IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- After watching his team compete in nearly two month's worth of practices and games since the beginning of the fall semester, Ellsworth CC head softball coach Nate Forsyth offered this assessment, "I really, really like this team.  We have a really good group and they are fun to work with.  We have grown a lot over the fall season and I look forward to continued growth this offseason."

Forsyth, in his 6th season as the Panthers' head coach, led his squad through an 11-date schedule this fall, with games ranging from 10-to-14 innings in length and some of the contests more like controlled scrimmages.  "We had players step up into roles quicker than I had expected," Forsyth said, "and we were able to lay a good foundation for each player to build on in the offseason."

This year's ECC team has a good mix with six returners along with 15 new faces.  Players back from last spring's squad include Lauren Brennan, Lili Ruiz, Cheyanne Collins, Sierra Robinson, Jocelyn Hartley and Nevaeh Dice.  Brennan and Dice both played in all 49 games in the spring, Brennan finishing with a .374 batting average and slugging 8 homers while Dice batted .354.  Four of the six sophs saw action in the pitcher's circle, combining for 45 appearances.

"Establishing a team identity is very important and having everyone adjust to playing together at this level," the coach explained were his goals heading into the fall campaign.  "We are big on the development of players and we had some players change positions to help fill some holes and they transitioned very quickly," Forsyth said.

So what will the Panthers be concentrating on between now and the time spring practices officially begin?  "We have a lot to continue to work on, but that is what the offseason is for," noted Forsyth.  "Everyone had really good moments in the fall and we just need to be more consistent and that will come.  This offseason will be important as everyone settles into their spot on the team.  We will be getting into the weight room more.  The next few months give us an opportunity to work individually with players and continue to develop their game."

Forsyth will also expect his team to continue to work hard in the classroom in the coming months.  The ECC softball squad was an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year last year with a team grade point average of 3.23 and 4 players garnering NJCAA All-Academic awards.  Brennan, Collins and Hartley all earned a spot on the All-Region Academic list as well.