Cougar softball coach aids team challenges
From our weekly issue dated April 21, 2010
Cougar pitcher Cindy Moore winds up for a pitch. (IVN photo)
It“s been a rough season thus far for the Illinois Valley High School varsity softball squad, but new team coach Ray Yarbrough is determined to turn around that situation.
The Cougar squad has yet to win, and a lack of participation forced the combination of the junior varsity and varsity teams.
“That was really hard on them, but I“m proud of them for stepping in and doing it,“ Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough, who typically coaches football, assumed coaching duties for the softball team in early April. He is being aided by friends who also have previous coaching experience.
“This is really new to me,“ Yarbrough said. “I have to thank the parents and the kids on the team for working with me as I“m learning and getting better.“
Since Yarbrough started, the squad suffered losses at South Umpqua on Saturday, April 3 and dropped four at McKinleyville High School in Northern California Saturday, April 10.
The team hosted North Valley Tuesday, April 13 and lost. It then headed to North Medford High School on Thursday, April 15 and lost 28-3. The following day, the team hosted Phoenix High School and lost a double-header.
“We looked a lot better on the field,“ Yarbrough observed.
He added that his main mission as coach is improving the team“s consistency.
“The story so far for us is that we play great for the first few innings. For whatever reason, we“ve dropped off on the later innings,“ he said. “The focus here is playing seven great innings.“
It“s easier said than done, but that“s what our focus is.“
Despite the challenges, Yarbrough said that he is determined to turn around the team of eager girls.
“It“s certainly been a tough year on everyone involved,“ he stated. “But with as much turmoil as there“s been, the girls have been awesome. The ones that are still there are a great group of kids.
“In some ways, it“s really gotten the team together.“
The team is scheduled to face Hidden Valley Tuesday, April 27 on the Mustang field in Murphy.
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