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Danes 16's Preview -- Press Release May 7, 2002 -- Tim Husted

Strong Core will lead Young 16's in 2002

Building a team like the Danes requires that you are quite creative. This years Danes 16's has been put togther by adding 4 parts returning starters, 4 parts 14U promotions, 3 parts dome ball, 1 part developmental youth, 1 part recomendation and 1 part old friend.

Start with the returning starters and you have four outstanding players each in their Sophomore or Freshman year in HS this spring. Casey Leisgang (Soph. Seymour HS), Mindy Rudiger (Fr. Menomonie HS), Michelle Butkus (Soph. Medford, WI) and Nikki Smolinski (Soph. Cottage Grove, MN) each return after starting last year for the Danes 16's.

Leisgang started last year in CF and this year will return to CF as well as play some at SS. Batting leadoff for much of 2002, Casey has a great bat and her speed and athletism make her a huge asset on the bases and in the field. "Casey is the type of player who you can build a team around. This year she'll be asked to carry the 16's offense and starting this fall we'd expect her to move into the leadoff spot with the older team." said Husted.

Mindy Rudiger started last year at 3B and we would expect her to play a few positions this year. Mindy also will be a major part of the Pitching Staff. "Mindy is a great ball player and this year I want her to play all four infield positions and pitch. For her youth, she is an extremly heady player who last year proved she could play a few positions in our complex defensive system." said Husted.

If Leisgang is the leader and Mindy is the mind; Michelle Butkus is the flash. An outstanding middle infielder with a knack for making the great play, "Butt" is the type of offensive player who can drive the ball off the wall or bunt for a hit and beat it out by 4 steps. "Butt is an aggresive kid who can play SS and 2B with anyone, she is an offensive weapon who never seems to lose a battle." said Husted.

Nikki Smolinski was a key factor of the offensive game plan in 2001 and provided great defense at 2B when she wasn't pitching; this year she moves up to the ace role for the Danes 16's pitching staff. "Smo" is a gutty pitcher who finds a way to beat teams and seems to pitcher her best games when the Danes need that key win. "Smo has good stuff, a good understanding of the game and outworks hitters on the mound, I love watching her work because she really knows what she is doing in the circle." said Husted. Smolinski will need to stay in the lineup this season so she could see time as a DP or even back at 2B.

Now add in four more talented players in the 14U promotions and the team starts to take form a little. Kim Martin (Soph. Menomonie HS, WI), Jessie Courchaine (Soph. Marathon HS, WI), Kolina Stieber (Soph. Marathon HS, WI) and Michelle Barsness (Fr. Champlin Park HS, MN) all move up from a hard-luck 14U team of a year ago.

Martin spend the fall playing with the Danes 18's then was a key part of the Dome Ball team. Martin will spend 2002 as part of the Danes pitching staff and offers the coaching staff some versatility being able to play any of the other 9 positions. "Martin has great speed, understand the game well and as a pitcher is deceptive in her motion but we are still waiting for Kimmy to put it all together and considering she is only 15 we think she has plenty of time to refine what is a great skill set." said Husted.

Jessie Courchaine was one of the rotation pitchers last year but her success was limited. This year she will move up and throw her innings as the 3rd/4th pitcher for the Danes. "Jessie is a pitcher-only kid who has great stuff in the bullpen, it is my hope that she can bring that stuff to the circle with her this summer." said Husted.

Kolina Steiber has the head for the game, the question will be if her body is ready in time. Suffering a torn ACL during this winter, Kolina has rehabed and hopes to be ready to help the Danes 16's in the OF and possibly at catcher. Husted noted, "Kolina is a great kid whose attitude and mental composure makes her a great asset to any team. We certainly look to develop her but also be patient to allow her time to fully recover from her injury."

Finally Michelle Barsness will move from 3B at Danes 14's right into the OF at 16's and into the bottom half of the Danes lineup. As a freshman at Champlin Park HS this spring Michelle, knows as Miche by teammates, has started for the varsity in the outfield. A small kid, Michelle has hidden power and a great attitude toward softball. "I'm excited about this kid, she has a great tough attitude from her hockey experience and she has a tremendous swing which results in hard hit balls. She'll find a way into our lineup this summer." said Husted.

So with 8 kids with Danes experience to build from, the Danes looked to their dome ball pickups for help in the upcoming season and they found 3 players who will be able to help right away, Jess Bauler (Sibley HS, MN), Christen Myers (Prior Lake HS, MN) and Tanya Rogers (Hastings HS, MN).

Bauler is an outfielder/third baseman who will also catch some innings for the Danes 16's. She too is recovering from off season injuries and surgery but is expected to be ready in time for summer ball. "Bauler has shown the abilty to make great plays on the defensive side and with some mental adjustment could be a nice power hitter in our line-up." said Husted.

Myers will be the veteran of the team as a HS junior and will probably start most games at 1B or as the DP. "From what I've seen with Myers she needs to make a few small adjustements to her swing and she's gonna be a tremedous offesive player, she already offers us an upgrate defensively at 1B."

Rogers joins the team and will see her time as a catcher/outfielder for the Danes 16's. She is a bat-lefty throw righty kid with a nice swing and developing skills as a catcher. "Rogers will be a great addition to our team and works real hard to improve, by the end of summer I expect Rogers will dominate at this level". said Husted.

As part of the contraction of the 14U team, the Danes have been able to move up 1 player on a part time basis who expect to be key components of future Danes teams, Ashley Barsness (Brooklyn Park, MN) "Ashley has a bright future with the Danes -- she is a slugging 2B who will work hard and are is fun to be around." said Husted.

Toward the end of summer, the Danes added another young player, Nicole Donofri (South St. Paul, MN) who looks to add some pop playing 1B/DP/RF and throwing some innings for the Danes. "I think Nicole has the ability to help our team in many ways while learning from Myers and Smolinski. She is only in her freshman year this spring so she has plenty of time with the Danes." said Husted.

The final and probably the biggest part of the reciepe is Sophomore Right Fielder Becca Skadsberg. Becca has played with the Danes Dome Ball team the past two winters, filled it last year for the Danes 18's last year. A tremendous power hitter with a gun for an arm, Becca will be fun to watch and will spend time with both 16's and 18's in 2002. "Becca will be the greatest Dane of all time when her career is over, she is the type of hitter who makes every pitcher pay and each mistake pitch can be found 250 feet later as homeruns." said Husted.

The Danes 16's will be coached again in 2002 by Becky Peterson and Kari Kallio. Both have coached in the program for years and build a strong environement for kids to develop the talent needed to move on to the next levels of play.

The Danes 16's still has a few parts of this successful recipe they need to fill in the catcher and pitcher areas.