wins championships.”
    The Lady Warriors graduated first baseman Shelby Hartin, who also was among the team leaders offensively.
    “It will be a very important spot for us to fill,” said Betschner. “I want to have my players be able to play two or three different positions based on our pitching rotation.”
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
HANGING IN THERE — Southern Aroostook’s Kaitlyn Sommers rounded the bases and made it to third despite losing her balance, as Alicia Rockwell applies the tag.
    The Lady Warriors have made several play-off appearances, including losing to Deer Isle-Stonington and Lee in the Eastern Maine finals.
    “We’ve done well,” said Betschner of play-off runs. “We haven’t brought home a title yet, but we are working on it.”
    The Lady Warriors were scheduled for a Monday game against Limestone/MSSM and their second meeting with Hodgdon on Tuesday. They will be in action Thursday as they host Katahdin at 3:30 p.m.