Steve Puterski/sputerski@mywindsornow.comWindsor High School softball coach Sandi Cumings, yellow visor, and assistant coach Kyle Stapelton speak to the team during practice Wednesday at Windsor High School. The Wizards finished last season with a 17-8 record and lost 5-4 to Wheat Ridge in the state semifinals a season ago.
The Windsor High School softball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end last season. This year, the Wizards are looking and hoping they will sit atop Class 4A as the state’s best team.
Windsor flew under the radar most of last year, but the Wizards got hot and stormed into the semifinals of the state playoffs and finished with a 17-8 record and third-place finish in the Northern Conference. Leading 4-2 in the seventh inning against tournament favorite Wheat Ridge, senior pitcher Megan Wilkinson gave up a three-run home run and the Farmers went on to crush Frederick in the state title game.
Wilkinson, though, could’ve fallen into a mental black hole, but she put the home run behind her and now looks forward to this season and what she feels the Wizards are capable of doing.
Windsor returns all but three players to this year’s squad led by four-year lettermen Wilkinson, senior all-state selection Chelsea O’Connor and senior all-conference catcher Kelsey Tillery.
The trio not only make up the heart of the order for the Wizards, but help mentor the younger players on defense. Wilkinson, a dual threat, went 8-5 on the mound and hit .355 with 13 RBI last season, while Tillery led the Wizards with a .500 average, nine doubles and was third with 15 RBI. O’Connor led Windsor with 25 RBI, eight triples and was second on the team with a .438 average.
“I think we should be good at hitting, and even we’ve improved a lot,” Tillery said.
First baseman Nicole Lee, utility player Brianna Seaman, second baseman Lauren Snodgrass, third baseman Caitlin Tufts and infielder Emily Bauer each played significant roles in the Wizards’ postseason run a year ago. The seniors are excited to see the improvement of the sophomores and look forward to seeing their talent on display this season.
“More experience and the nerves … I think they’ll carry that experience and have more confidence,” O’Connor said.
Head coach Sandi Cumings also likes what she has seen so far, but wouldn’t reveal her lineup, though, most in the softball world could probably take a good guess at what that would be.
Cumings won’t utter the words state and championship because she doesn’t feel the need to add any more pressure than the girls already put on themselves. But Cumings does like what she sees on the diamond.
Windsor has been listed as a top 5 team in preseason rankings, but the girls and Cumings know they have to get through their conference first. The Wizards will have to maneuver through the likes of defending league champ Northridge, Mountain View, state runners-up Frederick and rival Berthoud.
Though Cumings and the girls won’t utter certain words, Wilkinson, Tillery and O’Connor all looked as if they were back in 2006 when the Wizards won it all and they were freshmen.
“We expect to go far and have high expectations of the new girls coming on and the expectations of the returners,” Wilkinson said.
Key returners: Megan Wilkinson, sr.; Kelsey Tillery, sr.; Chelsea O’Connor, sr.
Outlook: Though coach Cumings won’t say the magical words of state and championship, so here it goes. Expect the Wizards to exact revenge on Wheat Ridge and hoist the Class 4A state championship trophy for the second time in four seasons.
Aug. 25	vs. Thompson Valley 4 p.m.
Aug. 27	at Northridge 4 p.m.
Aug. 29	vs. Longmont 10 a.m.
Sept. 1	at Silver Creek 4 p.m.
Sept. 3	vs. Roosevelt 4 p.m.
Sept. 5	at Greeley West 10 a.m.
Sept. 8	at Sterling 4 p.m.
Sept. 15	at Niwot 4 p.m.
Sept. 17	vs. Mountain View 4 p.m.
Sept. 22	vs. Frederick 4 p.m.
Sept. 24	vs. Berthoud 4 p.m.
Sept. 29	at Fossil Ridge 4 p.m.
Oct. 1	at Greeley Central 4 p.m.
Oct. 6	vs. Broomfield 4 p.m.
Oct. 8	vs. Skyline 4 p.m.