Hailey Hammer (center) is suiting up for Everett Community College. (Photo courtesy Hammer)
Slap-hitting sophomore sensation Madeline Roberts. (Photo property of Shoreline Community College athletics)
Monica Vidoni (back, center) and her team left frosty Minnesota for toasty Florida.
The Wolves are everywhere.
With spring upon us, at least three former Coupeville High School players are suiting up to play college softball.
Madeline Roberts is a sophomore at Shoreline Community College while Hailey Hammer and Monica Vidoni are freshmen at, respectively, Everett Community College and Rainy River Community College.
All three teams are slated to start play this weekend, with Hammer and Vidoni’s squads getting the first games.
Appearing at a tournament in the Tri-Cities, Hammer played two games against Columbia Basin College Friday, then took the field for a double-header Saturday against Yakima Valley CC.
Battling a balky back, she played defense only in the openers, but on day two, talked her coach into letting her swing a bat.
In her first official at-bat as a regular-season college player Hammer blasted a resounding double, then followed that up with a couple singles and a handful of RBIs.
Proving she can hurt foes in multiple ways, she also played small ball when necessary.
“My coach really preaches that it’s a team game and not personal,” Hammer said. “So I bunted to move the runners and hit behind the runners to get them to score.”
Vidoni and her team are in Florida, where the Voyageurs opened with a split against fellow Minnesota teams.
After losing 3-0 to St. Cloud in the opener (Vidoni had the lone Rainy River hit), RRCC rebounded to down Itasca 6-3 in its second game.
She rapped another base hit in the nightcap and hauled in several fly balls while roaming the outfield.
It was a strong opening for the Wolf grad, who also has played volleyball and basketball this season.
“I was excited,” Vidoni said.
Coupeville Sports 