PCM softball ready to take leap in win-loss column

PCM’s softball team won just five games last season. But head coach Shaun Hudnut doesn’t feel like the win-loss record tells the full story of how good the Mustangs are.

Hudnut hopes a roster full of players who are one year older and more experienced can take a big leap in 2021.

“The every day lineup has quality players,” Hudnut said. “It’s a really talented club, but the record didn’t show that last year. The lineup we saw the final two weeks is what we thought it could be all year.”

The Mustangs’ lone senior is Teegen Giles. And the only junior who saw regular playing time last summer was Belle Hudnut. The rest of the roster is made up largely of eighth-graders, freshmen and sophomores.

“We want to build on what we saw the final two weeks of last season,” Hudnut said. “We have worked on our mental preparation. We let one mistake compound into multiple mistakes last season. If we can fix some of that stuff, I think we can make a jump.”

The top returning hitters from last year are sophomores Sidney Shaver, Riley DeVore and Riley Johannes.

Shaver is expected to play shortstop or second base. She hit .377 last year and added 17 runs, six doubles and 11 RBIs.

DeVore will pitch, play shortstop and set up in the outfield. She hit .371 with 10 runs and 11 RBIs.

Johannes moves away from catcher and is expected to man third base after hitting .367 last season. She also tallied a team-best 20 RBIs and had 10 walks.

The rest of the regulars include Hudnut in center field, sophomore Paige Steenhoek at pitcher and shortstop, sophomore RaeAnn Duinink at catcher and the outfield, sophomore Joslin Briles as the primary designated player and freshman Lark Drake at first base.

“All of our returners now have 20-50 games of experience,” Coach Hudnut said. “Briles is going to bat clean-up. I think she’s in for a big jump at the plate. She has lots of power.”

Sophomore Skylar Burns is expected to take over a starting role in the outfield and eighth-grader Addison Steenhoek will be the regular catcher.

The first substitutes off the bench could be sophomore Cate Humpal and freshmen Ella Schendel, Reese Palm, Eliana Buswell and Addyson Hegwood.

The pitching staff includes Steenhoek, DeVore and Schendel. Coach Hudnut expects to use a pitcher by committee this summer.

The roster includes 22 players. PCM alums Jayci Vos and Abby Waddell are back this season as the assistant coaches.

Grinnell 11, PCM 1

MONROE — Grinnell broke open a scoreless game with a six-run fourth and added three runs in the sixth to pull away from PCM during the season-opener on Monday night.

The Mustangs were held to just four singles at the plate and the defense committed three errors.

Johannes had one hit and was hit by a pitch to lead the offense, while Shaver, DeVore and Drake had the other hits. Duinink scored the team’s lone run and walked once. Briles and Belle Hudnut also drew walks.

“Our bats were behind tonight. They started to look better late in the game, but we have a lot of work to do to get timing down,” Coach Hudnut said. “I’m confident that will come as we begin to get some consistent hitting practice in with all our spring sports finished.”

DeVore threw 5 2/3 innings in the circle and took the loss after allowing seven earned runs on 13 hits. Paige Steenhoek tossed 1 1/3 innings and allowed one earned run on two hits.

“I thought our initial defense was really solid,” Coach Hudnut said. “We let some extra throws take control of us after the fourth. Those are the things that we have to cut out to be effective.”