The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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First-year Milan coach guides young team
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 29, 2007
The Milan varsity softball team is young this year, populated mostly with sophomores and juniors.
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The team has youth in common with its new coach, 24-year-old Jen Jackson, who is in her first year of teaching math at Milan High School and middle school.
"I think it's good I'm younger because I can relate better with the girls," Jackson said. "At the same time, you have to set guidelines."
Jackson played second base for four years at Grand Valley State University, where she majored in math and minored in psychology. During her junior year, she hit .316 with seven homeruns and 35 RBIs and the Lakers went 49-6. She played high school ball in Allegan where she holds 10 individual season records, including a .574 batting average, a .671 on-base percentage and 70 hits set in 1998. She also holds three career records, including hits (164), wins (47) and strikeouts (528).
This will be Jackson's first stint as a high school varsity coach, although she has coached some summer ball.
She hopes to pattern the Milan program after what she experienced at GVSU.
"Having played collegiate ball is very helpful," Jackson said, "because I can tell the players this is what they doing at the college level."
Jackson plans to start with the basics before going on to "anything fancy."
"The team's strengths remain to be uncovered," she said, "but I hope defense will be a strength. We're going to be doing a lot of defensive work."
As far as Jackson is concerned, the goal for this year is a simple one: improve over last year's disappointing 6-25.
She won't be just looking at the record, however.
"I think a win or a loss doesn't always tell you how you're improving," she said. "We'll be going through a constant cycle of evaluation on how we're doing."
The Big Reds have 14 on the roster, only four of which are not sophomores or juniors. The two freshmen are outfielder Kaylin Crump and Lani Ernst, whom Jackson expects to see some time on the mound.
The seniors on the team are outfielders Courtney Love and Britany McGettigan. The sophomore class is made up of catcher Ashley Beal, pitcher Sarah Heath, infielders Amelia Budny and Erin Costello, and outfielder Stephanie Quinn.
Juniors include infielders Emily Brewer and Amber Lindzy, and outfielders Heather Beldeyga, Kendra Smiatowicz and Tori Turner, who was one of two Big Reds named first team All-District last year.
Jackson feels good about the team's pitching, which will be managed by Heath and Ernst.
"We have some speed in the pitching and will be using some different pitches," Jackson said. "I think we'll be pretty decent."
Jackson is anxious to instill a culture of improvement in the young program.
"We are trying to concentrate on keeping our heads up and talk a lot about building on each success," she said.
The Big Reds open their season next Thursday on the road against Erie-Mason.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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