The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

When the conversation centers on who are the top softball players at Sisters High School over the years, several names pop up quickly: Dara Kosanke, Jenny Kaiser, Jenna Sneva, Amber Milliman, Courtney Peters, and Samantha Stoneback.

Then there are former Outlaw standouts Becky Bremer, Misty Macauley, Taylor Walker, Marissa Calavan, Cassie Hernandez, McKenzie Cooper, Harley Rowe, and Taylor Nieri.

It's time to add another name to that list: Senior Cassidy Edwards, who transferred from Redmond to be an Outlaw her senior season and made an immediate impact.

Edwards put her name in the Outlaws softball record book for strikeouts in a season and the lowest earned run average in a season. Her 236 strikeout totaled bettered the mark of 228 set by Dara Kosanke (2010) and Edwards' 0.91 ERA was lower than Kosanke's 1.54 mark, also recorded in 2010.

In addition, Edwards recorded 18 wins and pitched five shutouts to rank second for a single season. The school records are 20 (wins) and seven (shutouts). Edwards also pitched a perfect game, as well as a trio of one-hitters. And was in double digits for strikeouts in a dozen games. Not a bad career, let alone a single season.

When asked what Edwards brought to the team, Outlaws Coach Ben Miller said, "She brought the difference with her pitching, her hitting, her effort, her team attitude. She's an ace athlete. Didn't have to change much with her game. She brought it with her."

Needless to say, Miller was happy when Edwards transferred from 6A Redmond last fall. As was basketball Coach Julianne Horner. Edwards received all-Sky-Em League honors in both sports as both Outlaws teams advanced to the playoffs.

"She was certainly the key to our success," said Miller. "She was our best hitter and our most consistent player. I will miss her dedication and spirit."

Miller said Edwards not only set a few school records, but her aggressive style of play and competitiveness was inspirational to her teammates.

"We were down 3-1 to Sweet Home in the seventh and needed a win," said Miller. "We had two on and Cassidy hits what would be a double for anyone else to drive in two. But she turns it into a triple, then scores the winning run one batter later. No one else turns that double into a triple to get in scoring position."

Edwards said that was one of her best moments of the season. But she said what she will take most from her year at Sisters is how well she was received.

"The amount of support from parents, coaches and staff members has been amazing," said Edwards, who will play softball and basketball at Clackamas Community College. "My teammates have made me feel at home from the day I arrived. They took me in like I've been there since day one."

That reception will help ease the Outlaws' first-round playoff loss to Molalla, 4-0. But the way the loss happened will sting for a bit.

"It was 0-0 with two in the seventh and we made four errors to give them four runs," said Edwards. "Then we loaded the bases in the seventh and couldn't score. It was a hard way to lose." (See story, page 16.)

Nonetheless, the Outlaws finished 18-7 overall and placed second in the Sky-Em League.

"It was a successful season and we accomplished a lot as a team and individually," said Edwards. "I set a lot of personal goals that I accomplished ... such as (single-season record) strikeouts, overall, and having a winning season. We helped turn the program around to where it had been a few years ago."

Edwards said she was "real pleased" with her pitching this season and was quick to credit her team's defense. She was selected second-team pitcher on the Sky-Em All League team.

"The defense was there to back me up," she said. "One of my strengths is if I don't strike them out, I can get them to ground out or fly and the defense can make the play."

As for her hitting, she wasn't as pleased.

"It was okay, but compared to last year, I think it went down a little," said Edwards.

"But I'm pleased overall," said Edwards, who noted another highlight of the season was getting to play with her freshman sister, Madison. "That was special. And seeing her go three-for-three in our play-in-game win over Scappoose was special. She's going to miss me."

Edwards is the daughter of Jeff Edwards of Redmond and Tammy Baker of Terrebonne.

Not long after SHS's June 7 graduation, Edwards will move to Oregon City, where she will room with Outlaws volleyball standout Megan Minke, who will take to the court for Clackamas Community College.

Then it will be dual workouts with basketball and softball when Labor Day arrives.

Edwards said she wasn't expecting to play basketball in college, but her senior season was successful and "it just happened. I never thought I was good enough."

But Edwards had a standout basketball season for Sisters, and Clackamas basketball and softball coaches felt they could share the 5-8 senior's talents.

"It's about managing my time," said Edwards. "I really like both coaches and am looking forward to the experience."

She's hoping her experiences at CCC will match those as an Outlaw.

"I'm going to miss all my teammates and coaches and everyone associated with the two teams I was part of," said Edwards. "They were the most family-like teams I've played on. It's a good way to end my high school career. It was a good year."

Looking to next season without Edwards, Miller said, "Hard shoes to fill. I don't foresee us filling them without hard work and someone stepping up to the challenge and growing with a fairly new program," said Miller. "I will be losing four other seniors in Taylor, Harley, Tiffany and Lauren. All five girls have played summer ball and school ball since they where little. It comes down to experience, attitude and effort. We do have a great group of girls following and coming up to fill some shoes, but it will take some time."