AUBURN — Annika Kahkonen thought she had been thinking about and preparing for the challenges ahead this softball season.

As Oxford Hills’ veteran catcher, she had two new pitchers to work with and a crucial leadership role on her team.

“I came into the season prepared to have to work with the pitchers,” Kahkonen said. “I really wanted to get close to them and get the feel for the pitchers.”

She was coming off three seasons with starter Crystal West. So she was anxious about developing the same kind of rapport with new pitchers juniors Erika Whitman and Cody Akers. It was a great role for the Vikings’ all-conference veteran catcher.

“I was really worried about what it was going to be like not having my pitcher back,” Kahkonen said. “She’s been my pitcher for the past three years and I really connected with her.”

Instead of backstopping the new pitchers this spring, however Kahkonen is backing up the Viking pitchers at second base. It was a late preseason switch that moved the seasoned catcher to a new position.

“I’ve never really had a ground ball before,” Kahkonen said. “I’ve never ever played second base. I played center field and I’ve caught. I’ve never had ground balls before, ever. You can see when I’m in the field, I get right down on my knees as if I’m catching the ball.”

Her ability to block ground balls like she’s stopping a wild pitch is paying off. Oxford Hills is 4-1 and Kahkonen has done well at second. Against Edward Little, she made a number of key plays, including getting to a ground ball that would have likely plated the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the seventh.

“It’s probably a good change” Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard said. “You could see that was a very important play at the end of the game. She made some great plays. She’s going to get some catching, but she’s anchoring that spot right now.”

It isn’t the first time a Viking has had to adjust to a change in position, especially at second base. Oxford Hills has had a number of players in recent years take up second base and be a key to the team’s defense in the infield. While some teams often put their weaker fielders at second, Goddard typically puts one of her strongest fielders at second. With quality pitchers and hitters often swinging late, the right side of the infield often gets some work.

“They got a lot of action” Goddard said. “The ball comes at a different spin. They have to cover the bunt. They have to handle the relays. Second base has been a key position for our defense for ages.”

The Vikings have strong infielders around the diamond with Anna Winslow at first, Whitman or Akers at third and Madison LeBlond at short. But a veteran presence at second was lacking. With newcomers sophomore Anna Piirainen and freshman Madison Starbird coming in as catchers, that gives the Vikings plenty of catching, allowing Kahkonen to change positions.

“We have two awesome catchers coming up,” said Kahkonen, who played soccer in the fall and is an outstanding skier during the winter. “If they can do it, why not move me to another spot?”

It was a change that came about during preseason. Kahkonen was nursing an injured hand. So playing second base in a late preseason game seemed like a means of playing that day without taxing the injury. The next thing she knew, she was a second baseman.

“I made a couple of plays at second and was like, ‘Oh, OK,’” Kahkonen said. “Then opening game, I wasn’t catching, and I was playing at second base.”

Goddard knew it was a change that might not be welcome by a player who had succeeded behind the plate during her entire high school career. Changing positions as a senior is never easy.

“I don’t know that she’s happy about it, but she’s just happy to be playing and doing what it takes for the team,” Goddard said.”We have to look at it like what’s best for the team might not be what’s best for the player that’s been there before, but it makes us stronger all the way around.”

Kahkonen understands that and is up for the change and what it means to the team.

“I think it’s better for the team,” Kahkonen said. “I’m definitely going to miss (catching). I’d miss it even if I didn’t agree with playing at second base.”

She admits playing a new position is different and takes some adjusting, but she’s picking it up quickly and making a difference for the Vikings. She also realizes her versatility might be something that benefits her future.

“It’s interesting,” she said. “It’s something that can help me in college. If I don’t want to catch or if they have catching, I can play second base. I can play centerfield. I can play anywhere. So I think it’s a good change for me.”

kmills@sunjournal.com