A lot has been made during the past three years of the carousel that is known as the Mercer Island fast-pitch softball head coaching position. But on April 10 it wasn’t the coach that cost the team a forfeit against Sammamish.

“We just didn’t have enough girls to play the game,” said Mercer Island softball coach Jessica Steinle. “It is really frustrating. They are a part of a team and they are not just letting themselves down but the other girls as well. It is also frustrating that the coach would take a forfeit win instead of rescheduling the game.”

Steinle said that some of the girls chose to take the break to go visit colleges: “That is fine but some just decided that their vacation was more important than the team.”

Attrition has not been a big problem this season, even with the struggles of a winless team.

“The girls have been staying pretty positive and they know they can play better,” said the coach. “It is troubling that the girls don’t have that fire. I want to win every time and prove people wrong. I have to learn how to motivate them, which is hard, because that is something that has to come from inside.”

The Islanders have played strong defense during the first few innings of games this season. But have struggled to remain consistent throughout an entire game.

“We just lose it in the third or fourth,” said Steinle.

That let down has hurt the team by costing it not only wins, but valuable time on the field against good competition. The extra two innings of play that the team loses by the 10-run rule being enacted will cost the team in the long run.

The team will have three games on consecutive days this week, including the game against the Spartans that will be a makeup today at 4 p.m. at Skyline High School.

“We need to be able to get all seven innings in during all three games,” said Steinle. “It is game experience.”

Steinle knew that turning the program around would be difficult when she took the position. The young coach let her team know that it would take dedication to be on the team. Most of the high school teams will have an hour and a half to two hours of practice each day. Steinle has extended that to two and a half hours.

“They have to really work to catch up to these other teams that have years more experience than they do,” said Steinle of her team, which has a few players who are brand new to the sport. “I was up front with them and they have done pretty well with that part.”

One of the biggest places the team needs to improve is at the plate. Steinle has had the girls working with a pitching machine to get used to the speed of pitches.

“You just have to put them in there and start out with bunting and take baby steps,” said Steinle. “Some pitchers throw nothing but junk and they are not used to that. I am impressed that they still keep coming out.”

Steinle says that there are at least two winnable games left on the schedule this season — Bellevue and Interlake.

“I really think we can beat them,” said Steinle. “A win would go a long way to showing these girls how much their hard work can pay off.”

Mercer Island will travel to Interlake on Friday, April 27 and host Bellevue on Monday, April 30 at the South Mercer Playfields.