Sprow will have just 11 players on the varsity team this spring as a couple of seniors expected to play in Ashley Hackett and Alyssa Ford decided not to participate this year. "I wish we had 12 players but we will work with the 11 we have," Sprow said. It all starts in the circle and he has junior Sheila Komarynski and he couldn't be happier. "She is a very good pitcher with a nice fastball and a drop-change pitch," said Sprow, who calls her perhaps the hardest worker he has ever coached. "She is such a hard worker and she has been throwing since November. She hits spots well and she will get people out and she won't be walking very many. She hits the locations well and she is a very solid pitcher. We can build our team around her and we will."

If you think Sprow has a great pitcher than the catcher is also great as senior Christine Daub just last Friday, March 23rd signed a letter of intent to play next spring at Jackson Community College. "This was a real confidence boost for her not that she needed any," said Sprow, who was thrilled for Daub to see her catch on with JCC. "She has a rocket arm and she swings a very good bat as a lefthander. She is a very good catcher and gives us a lot of experience back there behind the plate." Daub will be starting her third year on the varsity.

At first base will be junior Kellee Wonders who gives the other infielders a big target as Wonders has great range and a real good glove. Her bat can be a plus but her defense is her biggest asset to the team. She will be backed up by junior Jenna Borck. The second sacker is senior co-captain and speedster Alyson Monahan with the other captain being senior Daub. Monahan has experience at second and she is solid defensively and Sprow says she can hit the ball. "She is totally healthy this year so watch out as she is such a good athlete and player and all she wants to do is get better," said Sprow about Monahan who was all-district and all-region two years ago. "She makes the plays and she has been hitting the ball well in the early practices." Monahan is a quiet leader that the other players look up to and she makes the team strong up the middle on defense.

The shortstop is sophomore standout athlete Aubrey Laughlin and Sprow likes her range and her strong arm at short. "She is looking real good and she is such a competitor and she makes us real tough up the middle," Sprow said. "I'm expecting her to have a real good season and he can hit the ball also."

The biggest question mark all spring has been who will play third base and look for junior Janet Verdon to take that spot. "She looks pretty good there and she will need to gain more experience but we are going with her," said Sprow. Komarynski, when not pitching, will play third base and when she doesn't pitch it will be sophomore Mykahla Frayer in the circle throwing strikes. "Mykahla gives us a solid number two thrower behind Sheila and I like what Mykahla can do," Sprow said.

Sprow likes his infield real well and calls it one of the team's biggest strengths. "You have to be very tough up the middle and that is what we are," said Sprow referring to Komarynski, Daub, Monahan and Laughlin not to mention his centerfielder.

Junior Emily Austin can flat out move and go get the ball Sprow says. "She has very good speed and she can get to stuff in the gaps." Austin will be starting in the outfield for her third straight year where she was all-LCAA last year and centerfield is her spot. She will bat leadoff and with her quickness she will get on base and manufacture runs for the Lady Tigers. The leftfielder will be Frayer on most occasions when she is not pitching. Also, in the outfield will be sophomore Jessica Varney who has been moved up from the junior varsity team. "She has been around the game for years and she has a lot of fundamental knowledge and knows how to play," Sprow said.

In right field will by senior Lyndi Six who will do what Sprow needs her to do and that is make the basic plays. "Lyndi won't make mistakes and will make the plays we need her to," Sprow said. Borck will also backup in the outfield when needed.                       

                                        Season Outlook

Hudson will battle perennial LCAA powers Clinton and Ida for the top spot in the LCAA. "We feel that we can compete with those two teams," said Sprow, who calls both of those teams the favorites in the league. "The teams like Clinton and Ida both have real good pitchers as will most every team we face this year. We have the toughest schedule ever that I know of and I like that."

Sprow wants to be in the hunt for a league title and he also wants to battle for a district crown as well. Hudson will play in the district at Sand Creek on June 2. The Tigers will host the early-bird six-team C R Motors Invitational on Saturday, April 14th and will also have the Hudson Booster Tourney on Saturday, May 5th. "We would like to think that even with our tough schedule we can win at least 20 games or more," said Sprow, who noted the team will play in five invitationals this spring.

He will be assisted by Hill and Reincke with former Tiger standout athlete from years ago Andrew Paulsen coaching the JV team.

                           Softball Team Ready for Season

By Bill Mullaly

The optimism of new Hudson High School head varsity softball coach Mike Sprow is obvious, as he loves working with the girls that will comprise the lineup for the 2007 season this spring. "It's great to be the coach of these girls and it's been a lot of fun so far," said Sprow after two weeks of pre-season practice. Sprow has been involved with Hudson school and summer softball for years but this spring things will be different as he is the head coach for the first time. "Yes, it's different being the head coach but I will have familiar people to work with as Amy Hill and Scott Reincke will be helping me. I'm really looking forward to this upcoming season and the girls have had great attitudes and they are working hard so far. They want to learn and improve and get better. The girls are very competitive and they have a lot of experience playing softball. We are going to have a real good year."

If the team does have a winning season, which it no doubt will, the reason will be the players and Sprow's experience and enthusiasm will only help. Here is a look at the players that will suit up in the orange and black this spring. The first contest will be a doubleheader at home against archrival Addison and its feisty coach George Ames on Tuesday, April 10th. The next day on the 11th Hudson heads to Morenci for a twinbill.
                                        To Index