Stats off-limits, but robust, for CCA's Wnek and Strub

OXFORD -- Jim White makes an annual request at his preseason meeting for players and parents.

Avoid the temptation. Please do not view individual statistics at Quik Stats Iowa.

"I try to make it off-limits as much as possible," said White, head softball coach at Clear Creek Amana High School. "If they're not worrying about their stats, if they're more worried about the team, everything seems to work out for itself."

It's got to be torture. Looking at some of the numbers the Clippers put up, it's blinding. Like looking into the sun.

Let's review what Caitlin Wnek and Fran Strub did in 2010, on their way to garnering first-team all-state honors:

As a sophomore, Wnek batted .557 with 91 runs scored, 29 doubles and a .886 slugging percentage. Another soph, Strub hit .548, scored 80 runs and drove in 72 with 18 doubles, 18 triples, 34 steals and a slugging percentage of 1.021.

That's video-game stuff.

"It's nice, but we don't too wrapped up into it," Strub said. "We think about our offense more as a team, not individuals. When one person starts hitting, it's pretty contagious."

There's a reason that Clear Creek Amana is the most consistently elite softball program in the state. The Clippers outwork most everybody else.

"We have put a major emphasis on weight lifting," said White, who has compiled a 723-114 record and led CCA to five state championships in his 16  years.

Hitting is an emphasis. White said each player swings the bat between 500 and 600 times a day. There's soft toss, front toss, tee work, and live pitching.

"Nobody shags balls, and nobody stands around," said White, who has produced numerous players with vast offensive skills.

He said that Strub and Wnek rank near the top of the list.

"(Strub) doesn't look that fast, but it's amazing how fast she can get all the way around to third," White said. "As a left-handed-hitter, she can present a lot of problems. She can bunt, she can slap and she can hit. And she can do them all well.

"I love when Wnek comes to the plate. She has a presence when she steps into the batter's box. You just know she's going to get the job done."

Both of them credit White for their hitting.

"He picks up on the littlest thing that's wrong with your swing," said Strub, who will lead off and play some first base and some outfield this year. "He'll mention something, then if you correct it, your next swing is a line drive."

Wnek will bat third and play shortstop, though she could play just about anywhere. While most CCA players spend their eighth-grade seasons playing lower-level ball or possibly pinch-running on the varsity, Wnek's bat and versatility got her into the every-day lineup immediately.

She termed her swing as "violent and powerful."

After going 45-0 and winning the Class 3A state championship in 2009, the Clippers slipped a bit in 2010, finishing a mere fourth. Most places, that's a dream season. Not here.

"We hope to get back to the championship game and redeem ourselves," Wnek said, disclosing the team's simple slogan -- All In.

"We're going to be more positive, and we're going to have more fun."

And they'll certainly put up big numbers, whether they see them or not.