Photos by: Terry Qualls and Andrea Bell

Baseball and softball teams ready to take on challenges once again to try and take teams to NWAACC

Andrea Bell
Staff Writer

Spring sport seasons begin and with only seven returning sophomores, Mike Nadeau Raider baseball’s head coach, will have a challenge, but should be ready to once again lead his team towards the North West Athletic Association of Community Colleges NWAACC’s .

Last year the men’s baseball team made it all the way through the season to the NWAACC’s, making it to the third game of the play offs only to be eliminated. This shows the skill possessed by the team, one can only hope to see the same type of outcome resulting in this years team.

For an hour and a half the team everyday, runs, jumps, catches, and hits baseballs, in hopes to make the final cut at the end of the season to take the team to victory. The coaches provide a push in the right direction and go over what needs to be worked on step by step.

Brian Corliss, one of the returning sophomores who plays both second base and pitcher, has experienced what it takes to go to the NWAACC’s.

“I’m looking forward to having another great season. And to try and accomplish out goals, to once again reach the NWAACC’s and become champions,” Corliss said.

The team has a concise goal, and knows what they are working towards.

“We lost all four of our starting pitchers to four-year universities,” Corliss said.

With the team’s main pitchers gone, they will have to look to newbies to step up and help carry the team to the championships.

This is possible but will take work from the pitching coach and the pitching staff to make sure they can step it up this season.

“We have a solid staff to get us through tough games, the majority of the defense are returning players,” Corliss said.

The returning players should be able to help the rest of the staff through the season. The defense being made of mostly talented returning players allows a little wiggle room for a slightly new offense who are still learning the ropes.

“We have acquired some new talented freshmen, and are hoping they can help us to achieve our goals,” Corliss said.

Less is sometimes more with this 13-women team. The Lady Raider softball season has started up again and with one more person than last year they are ready to get the season started.

This year the Lady Raiders only have two returning players, leaving 11 new players. However Aryn Knutson, sophomore outfielder, has a very hopeful outlook on the season.

“Only, having 13 players has great benefits. We have become a close-knit family, this year and that carries on to the field. “ Knutson said.

When a team turns into a family they can play better. The smaller team will create an advantage of more one-on-one time with the coach.

“We may not be a big team, but to us it does not matter. Last season we only had 12 players and accomplished great things, and that is what I am hoping for again this season,” Knutson said.

Last season the girl’s team accomplished what every team wants to do and that is to make it to the North West Athletic Association of Community Colleges championships taking fifth place. Fifth place was accomplished with a team of just 12 girls.

Much like the men’s team, the girls team has goals to make the NWAACC as well. If accomplished this wouldn’t be the first time the girls brought home a title.

“Our major goals this season are to come out strong as a new team and fight to win our 6th straight division title,” Knutson said.

The girl’s team has a great record and hopes to keep the division title count growing as they progress to the end of this season as well as through the rest of the program life at Pierce.

Spring season still has a lot of surprises to hold, and for Knutson a lot of hard work and practices will go into making goals come true to keep the division titles coming.

“This season I am most looking forward to seeing how this team is going to come together once we finally begin our divisional games.” Knutson said.

Coming together as a team seems to be one of the main focuses of Knutson’s overview for what she expects for the season.