Experience to be a benefit for Bulldogs softball

A goal for the Hampton-Dumont-CAL Bulldogs softball team according to head coach Kelsey Enslin is to be competing in every game this season. Last year the Bulldogs had a record of 8-17 and made it to the semifinals of the Class 3A region 5 tournament. Enslin said that the Bulldogs have been focusing a lot so far on details.

With being able to win a game in the postseason last year, Enslin said that experience will be helpful for the Bulldogs.

“We only lost one senior from last year but we do have some new faces in our lineup,” Enslin said. “Any experience they can gain with competing or winning is obviously very helpful. And continuing to look at that postseason and looking at ways we can compete and looking for ways to set ourselves up for success. Before pairings come out we look for ways to get the best resume going into the postseason. So having that urgency right away and hoping that we get a good draw so we can make a run in the postseason.

During the first few games of the season, Enslin said that one thing she is looking for from the team is finding what works best for the team and what players are the best fit for which positions.

“Just kind of finding our feet, finding out what is going to work and where everyone is going to be at is what we are hoping to get out of this first week and get the pregame jitters out by getting some live hitting,” Enslin said.

As the season moves along, Enslin said one thing she hopes to see from the team is to continue to be competitive and to have a sound lineup with not too many moving parts.

“I would like to see us have a sound line up which is reliable and we know where people are going to be,” Enslin said. “We have a couple of pitchers and so when they move around having people comfortable standing in no matter where they are at and playing their role and doing their best to help the team compete and build each other up.”

A strength for the Bulldogs this year according to Enslin is their outfield and the experience they have.

“Starting the year off Teaghan Bird is a great leader in the outfield and she covers a ton of ground and she will be in center field,” Enslin said. “And our other outfielders I just told them last week watching them in the scrimmage that it is crazy to see what a year has done for you guys just with your confidence.”

Enslin said she thinks the infield will also be a strength for the Bulldogs once they get settled in. Having experience will also be a benefit for the Bulldogs this year.

“You can walk into the season and have a pretty good feel for a lot of the kids already and they can have a pretty good feel for where they might be,” Enslin said. “Also our dynamics this year. The kids get along pretty well and they like to have fun. They are just a bunch of great, coachable kids which always makes it more enjoyable.”

The team’s next game is on May 29  at home vs Clarion-Goldfield-Dows at 7:30 p.m