The Days Creek softball team is getting a kick start this year. 

Coach Shad Stufflebeam arranged a pitching and catching practice for girls who are interested in learning the positions or for girls who would like to improve for this season. These practices take place at the South Umpqua High School. They have a facility specifically designed for softball, with lots of room for multiple people to play indoors. 

Randy Richardson is helping the girls with their pitching. He wants it to feel natural to the girls and for certain fundamentals to become a habit while pitching. 

“I’m learning a lot of fundamentals that I didn’t know about pitching,” junior Riley Crume said. “I think it’s really cool that Randy is taking time out of his schedule to work with all of us. It’s also cool that we get to use their facility.” 

Richardson has everyone go through a series of drills to warm up their entire body. His daughters Violet and Danika help both the catchers and pitchers by showing examples of warmups and helping some girls one on one. 

Montana Love helps with the catchers, she caught for the Lancers softball team in previous years and she plans on continuing her softball journey down the road. She helps the girls work on fundamentals for the position and all of them get a one on one opportunity to learn. 

“I’m learning the basics of catching, framing and getting in the right positions,” junior Kaleigh Loiodici said. “I think it’s fun. I think it’s also nice of Montana and Violet to take time out of their day to help us” 

It’s Kaleighs first year trying out as a catcher and she is learning new things. She encourages others to come try out for the positions this year. 

Last spring, the Wolves went 18-8 and advanced to the second round of the 2A/1A state playoffs.