<p class="p1">Seaside’s Jordan Dotson winds up for a pitch against Astoria at Broadway Field.</p>

No, a 4-11 league record isnt the ideal goal to shoot for.

But when you play in the Cowapa League, and your softball team hasnt even won four league games over the previous four years its not that bad.

Thats the way Seaside softball was looking at the 2013 season, after going 0-15 in 2012 and 1-14 in 2011.

The Lady Gulls actually opened 2013 with a 2-1 league record, which included a pair of high-scoring wins (18-17 and 24-16) over Tillamook.

On the down side, Seaside finished the season with seven straight losses, and no playoffs. One step at a time, said head coach Jen Glasson, back for her third season.

We set realistic goals for our team, she said. Wed like to go out and win every game, but we try to have reasonable goals. The girls are working really hard. It will be nice once the basketball kids are out here solidly, because theyve only had 1 1/2 practices (before Seasides first game). Thats six of our nine starters.

COWAPA LEAGUE

The leagues always tough, Glasson said. We always look at the top half as much more experienced than we are. But last year, we were playing Scappoose for the final spot into the state playoffs.

Right now, were battling with Tillamook and Astoria, and we like to say we got first place out of the bottom half of the league last year.

Thats a realistic goal for us, to continue to battle with them. Well play Yamhill and Banks hard, but were not in their league yet.

Yamhill-Carlton wont be in the league at all next year, when the Cowapa League replaces Yamhill-Carlton with Valley Catholic.

THE LADY GULLS

Seaside is young but experienced on the diamond, where the Gulls have three returning all-league players none of whom are seniors.

Junior Allison Bussert is one of the top catchers in the Cowapa League, while sophomore shortstop Whitney Westerholm and sophomore center fielder Paige Ideue actually makes Seaside one of the strongest defensive teams in the league up the middle.

Rounding out the infield are junior Shelby Miller at first, sophomore Lucy Swenson or junior Brianna Babbitt at second base and sophomore Brittany West at third.

In the outfield, sophomore Annuka Brown has a good arm and a good reach in left field, Glasson said. Were trying to flank Paige with some good outfielders that she can start working with and trust, because shes an excellent center fielder.

In right field, it will be Brittany Dodson, one of just two seniors on the roster (Alicia Caballero is the other).

The all-important pitching spot is held by junior Jordan Dotson, with Brown serving as the backup.

Jordan put a lot of work in during the preseason, Glasson said. She throws in the open-gyms and we have her on a workout schedule, throwing over 100 pitches a day. Shes much more confident, and seems to be much more natural.

Other players on the Seaside roster include sophomores Chloe Kincaid and Izzy Tolliver; and freshmen Lucy Bodner, Emma Dutcher and Brooklyn Weaver.

SEASIDE SOFTBALL

Coach: Jen Glasson, 3rd year

2013: 6-18 (4-11 Cowapa)

Playoffs: None

All-League Losses: Alex Habecker

All-League Returners: Allison Bussert, Jr., Paige Ideue, So., Whitney Westerholm, So.