Older, better Bernie SB squad off to dominant start

BERNIE – A year ago, the Bernie High School softball program opened its season with 10 losses in 12 games, as the squad, which had no seniors on it, developed on and off the field.

The Mules did mature – eventually – and finished the season with 11 victories in their last 15 games.

That positive momentum has continued into this season, as Bernie has won its first two games this spring over Charleston and Woodland by a combined score of 30-3.

“We’re trying to take the foundations of things that we did (last year),” veteran Mule coach Brad Botsch said recently, “and have them carry over.”

The Mules have four seniors this spring (Abbygail Powell, Elicia Freeman, Piper Winstead, and Hannah-Jean Anthony), along with an abundance of really talented younger players, who, according to Botsch, have prepared for a very strong spring.

“We worked in the winter with the time that we had,” Botsch said of the allowable three hours each week. “We have started pretty strong, but I think that we’ll be a lot better at the end than where we are now.”

That is a scary thought for the Mule opponents after these first two games.

In the win over the Blue Jays, Powell totaled three and six RBI, as well as stole three bases.

Junior Rylie Powell and sophomore Alexa Dillinger each had a couple of hits, as did sophomore Kalli Mason.

Against the Cardinals, Powell was again effective at the plate (and behind it, as she catches), as she tallied a pair of hits and scored twice.

Botsch is being assisted by Mule athletic director and varsity boy’s basketball coach, Jason Long, and he said that between the two of them, they are steering the Bernie girls in the right direction mentally.

“We have been in coaching long enough,” Botsch explained, “that we are able to keep the kids where they need to be with the mentality of coming to work every day.

Sophomore pitcher Blair Pleimling has demonstrated that so far.

She has thrown a total of 7 1/3 innings and allowed just three hits and a couple of earned runs. She has only walked three batters in her two starts and has struck out six.

“Even though we played well in the second half last year,” Botsch said, “our schedule (this year) is really heavy at the top. We’ve really got some good teams right off the bat.”

The Mules will hit the road this week and face Oran on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., followed by a venture to Campbell (0-1) on Friday at 4:30 p.m.