Team has record-setting season

Though it ended with a loss, 2008 was a record-setting year for the Sisters High School girls softball program.

The varsity finished the season with a plethora of school records and qualified to host a State 4A Playoff game - the first state playoff game in the school's softball history.

The junior varsity posted the best record in the Sky-Em League and won 15 of 19 games on the season. Those 15 wins were the most any Outlaw JV softball team has won in school annals.

The second-place finish in the Sky-Em League and a 9-3 league record were highlights. That accomplishment enabled the Outlaws to earn a state berth. And though they lost in the first round, 15-5 to Yamhill-Carlton, Coach Tom Mauldin is quick to praise the team for getting there and battling right to the last out of the season.

"We scored three times in the last inning and had the bases loaded when the game ended," said Mauldin. "Sounds like a team with fight."

Getting there, the Outlaws were among the State's highest-scoring teams, with 198 runs shattering the school record of 114, set in 2007. Other records included 98 stolen bases, 225 base hits, a .344 team batting average and enough individual records to fill a suitcase.

Topping the list of individual records was junior infielder Jenna Sneva, who broke her own school record of .419 by hitting .479 for the season. She also set a new school standard for on-base percentage at .570, tied with catcher Camille Pedersen for a school-record number of base hits in a season with 34 and Sneva broke the school stolen-base record by 10, finished with 24. She was caught stealing once.

It took a three-for-three playoff game for Sneva to get two of those records. She entered the game trailing Pedersen in hits and Jenny Kaiser for on-base percentage. Kaiser finished at .550 for OBAP

Pedersen set a new school record with runs batted in for a season with 21. She also hit three home runs for another Outlaw record.

Senior pitcher Sam Stoneback, first team all-league for a second straight year, set a school record for wins in a season with 10 and she did so battling wrist and ankle injuries, as well as two bouts of bronchitis during the season.

Junior infielder/pitcher Hillary Renz, who batted .425 on the season, scored 31 runs for a new school mark and had 31 base hits (the school record). Kaiser also finished the 2008 season with a .400-plus average (.421) giving the Outlaws three over the magical .400 mark and Pedersen just missed at .395.

Other .300-or-better hitters included Stoneback (.343) and freshmen Marisa Calavan (.350), and McKenzie Cooper (.309). JJ Ashley just missed at .299.

The most impressive rcord might be seven all-league honorees, including first-teamers Stoneback, Renz, Sneva and Kaiser; second-teamers Pedersen and Huber and Cooper (honorable mention).

"We can't let a playoff loss put a damper on an outstanding season," said Mauldin. "To date, it's the best in school history and the girls have a lot to be proud of."