Barking Huskies set sights on title

If you are out by Highland High School this summer, don?t be alarmed if you hear shouts and chants in the air.

That?s just the product of a successful softball team.

Having cemented itself as one of the top softball programs in the state, one of Highland?s most identifiable habits is the cheering that comes out of the Huskies? dugout, every game, and if they aren?t the best team in the state, they are certainly the loudest.

?It brings us up more,? Highland senior Bridget Murphy said. ?It pumps us up. We are always looking up cheers online.?

Whether or not the Huskies? ?bark? from the dugout affects the opposing team?s mindset, it is always a benefit for Highland, especially when they have someone get on base.

?I honestly don?t hear it at all (when I?m batting),? junior Cheyann Adamson said. ?I?m not gonna lie; when I?m up there, I?m just worried about the pitcher, but when I get on base or get a hit, I can hear everyone. Then it gets my adrenaline up, so I move faster around the bases.?

Adamson spent much of last season as the team?s leadoff hitter, and after racking up a .591 on-base percentage (.540 batting average), she certainly heard the noise quite often, and plans to again this season.

?I hope so,? Adamson said. ?I wasn?t expecting that last year, but I?m working on my batting a little more this year. I hope it?s up there again.?

One of the biggest benefits of the cheering from the dugout, is that it keeps the players actively involved in the game, according to Highland head coach Carrie Wieland.

If a player steals a base? There?s a chant for that. If someone scores a run? They?ve got a cheer. Really, any situation that can come up during a hitting inning, there?s something to keep the girls? adrenaline up.

?It?s very exciting,? Wieland said. ?I coach the 14U and I struggle every day with them if they aren?t cheering. Some people might not like it, but these girls believe in it, they enjoy it and they look things up. That?s something I expect them to have, but I also want them to respect the game, so they learn both ways. It?s never to make fun of anyone else. It?s always about our team and what we do.?

The fourth-place team in the Class 2A tournament last season, Highland only loses two starting seniors from last year?s squad, and they are believing that this is their chance to claim the school?s first state softball title since 2007.

?I?m thinking that we can go all the way,? Highland senior pitcher Katie Springer said. ?We just have to play the way we have the past couple of years and we can make it further than we have before.?

Springer was a part of the Class 2A All-state team last year, pitching in 33 of the team?s 35 games, posting a record of 28-3, with a 1.76 ERA and holding opponents to a .211 batting average.

Multiple members of the Huskies were quick to point out that their goal isn?t just to win the conference, but to post their third-straight 18-0 mark in conference play, but while Springer said the team just needs to take the season ?one game at a time,? her coach knows what the team ultimately wants.

?With all the seniors, it?s time for them to see what we have and what we can do with this team,? Wieland said. ?The biggest concern is staying focused on your goal and that is winning a state title. To say anything less isn?t what we are looking for.?

Highland is scheduled to open up its season at home against Mediapolis on Thursday evening, and then come to Washington for a nonconference matchup on Friday.