“We only had eight girls try out — that's not enough,” said the frustrated coach.

While a preliminary count made by Huber and assistant coach Carl Waters had the number of potential players between 20 to 25 two months ago, numbers dwindled at a alarming rate, bringing the program to the dire announcement this week.

Huber said he would contact Eagle River Activities Principal Arthur Sosa and the Anchorage Softball Association this week.

“We lost some students to grades and some to the fact that they were taking an insufficient number of classes (four) in order to participate. Basically, there just wasn't much interest,” said Huber, who had coached the Wolves' junior varsity team last year, with Doug Callison at varsity helm.

“I was surprised that a lot of the girls from last year's JV team decided not to try out. I had thought that they had a good experience last year,” said Huber.

Under Callison, the Wolves won the state title two years ago, the school's first year in the sport.

Huber said the booster club posted advertisements in the school's hallways for months, and the program held open gym sessions four days a week since October.

Huber's disappointment was evident.

“It just didn't happen — it is very disappointing. We just couldn't generate enough interest,” he said.

Huber pointed to a huge disparity among the number of athletes turning out for sport teams at Eagle River and Chugiak high schools, adding that he thought more than 40 athletes turned out for the Mustang program, which will have one varsity and two JV teams.

Of the eight girls who came out for the team at Eagle River High, Huber said some did not possess the requisite skills and experience needed to compete at the varsity level, which could have become a safety issue.

The coach said he felt bad, particularly for senior Kristen Burns.

“This was to have been a big year for her, as she is looking at potential scholarships for college,” he said.

The program had only one other senior turn out, Kia Thomas, a second-year player, Huber said.

“It just wasn't doable this year. It was a call we had to make, and we struggled with the decision,” he said.

Reach the reporter at news@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, March 27, 2008.