Perry Hibner is just fine in the Rodney Dangerfield role.
Hibner, Middleton’s third-year girls softball coach, knows that most pundits won’t pick his Cardinals to win the Big Eight Conference this spring.
But Hibner doesn’t mind the Dangerfield-like, “no respect” treatment.
“We will be in the mix,” Hibner insisted. “I don't think anyone will pick us to win the conference, but that's OK. Games aren't won on paper. I know we will improve and I feel like we can play with anyone in the Big Eight.”
There are a number of reasons for Hibner and the Cardinals to be so optimistic.
It starts with first baseman Jessica Parente, catcher Brianna Buss and third baseman Ashley Bindl, who all received all-conference honors last year.
Parente, a first-team all-Big Eight Conference player, was second on the team last year with a .446 batting average. Parente led the Cardinals with 20 RBI, was third with nine doubles and had one home run.