IAC SOFTBALL: TIOGA IN UNFAMILIAR POSITION OF REBUILDING IN 2019 (2019-03-29)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER "” Losing five starters to graduation, and two more to a move out of the school district has put Tioga softball in an unfamiliar position in 2019 - rebuilding.
"This feels like a re-building year, and that's not usually the case for Tioga softball. In the past, we've kind of re-loaded, but this feels like a re-building year," said Tioga coach Heather Klossner.
"We have a lot of new faces, a lot of young faces," noted Klossner. "Even the juniors we have, for the most part, are inexperienced at the varsity level.
"The senior group we lost was the core of the team. They played important roles on the team, and had played them for a long time," she added. "These girls had taken a back seat, and now they really need to step up."
Klossner said every position was up in the air to start preseason practices.
"We had one returning starting infielder in Hayley Zimmerman at first base, and she and her sister Kylee, who started in the outfield, moved to Florida," said Klossner. "I told the girls the first day of practice, "˜I honestly have no idea where you're playing.' It was like starting from scratch.
"We've put some people into new positions," noted Klossner. "It's not that we don't have position players, we just need to get them comfortable in those positions at the varsity level. A lot of them have played travel ball, but they might not have played this position in travel ball.
"It's a totally different team this year as far as body type, and mindset," she added. "This group is fast, and we definitely have some girls who will be able to play multiple positions to fill in some gaps."
The preseason tumult has continued to the eve of the first game.
"(Junior) Michaela Webb worked with (sophomore pitcher) Kindra Wessels all winter long, and was going to be our catcher, but because of an injury, she's probably going to move back out to center field, and we'll slide (sophomore) Faith Burrowes into catcher," said Klossner. "Faith has worked with Kindra on JVs and modified, so we should be fine."
Junior Giovanna Rossi, who played all over the field last season, will get the starting nod at second base.
"She play second base some last year, so she's kind of a returner - our only one," said Klossner.
Junior Shaina Franks will play first base, while sophomore Olivia Ayres will play short stop, and freshman Julia Bellis gets the nod at third base.
"Our outfield is kind of a question mark," said Klossner.
Webb will start in center field, with Austin Vance expected to start at one of the corner outfield spots. juniors Hannah Fox, Emily Pipher, Ally Chapman, and Kim Tarbox will vie for time at the other outfield spot.
On top of a lot of new faces, Klossner and the Lady Tigers will have to deal with a new divisional format in the IAC. Tioga is now in Division 2 with Union Springs, Moravia, S-VE, Edison, Trumansburg, and Lansing.
"I am not a fan of the new format," said Klossner. "I think with the bussing issues some of our schools face, it doesn't make any sense. There are times when we can't get to Owego on time, and now we're going to Union Springs, Moravia, Trumansburg, and Lansing.
I just don't think it's in the best interest of the kids.
"As far as divisional play, it's a bit unnerving as a coach," noted Klossner. "In the past, I knew what to expect. Now, I don't know a lot about the Northern schools.
"We're going in with a fresh slate, so I guess that's kind of refreshing in a way," she added.
Klossner is hoping her charges can learn and grow, and put it together when it counts.
"I expect we will see a lot of improvement from beginning to end," she said.
"As we get more experience, I think we'll get more comfortable with each other at the varsity level," added Klossner. "Hopefully, we can do enough during the regular season, and then peak at the right time."
Tioga opens the 2019 campaign, weather permitting, this afternoon at Lansing.
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IN PHOTO: Tioga's Giovanna Rossi.
