Buckaroo crew making an impact

April 24, 2014Sports0

The Mt. Hood softball program has a history of strong players coming from the eastern Oregon city of Pendleton, and it shows this season for the undefeated Saints, now 26-0, as three more women have made a major impact.
Sophomore pitcher Kristen Crawford (2012 Pendleton High School graduate) and two freshmen, second baseman Kasidee Lemberger and outfielder SheaLee Lindsey (2013 Pendleton High graduates), have kept the Pendleton pipeline strong as they have made huge contributions.
“There’s just something about them: They always play all out, they’re aggressive and (they) are eager to learn,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter about Pendleton athletes.
The pipeline opened back in 2002-2003 when Chelsie Speer, another Pendleton graduate and former MHCC head volleyball coach and assistant softball coach, came to Mt. Hood to play those two sports.
“I made my decision based on the feeling that I got on my recruiting trip. I liked the atmosphere at Mt. Hood, the coaches, and the school itself,” said Speer, now head volleyball coach at Walla Walla Community College. “It just felt right after visiting a few other schools.”
After Speer, next came Jill Quesenberry (2004-2005), Genna Melton (2004-2005) and Jessi Lindsey (2011-2012), SheaLee’s older sister.
Now Crawford, Lemberger and Lindsey have added their names to the list.
“I have known Kristen the longest out of all three,” said Speer. “Her dad, Randy Crawford, coached me in basketball and softball my freshmen year of high school (1998). I remember her running around, a tiny little blonde. It’s awesome to see the person and player that she’s become since then.”
Crawford and SheaLee Lindsey set softball records at Pendleton High that stand today.
Crawford holds the Buckaroos’ record for most innings pitched in a season (183) and most wins in a season (23). Lindsey holds the record for most at-bats (108), hits (45) and singles (40) in a season.
In her second season with the Saints, Crawford, 20, is arguably the best pitcher in the NWAACC this spring, with a 14-0 record and a 1.05 ERA (earned run average) through Thursday. She is tied for first in wins and her ERA leads the league. Last season, she finished 15-2 and was awarded South Region First-Team recognition.
Lemberger, 19, leads the Saints in hitting with a .578 batting average in 23 games played, third best in the NWAACCs. She is first on the team in hits, with 48, and doubles, with 15.
“She (Lemberger) is a great player, wearing the jersey number in softball that I wore at Mt. Hood (N0. 2) and playing the same position that I played my freshmen season,” said Speer, a former second baseman.
Lindsey, 19, a two-sport athlete for Mt. Hood (volleyball), has been one of the Saints’ most consistent hitters (.390 batting average) while batting at the top of the order. The speedy outfielder leads the team in stolen bases with 12.
“SheaLee was a great player to coach in volleyball at Mt. Hood this last season. (A) very respectful player and great person overall,” said Speer, who departed MHCC at season’s end.
Lindsey said Crawford helped recruit her to Mt. Hood, which was already on her mind.
“Kristen talked about how competitive it is here. My sister also played here so I knew how successful the program was,” said Lindsey.
Lindsey’s friend and Pendleton teammate would soon follow. “I really liked my visit and I already knew Kristen and SheaLee. It was a good fit,” said Lemberger.
“I told them (Lemberger and Lindsey) they would grow as players and would be able to use the talent that they have. It’s a good program,” Crawford said.
With Pendleton being a small town (population: 16,800), the women said they originally met around middle school but became close friends in high school when playing sports. Crawford and Lemberger both played softball all four years at Pendleton High, while Lindsey played three years.
At MHCC, Crawford had been majoring in nursing but has switched to speech and language science. “ I could either do nursing and not be able to play softball or do speech/language science and be able to play,” she said. “It’s something I could be good at. It’s an overlooked program.”
Last week, Crawford signed her letter of intent to play softball at Portland State University for next year. “It was the best overall fit for me. My parents can also come and watch me play. (Division-I) softball will be fun, especially getting to travel,” she said.
Lemberger is majoring in business at Mt. Hood and is interested in cosmetology and wants to be a hair stylist. “I’ve always liked hair, I use to play with people’s hair when I was younger,” she said.
Lindsey is currently undecided. She has contemplated different majors, including sports medicine and physical therapy, but her most recent interest is marketing.
This term, all three friends say their favorite class is Human Sexuality which all of them happen to be in because of the “interesting topics” it covers.
Lindsey says playing under McWhorter, who is leading the Saints for an 11th season with three NWAACC championships (2009-11) so far, has been nothing but positive.
“She’s wants us to be the best we can be and wants us to progress,” Lindsey said. “She puts everyone before herself and cares about us on and off the field.”
Lindsey played volleyball for Speer this past fall and said both she and McWhorter have impacted her life. “They have similar coaching styles and they are both concerned for our well-being. They want us to be better players and human beings,” she said.
Lemberger also credits McWhorter for her focus on individual improvement.
“She pushes us to get better and gives constructive criticism. It’s weird, but I like coaches like that,” said Lemberger. “She isn’t cocky at all when she for sure could be.”
Even though she’s a pitcher, Crawford said her favorite baseball player is future Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. “I grew up watching him; he made amazing plays out there,” she said.
Lemberger mentioned a fellow second baseman, Boston Red Sox all-star Dustin Pedroia. “Everything he does, he makes it look natural,” she said.
The Saints have been at the top of the totem pole this season and the goal is, of course, to win the NWAACC title. First, the three women agree, the goal is to win the South Region. At 8-0 in the region, the Saints are tied with rival Clackamas (27-1 overall, 8-0 South). Mt. Hood will play the Cougars today in a double-header, at Clackamas, in a battle for the South lead.
“We all have the same common goal and everyone’s here for the right reasons,” said Crawford.
McWhorter says the Pendleton trio has had a tremendous impact this season, and each woman is very competitive.
Speer added, “I was really looking forward to coaching all three in softball this year,” before she left for Walla Walla. “They are all having a great season and I am proud to know that they are from Pendleton and representing well.”
Speer continued, “She (McWhorter) runs a special program because of who she is as a leader and that attracts great kids like Kristen, SheaLee and Kasidee.”