West Ottawa Softball Announces Post Season Awards

The West Ottawa Softball Team held it's end of the season banquet and announced many awards.  The following is a list of the awards:

Most Spirited - Nicole Artz
Most Improved - Rachael Serna
Panther Pride Award (Sportsmanship) - Katelyn Klinesteker
Offensive MVP - Taylor Dean
Defensive MVP - Hannah Goble
All Conference Honorable Mention - Katelyn Klinesteker and Nicole Artz
All Conference 1st Team - Hannah Goble (p); Elaine Whitbeck (2B); Taylor Dean (SS)
All District 1st Team - Hannah Goble (p); Elaine Whitbeck (2B); Taylor Dean (SS)
2012 Team Captains - Senior, Elaine Whitbeck; Senior Aileen Jackson; Sophomore Nicole Artz

WO Softball Wins Two Over Grand Haven

On Tuesday evening the West Ottawa softball team concluded their OK Red Conference play by beating Grand Haven two times on the road. The score of the first game was 12-0 and the score of game 2 was 12-2. Hannah Goble pitched both complete games. In 14 innings she allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, 18 strike outs and 3 walks.


Offensively, the Panthers put together a 31 hit attack and had 13 stolen bases on 15 attempts. Leading the offense was Taylor Dean (5-8 with 5 RBI's and a double), Amber Kobylski (4-6), Nicole Artz (4-7 with 4 stolen bases), Heather Essenburg (4-8, with a triple), Elaine Whitbeck (3-8 with 4 stolen bases), Katelyn Klinesteker (3-8, with 2 RBI's), Callie Perkins (2-4), Rachael Serna (2-7, with 3 RBI's), and Kasey Miles (2-7).

West Ottawa's record stands at 21-7 and 8-6 in the OK Red and finished in 4th place in the league. The Panthers are back in action tomorrow night as they play a double header at GR South Christian.

West Ottawa Softball Defeats Jenison Two Times at Home

Thursday evening....The West Ottawa Varsity Softball Panthers (19-7; 6-6 in the OK Red) beat state ranked honorable mention Jenison two times at home in a conference make-up double header. Hannah Goble pitched both victories going the distance in each game. In game #1 the final score was 7-5 and in game #2 Goble pitched her 9th shutout of the season winning the game 1-0. Offensively, Elaine Whitbeck had a huge day at the plate batting 5 for 7 with 4 singles and one triple. Nicole Artz had 4 hits on the day with 3 singles and a double and laid down a perfect squeeze bunt in the 3rd inning of game # 2 to score Amber Kobylski for the only run of the game. Collecting two hits a piece were Taylor Dean, Heather Essenburg (single and double), and Amy VanderStoep.

West Ottawa Splits with Rockford

On Tuesday, 5/17 the West Ottawa Varsity Softball team split a league double header with Rockford. W.O. won the first game 1-0 on Taylor Deans sacrifice Fly to center field to score Elaine Whitbeck from 3rd base. Pitcher Hannah Goble pitched the complete game shut out allowing 5 hits and striking out 6 batters and giving up no walks. In game # 2, the Panthers lost 3-0. Allowing 3 unearned runs in the 1st inning. Goble allowed 7 hits in game #2 while striking out 2 and walking 1. Taylor Dean was the only batter to have two hits in game # 2 with two singles.  WO stands 4-6 in the OK Red and 17-7 overall.

Congratulations also goes out to our JV Softball team who split with Rockford on the road.  The highlight of those wins were Maggie Chrispells booming homerun over the fence!

WO Dominates Over Muskegon

On Tuesday evening the West Ottawa Varsity SB team (16-6) traveled to Muskegon for an OK Red League Double Header. In game #1, WO won 24-1 and game #2's final score was 10-0. Hannah Goble earned the victory in both games pitching a total of 10 innings and allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 run and 10 strike outs. Her shutout victory broke a 31 year record for most shutouts (6) in a single season (previously held by Vicki Nienhuis). The new record is now 7 shutouts on the season set by junior Hannah Goble.


Leading the offensive attack was Taylor Dean who batted 6 for 7 on the day with 2 triples, 4 singles, 3 RBI's and 1 stolen base. Nicole Artz and Amber Kobylski each had a homerun and Callie Perkins had two triples.

WO Softball Takes 3rd Place in Northview Invitational Tournament

On Saturday, the West Ottawa Varsity Softball team (14-6) played in the invitational Northview Softball Tournament and took 3rd place with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss on the day. West Ottawa opened with a win over West Catholic 15-4; followed by an exceptional pitching effort win by Hannah Goble over Northview 2-0. Goble threw a 1 hit shutout and the only hit being an infield bunt single. In game #3, West Ottawa faced Jenison and lost 8-0. In the consolation game, West Ottawa beat Petoskey 5-4 to earn the 3rd place finish out of 13 teams.


Leading the offensive attack was Aileen Jackson who batted 9-14 on the day and Nicole Artz who batted 6-11 with 4 singles, 2 doubles, and 5 stolen bases.

West Ottawa's next game is on Monday as they travel to Forest Hills Central for a non-league single game.

WO loses twice to Hudsonville

On Thursday, 5/5 the West Ottawa softball team (11-5) dropped two games to OK Red Conference powerhouse Hudsonville. In the first game, WO and Hudsonville were tied 1-1 until the 5th inning when Hudsonville scored 1 run and then they broke it open in the 6th inning scoring 7 runs to win the game 9-1. In game #2, Hudsonville scored won 7-2. Hannah Goble took the pitching loss in both games and Taylor Dean lead the offensive attack with a singe, double and 2 RBI's in game #2.

WO improves to 11-1 after win over Covenant Christian

Behind a stellar pitching performance by Hannah Goble, West Ottawa Softball beat Covenant Christian 3-0 at home. Goble pitched 7 strong innings, allowing 1 bloop single over the infield while striking out 8 and walking 1. Offensively, West Ottawa was led with a double by Kasey Miles.


On Tuesday and Thursday WO is on the road against Grandville and Hudsonville.

WO Beats Holland Christian Two Times on the Road

On Thursday the WO Softball team (10-1; 1-1 in conference play) traveled to Holland Christian for two non-league games. Despite the cold and wet weather, the Panthers won two games 9-0 and 14-0. On the day, West Ottawa collected 26 hits which included 7 doubles, 4 triples and 3 over the fence homeruns. Leading the offensive attack for WO were freshman Nicole Artz who batted 7-7 on the day with 4 singles, a double and 2 triples. Junior Elaine Whitbeck with 5 hits (solo homerun, double and 3 singles). Sophomore Taylor Dean with 2 LONG homeruns and a double and junior Aileen Jackson with 2 singles and 2 doubles. Hannah Goble pitched each shutout victory allowing only 8 hits on the day.


West Ottawa is back in action for a single game on Monday at home against Covenant Christian.

West Ottawa Takes Two from Hamilton on the Road

The West Ottawa Varsity Softball team beat Hamilton two times in a non-league double header on Saturday. In the opener, WO won 12-1 on a combined 3 hitter by Junior Hannah Goble (7-1) and freshman Nicole Artz. Goble and Artz helped their own cause with each of them collecting two hits a piece. Artz had a single and a 2 run homerun and 3 RBI's while Goble had two singles and 2 RBI's.


In game #2, West Ottawa won 12-4 on another combined pitching effort by Hannah Goble (8-1) and Nicole Artz. The Panthers used explosive power by collecting 7 singles, 3 doubles, 2 triples and a homerun. Offensively, junior Elaine Whitbeck led the hitting parade with a single, double, and a triple. Collecting two hits a piece were Nicole Artz and Junior Aileen Jackson both with 2 singles and Freshman Rachael Serna with a single and a triple. Senior, Katelyn Klinesteker belted her 1st career homerun in the 1st inning.

West Ottawa is back in action with a double header against Jenison on Tuesday, April 26.

WO Softball Opens Conference Play with a Split Over East Kentwood.

On Thursday evening WO Softball opened conference play against East Kentwood by dropping the opener 6-1 but rebounding with a 7-3 win in the night cap. Hannah Goble was the pitcher of record in both games. Collecting multiple hits in the double header were Junior Elaine Whitbeck with a single, double, 3 RBI's and 2 stolen bases; Freshman Nicole Artz with 3 singles, 1 RBI and 3 stolen bases; Sophomore Taylor Dean had 3 singles, a double and 3 RBI's; Senior Katelyn Klinesteker with a single and a double; Freshman Rachael Serna with a single and a double; Freshman Amber Kobylski with 2 singles and 2 BB's; and Junior Hannah Goble with 2 singles.


West Ottawa is back in action on Saturday as they travel to Hamilton for a tournament. Game #1 is at 11:00 am against GR Christian followed by game #2 at 1:00 pm against Hamilton with the 3rd game being played at 3:00 pm.

West Ottawa's record stands at 6 wins/1 loss and 1-1 in conference play.

Martin E. Ball Cancelled

Due to the weather and field conditions, today's tournament is cancelled.

WO wins two over visiting Unity Christian

The West Ottawa Varsity Softball Team upped their season record to (5 - 0) with two non-league wins over Unity Christian Thursday afternoon. In the first game Hannah Goble pitched a 2 hit shut out with 6 strike outs and no walks. The final score was 7-0. Leading the offensive attack were Freshman Nicole Artz with 2 singles and sophomore Taylor Dean with a double and a triple.


In the nightcap, West Ottawa was down 3-2 going into the 5th inning when they busted it open with 4 runs. The final score was 6-3 with Goble taking the win going the distance. The offensive leaders in game #2 were Freshman Rachael Serna with 3 hits, Junior Elaine Whitbeck and Freshman Amber Kobylski each with a triple and single.

The Varsity Softball team is back in action on Saturday when they host the Martin E. Ball tournament. Game #1 for WO will start at 10:00 am against Hamilton.

West Ottawa Softball Powers Past Muskegon Reeths Puffer

West Ottawa Varsity Softball swept their home opener against Muskegon Reeths Puffer on Tuesday night winning the opener 10-0 in a shortened 5 inning run rule and winning the night cap 10-3. Junior, Hannah Goble (3-0) earned the victory in both games. In game #1 Goble pitched the shutout victory while only allowing one hit and one walk. Combined totals for Goble for both games she allowed 7 hits, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk and 2 earned runs.
During game #1, West Ottawa bats were explosive with 5 triples. Leading the offensive attack on the day were, Junior Elaine Whitbeck with 2 triples, 1 double, 3 walks and 6 stolen bases. Senior Katelyn Klinesteker with 1 double, 3 singles and 5 RBI's. Freshman Amber Kobylski who batted 6 for 7 and 2 RBI's and Freshman Nicole Artz with a single and 2 triples.

West Ottawa is back in action on Thursday with a home double header starting at 4:30 pm vs. Unity Christian.

Junior Varsity also won in big fashion against Muskegon Reeths Puffer to up their season win total to 3 wins and 0 losses.

WO Opens 2011 Season with Come from Behind Win Over Spring Lake

On Tuesday, March 29th the West Ottawa Varsity Softball team opened their 2011 season with a come from behind win over host Spring Lake. West Ottawa was very aggressive on the base paths with 8 stolen bases and capitalized on a total of 6 walks from Spring Lake and 2 costly fielding errors to sneak out a 6-4 non-conference win. No WO player had more than one hit. Hannah Goble pitched the complete game 3 hitter. During 7 innings Goble struck out 7, walked none and retired the last 14 out of 15 batters she faced.


Besides for a scrimmage against Caledonia on Wed., 3/30, the Panthers are idol until their home opener versus Muskegon Reeths Puffer on Tuesday, April 12th.

The JV softball team also beat Spring Lake in their home opener with a final score of 14-4 in 5 innings.

Team Pictures...April 12th

JV/Varsity individual and team pictures are scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th prior to the start of our home double header vs. Muskegon Reeths Puffer.

2011 Varsity Softball Roster

Announcing the 2011 Varsity Softball Roster:

• Katelyn Klinesteker, senior
• Amy VanderStoep, senior
• Hannah Goble, junior
• Aileen Jackson, junior
• Lauren Villarreal, junior
• Elaine Whitbeck, junior
• Taylor Dean, sophomore
• Heather Essenburg, sophomore
• Callie Perkins, sophomore
• Nicole Artz, freshman
• Amber Kobylski, freshman
• Kasey Miles, freshman
• Rachael Serna, freshman

West Ottawa Softball Welcomes New Assistant Softball Coach

West Ottawa H.S. Softball has added another outstanding Coach to our coaching staff.  We welcome retired Hope College Softball Coach Karla Wolters as a new assistant coach for the Varsity team.  Coach Wolters brings over 30 years of coaching experience to West Ottawa and we are excited to have her.

This years coaches are:
Coach Sleeman, Head Coach
Coach Matt, Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Artz - Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Wolters - Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Mathews - Head JV Coach
Coach Krista - Assistant JV Coach