After the disappointing cancellation of their 1996 state tournament, the Bravettes softball team hopes to have a more fulfilling season.
The Bravettes attended the state tournament in Billings last summer, but a rainout kept them from competing.
"It was frustrating," said junior Corey McAlister. "We really wanted to play, and we were the only team that wanted to play. We ate a lot É that's really all we did."
Team members expect the 1997 season to follow in the soggy footsteps of 1996, due to the abnormal snowfall in Flathead Valley over the winter. Even worse field conditions are expected this year.
"I would say that we'll be inside for a while," said head coach Fred Febach. "Our first home game is scheduled for April 10, but I really don't see how that will happen."
Besides the rain, the 1996 season did not go the way that the Bravettes had hoped when they ended with a record of 9-11. Many team members attribute this record to their performance at the plate.
"We were doing really good," said sophomore and returning varsity pitcher Lissy Palmer. "We just couldn't get the hits when we needed them."
One problem the team has run into this season is injury. Returning varsity players that are out on softball- and basketball-related injuries include starting shortstop junior Darcy James, who hurt her shoulder playing basketball this year.
"It's going to significantly affect my softball season because I can't play at all," said James. "I was really excited for the season, but I guess I'll manage, to stay in the program. If I'm healed, I'll definitely play next year."
The Bravettes are expected to be composed mostly of sophomore and juniors this year, as they have been in previous years. The team had only four seniors last year. There were also three freshman that played varsity last year, an unusually high number. These students are returning pitcher Becca Lenoch, outfielder Terry Fetterhoff and Palmer.
"We're a very young team," said Palmer. "We'll have É maybe five seniors."
The Bravettes hope to overcome the obstacles facing them and go on to have a successful season.
"We strive to win as many games as we can - that's why we're out there," said Febach. "We're not going to live or die if we win or lose, though. We just hope to get better every time we hit the field."