A mix of returning talent and a promising freshman class has Philomath High School softball coach Kari Jaques optimistic about what the Warriors can accomplish this spring.
Philomath finished 13-12 last season and had a chance to extend its year in a state playoff play-in game but drew a tough opponent in Scappoose — a team that went on to reach the quarterfinals — and fell short. It was the second time since 2019 that the Warriors earned a play-in spot without being able to advance. That year, the program won the league title and reached the 4A quarterfinals.
The setback hasn’t dampened the mood heading into the new season.
“It tells me that we have a team full of fighters and that we are hungry,” Jaques said. “I think the young freshman class coming in is going to be a big part of the team and is the same way. I think, for me, it’s really just looking forward.”
With six seniors having graduated, the roster skews young — only two seniors are among the 17 varsity players listed, and seven are considered swing players who will also see junior varsity innings. The freshman class is large enough that the program had to cut from 29 interested players down to 25.
“I don’t want anybody to be sitting on the bench for their whole season,” Jaques said. “Our job is to develop those players for the next level and if we have people that are going to be sitting on the bench, that’s not fair to them or those other players.”
Jaques sees the youth of the roster as a feature rather than a liability.
“We’ve got a lot of things to work on and mature and we’re going to be really young but I think this is the kind of intro to the next few years,” she said.
Three sophomores who earned all-conference honors last season anchor the returning core. Pitcher Hailey Smith is back as the team’s No. 1 in the circle and figures to contribute in the outfield or as a designated player when she’s not pitching. Center fielder Rylee Martin, who has worked on switching to the left side of the batter’s box to better utilize her speed, and shortstop Libby Kramer, who has shown consistency at the plate, round out the all-conference returnees.
Also returning for Philomath at pitcher is junior Haley King, a player the coach said has seen significant progress over the offseason and gives the team a solid 1-2 punch. Kramer and sophomore Taylor Martin can also handle spot innings.
Behind the plate, the team seems to be in good hands with junior Riley Mason moving into the position after a four-year starter graduated.
“She’s caught most of her life and is a super strong catcher,” Jaques said. “She was hurt last year — hurt herself in the powderpuff game and so she missed most of our season.”
The infield is set to feature junior Sierra Skaggs at first base, freshman Aniya Jaques at second, Kramer at short and King at third when not pitching. Sophomore Natalie Muir and a couple of freshmen provide depth at the hot corner, and freshman Adelaide Victorine is available to back up at first.
The outfield, beyond Rylee Martin in center, will draw from a group that includes Taylor Martin, junior Emily Burner, sophomores Cassie Greeley and Abby Greeley, and seniors Lilly Hockema and Emma May.
Jaques is candid about where she wants to see improvement this season. Last year, she said, mental lapses cost the team as much as anything else.
“I think a successful season for us is doing all the stuff that we want to do and not giving up any stupid plays,” she said. “I think last year, we had some that we just gave up mentally and not necessarily because of our ability. I’d really like to limit those this year.”
The coach also pointed to bounce-back ability as critical for a young squad.
“We’re a sport of failure and that’s what we’re trying to tell the new class — there are going to be times where you mess up and it’s just bouncing back from that,” Jaques said. “I think what our season is going to hinge on is how quickly we can bounce back from the mistakes that inevitably everyone’s going to make.”
New team captains and a junior class eager to establish an identity are helping build the culture Jaques wants to see.
“We have new captains and a junior class that are really wanting to come in and kind of make it their own and bring their identity to it and really make sure that we’ve got good team cohesion and team responsibility,” she said. “I think the freshmen class and even the sophomore class is really buying into it.”
In the Oregon West Conference, Cascade enters the season as the defending two-time league champion after going 14-1 last year. Stayton finished second, followed by Sweet Home and Philomath. Newport and North Marion were at the bottom.
“Cascade and Stayton are always going to be up there towards the top,” Jaques said. “But anybody can beat anybody any day in softball and baseball.”
Philomath opens Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. game at Blanchet Catholic in Salem before heading to the Battle at the Beach tournament March 23-24 in Newport. The Warriors will face Pendleton, Estacada, Yamhill-Carlton and Nyssa in that event. The home opener is an April 3 doubleheader against Marshfield, with the league opener set for April 20 at Sweet Home.
Jaques will be assisted this season by Kylie Barnes, Paul Jaques, Taylor Burner, Tim Muir (JV head coach) and Stacey Barnes.