Gobert leader of Tiger Cubs' softball youth movement

Ellen Gobert

There is an impressive amount of talent for the area softball teams and Greencastle knows it has a tough road ahead of it to be competitive.

Having just one senior on the team this year makes the uphill battle even more slippery. Coach Dave Keller has never looked forward to a season more.

"I don't know that I've ever been more excited to coach a team, and it's because they're young and they're eager and willing," Keller said. "There's not one of them out there that thinks they're too good to be on this team. That's not always the case. With any team, it seems like there's one. None of them think they're better than of the other ones, and they all get along."

While chemistry isn't the only thing needed to get wins on the field, it can go a long way to making the season more enjoyable. And when players get along, it can make them play just a little bit harder for each other.

The leading chemist is senior Ellen Gobert.

"I don't think we could ever ask for a better senior than Ellen Gobert," Keller said. "She's already chimed in and taken control of things, and not in a negative way. There is not one girl that she's alienated. She keeps them together and keeps them focused.

"You'll see her in practice rounding them up and getting them to do things when we're off doing other things. That's good. She's like a coach on the field."

The Tiger Cubs have known this day was coming for a while. Keller's starting lineup will likely include four freshman and three sophomores most days.

In a tough conference that includes last season's state champion, planning for the future may be just the right formula for success.

"We set the wheels in motion a couple years ago that we were going to go with the youth movement," Keller said. "I think we realize how young we are. We've got 14-year-old kids that are going to be playing against 18-year-old kids that are going to college.

"We realize that, and they realize that, too. It won't be all rosy, but man in a couple of years ... And they know that. But they're focused on right now, and that's what's cool."

Greencastle is trying to win this year, of course, and Keller will march out the best lineup to do that every game. But with freshmen and sophomores on the mound, and not a lot of power at the plate, the team is going to have to rely on defense, bunting and trying to get ahead in low-scoring games.

"If our pitchers throw strikes, we'll play defense behind them," Keller said. "We're not going to hit any homeruns, we know that. We're going to have to play a lot of small-ball. We've got a lot of speed -- more speed than any team that I've ever had here."

The Tiger Cubs will do all the little things right. As the season goes along and the talent develops, success on the field should start to come.

Until then, Keller said he will relish the chance to work with such an exciting group. And for his one last go-around with Gobert.

"I just can't say enough about her," Keller said. "We're really fortunate that we get to be coaches of the last sport that they'll play in high school. That's what's going to be special about Ellen. It's going to be tough to lose her, but we've got a whole year with her and it's going to be a lot of fun."