Doniphan baseball coach Jason Rose, in his first year, pitches to his team at a recent practice. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

DONIPHAN -- Doniphan's baseball and softball programs are donning new leaders heading into this fall sports season.

Jason Rose is taking over the baseball program while Brad Phillips will be leading the softball squad.

Rose is hitting the ground running with a team that has good numbers coming back, including Travis Moe and Jordan Casteel. In his first year with the Dons, Rose wants to make sure his players know how to play the game the right way.

"I am big on the fundamentals," Rose said. "We will play hard every day and be in every game. Wins and losses will take care of themselves as long as we play hard."

Even in the practice sessions this season for the Dons, Rose is taking notice of the positive vibes.

"We do a good job of teamwork," Rose said. "(I am) still learning faces and names, but we have got a lot of camaraderie."

Rose who has coached both boys and girls, said coaching the two groups takes different approaches.

"(Girls) are so wanting to please and boys usually you can go on the fly and do some different things as far as adapt during game situations," Rose said. "It is just really different. Being a coach, most of it is psychological, you wear a lot of different hats."

On the softball diamond, Phillips is taking over for Jimbo Blackwell, who led the Donettes to the semifinals of the OFC tournament in the spring before losing to Naylor but rebounding to beat East Carter in the third-place game.

The Donettes didn't lose any seniors last year and have eight players coming back who will be seniors this year. Mary Beth Cosgrove is coming back on the mound for the Donettes as she handled virtually all of the pitching last year.

"She is just now getting back in shape and starting to throw the ball the way she can," Phillips said. "She is going to be a big asset. She is throwing the ball pretty hard and pretty accurate."

Cassey Hart and Jan Smith are both coming back after putting up solid numbers last season. With many faces coming back from last year, Phillips feels the defense will be strong but the offense is somewhat of a question mark heading into the year.

"Our defense is ahead of our offense," Phillips said. "We are going to run a little bit more and get some people in scoring position. We may lay down some bunts and try to advance runners just to get some runs on the board early."

Like Rose, Phillips also wants his players to know all aspects of the game.

"I'm pretty big on that," Phillips said. "I am a coach that is going to care for players and try to be positive, win or lose."

VOLLEYBALL: The focus of the Donettes going into this year has been on team unity.

Kadie Civils will lead the team as a captain along with the three other seniors.

"That they work as a team, that is the main thing we've worked on," coach Tabitha Allen said. "Working as a team and building each other up."

The ability to function as one unit can make or break a season, Allen said.

"I think it makes all the difference," she said. "You can play really good teams and play well against them if you are all playing together. If you are not playing together, they can really beat you."