SEASON PREVIEW: C-GCC SOFTBALL
Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports
04-01-10 - 2:00 p.m. - Under second year Head Coach Peter Dedrick, the Columbia-Greene Community College women’s softball team looks to improve upon its 11-12 record from last year. The team returns six players from last year’s squad, which came up just short of the postseason and knows what it takes to get into the playoffs.
The Twins have some simple goals entering this year: Make the regional tournament, play hard, and get better. The key, according to Dedrick, will be the returning sophomores, including Cabrina Collesides, last year’s team Most Valuable Player and also a Top Returner in the League nominee.
Although the Twins aim to make the postseason, they know it will not be an easy task since two of the teams in the region are ranked in the Top Ten in the entire country, and another two or three teams fell just outside the Top Ten. However, if things fall into the place, Dedrick believes his team can compete. “I honestly believe, if we can play solid defense, we will have a chance to win games.”
The roster is filled out with eleven players, six of whom are from Columbia County High Schools. The Twins will feature two returning members of the powerhouse Patroon Conference program at Taconic Hills in catcher/first baseman Maggie McBroom and third baseman/outfielder Kristin Knickerbocker. Germantown, who last year captured the Central Hudson Valley League and Section II Class D crown, also has two players headed to C-GCC in shortstop Suzy Wright and outfielder Courtney Parlman. Also two members of Chatham’s squad, first basemen/outfielder Lauren Strobel and first baseman Sabrina Williams, will join the team. Rounding out the roster are returning first baseman Amanda Osborn from Hunter-Tannersville, pitcher/third baseman Catherine Dodig, returning second baseman Dana Brown from Cairo, along with Catskill’s returning middle infielder Nadia Ernst and outfielder Cabrina Collesides.
Although the team has been restricted mostly to practicing in the gym, there are already some things that becoming clear to Dedrick. “Our strongest point would be our offense,” said Dedrick. “We added a dimension we didn’t have last year, with having some power with Sabrina Williams and Lauren Strobel.” In terms of potential trouble spots, one sticks out: “lack of depth in pitching.” “Catherine Dodig is stepping into a role she is not used to, but she is the type of competitor that will give it her all. She has the tools to be a good pitcher for us.”
“We have talent and good bats. It's just we have to put together the whole aspect of the game. I like our team, but playing in the games will tell,” said Dedrick. “Our first goal is to get in the region tournament; then, if that happens, we can set another goal—one game at a time though.”
