Prep Softball: Green Valley gets dealt another ace

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, April 8, 1999 | 11:26 a.m.

With emergence of Hietbrink, the Gators haven't lost a step

Before the start of the 1999 prep softball season, questions swirled surrounding perennial area power Green Valley.

Could the Gators survive the losses of longtime coach Cindi Davis and, perhaps more significantly, all-state pitcher Nicole Truax, now playing at UNLV?

Less than one month later, Green Valley's doubters have been silenced. The Gators are 15-6 overall, rank seventh in the Sun's state-wide poll and top the Sunrise Division standings with a 4-0 record.

After a short adjustment period, the team is playing an inspired brand of softball under first-year coach John Culver, who also is the school's new football coach.

Best of all, senior Renee Hietbrink has emerged as more than a competent pitching replacement for Truax. With a fast start highlighted by two no-hitters and an earned-run average under 1.00, the unheralded right-hander is earning her place among the state's elite hurlers.

"We had some big shoes to fill in Nicole," Culver said. "But Renee made a drastic improvement over the summer, and we're telling the kids that we can win the 1-0 type ballgames with her out there."

The unassuming Hietbrink is the first to credit much of her success to senior catcher Kathy Waddilove, her fellow co-captain and batterymate.

"She's the one who does everything," Hietbrink said. "I do well because of her."

Although Hietbrink started just two contests last year as the team's No. 2 starter, she and Waddilove became familiar with one another over the summer, when they starred for the Las Vegas Rage, a local traveling team. Now, with the experienced Waddilove calling pitches, Hietbrink can concentrate on doing what she does best -- bringing the heat.

"She improved a lot over the summer," Waddilove said. "She's a really amazing pitcher now."

And after being on the receiving end of Truax's offerings for two years, the Gator catcher said Hietbrink isn't far behind her predecessor.

"They're both pretty overpowering pitchers that usually get people with their speed," Waddilove said. "Renee also has a lot of movement on her pitches, especially her riseball."

After witnessing an improved Hietbrink during intramurals, the Gators got a sign she'd be something special in the very first game of the year. Although Green Valley lost 1-0 at Cimarron-Memorial, their ace proved she could shut down some of the city's top bats.

"It taught us something," Culver said. "We know that if we get into 1-0 ballgames like that, we'll win 90 percent of the games."

Since then, Hietbrink has been virtually untouchable, posting a 15-4 record and an 0.70 ERA. In her last four league games, she has allowed just one run, giving the Henderson school renewed hope that this could be the year the team ends Silverado's five-year stranglehold on the Sunrise Division title.

"We have good chemistry and we work well together," Hietbrink said. "It's not necessarily that we have the best talent, but we all get along and we know we can beat anybody if we really want to."

As for those who still doubt her ability to step into the void left by Truax, Hietbrink doesn't seem concerned. But that doesn't mean she's not thinking of Truax when she steps onto the mound.

"She (Truax) comes to our games and encourages me a lot," said Hietbrink, who will play at Southern Utah next year. "I watched her for years and she was an inspirational person to me."

The way she has performed thus far, a Green Valley pitcher may be saying the same thing of Renee Hietbrink in years to come.