Orland Junior High's Haskett Teaches Fundamentals of Softball and Life

Lori Haskett is a physical education teacher at , but since the official start of school isn't for another week, she's using her whistle to help teach softball fundamentals.

When Haskett first started working in Orland nearly 10 years ago, junior high softball was a slow-pitch game. The girls didn't see the heat until they moved on to high school. Two years later, Haskett launched a softball camp.

The program has been speeding forward ever since, just like the pitching, producing talents such as Lexi Bryant and Jori Boren.

"The camp gets them ready for their junior high experience should they try out for the team," Haskett said. "We teach the basic fundamentals of the game, and it's district-wide. We get grades 5-8 coming here."

Haskett is assisted by the coach from Century Junior High. The two relay information on players to the coach from Jerling. 

Many of the girls at the camp have softball experience from starting club play with the Sparks or other club teams, but some girls come having never played the game before.

"This gets some of those girls interested in softball and prepares them for the future at the junior high or high school level," Haskett added.

Haskett routinely puts her campers through running and stretching drills similar to those in PE class. Her camp is not all about softball, though. It's about life, too.

"It's about teamwork," she said. "It's not about winning. It's also about working with other people and getting along with others."

Haskett has help aside from her co-workers from Century and Jerling. Two students from the camp came back to help teach the campers fundamentals. 

"We get high schoolers who participated in the camp back all the time. This year, we have Brooke Heimurl and Allie Pardo," Haskett said. "They've been here since sixth grade. It also teaches them some leadership skills."

"Because people were here to help us, we came back to help the younger group," Heimurl said. "It's a nice feeling to help people out."

As part of their volunteer work, Heimurl and Prado demonstrate drills and correct any mistakes the junior high students may make. The pupils have become teachers.