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When talking about the Mason High junior varsity softball team, fifth-year coach Eric Stockman kept going back to one aspect about his squad.

Character.

"I've got a great group of character girls," Stockman said. "Good work ethic; just all-around a great group of girls. They're a lot of fun to be around.

"(Character) is one of our beliefs at Mason," he added. "The whole program stands by that. If you're a good character girl, other things will fall in place."

The Comets — who have 15 on their roster — won 10 of their first 14 games before hosting the eight-team JV tournament, which wrapped up Saturday, April 26.

"Going into the season, me and my assistant coach (Angie Schur) honestly didn't know what we were going to have," Stockman said. "It's been a pleasant surprise. There's been some bumps in the road, and we've learned a thing or two about our four losses."

Junior first baseman/catcher Linsey Shreve recently was promoted to the varsity, but the rest of the JV club is balanced and deep.

"Any starting nine we put in, they will compete for us," Stockman said. "I don't have one standout superstar.

"What Brian's (varsity coach Brian Castner) built at Mason — junior high through the junior varsity level — it makes our job easy as coaches. We have good quality girls in our program with great character."

Team members are: juniors Amanda Schweppe and Kristin Ventura; sophomores Amy Allen, Mary Crone, Amber Egelston, Olivia Hutchinson, Li'Ana Jackson, Kellie Morris, Sarah Neuss, Taylor Noe, Danielle Simms and Maggie Sullivan; and freshmen Lynsey Carr and Caroline Hillen.

"To get better, obviously," Stockman said of the main goal. "We need to make sure we prepare our girls. If Brian calls them up, they're ready to go and fit right in. We like to structure our team like Brian does with the varsity."

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.

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