Softball: Seniors ready to take Trojans to next level
Sports reporter
Senior leadership will be abundant this season for the Hillsboro High softball squad.
Head coach Stephanie Sinclair will have eight returning starters, and nine overall, seniors from the 2007 squad that advanced to the regional finals.
Jessica Klose, catcher; Jenesa Klose, pitcher; Suzy Lindsay, center field; Amber King, second base; Steph Abbott, third base; Amanda Bina, shortstop; Jandi Nikkel, right field; and outfielder Meghan Jost all will be playing for one last shot at the state tournament.
Sinclair thinks her team has a great shot to compete, and it would be hard to argue with the third-year coach considering five of those players were named to an all-league squad, led by Bina and Jessica Klose who were named to the first team.
Bina batted .542 and Klose hit at a .304 clip.
Jenesa Klose finished the season with a 3.32 ERA and was named to the second team, as was Lindsay who hit .256 on the season.
Nikkel received honorable mention status for her play in right field.
Sinclair also will look to sophomore Dianne Sanders to help with pitching and first base duties.
Sanders' classmate Tara Heinrichs will back up Abbott at third, and freshman Taylor Nikkel could see some playing time in the outfield.
But if the Trojans are to go far this season it will be the huge senior class that gets them there.
"We are very excited for the season," she said. "We would expect to be at the top of our league and with a good chance of making it to state."
