For the past three years, the softball team has been known for its stellar defensive performance, its explosive hitting game and its intimidating record. The team has struggled through many tough games with a record of 10-11 this year.
“We’ve had a lot of games that we should’ve won, but we didn’t,” senior Carly Yazza said. “It’s hard getting used to the new players on the field and coming together as a team.”
New players have become a crucial part of the team. Since senior McKenzie Rice’s shoulder surgery at the beginning of the season put her on the bench, Yazza continues to lead as the only senior playing on the team. Head coach Debbie Clark said stronger play comes some of the newer talent on the field, including juniors Kayla Jolley, Breanna Sanders and Kate Stillman and sophomores Sydney Gogus and Jordan Williams. Being coachable, Clark said, is a definite advantage with the team’s group of younger players.
“They’re eager to learn and get better,” she said. “They want to be in the lineup.”
Clark described the season in one word as challenging.
“We’ve had injuries. We’ve had a case of mono. We’ve had to move people around because we’ve had errors here and errors there,” she said. “For three years, we pretty much knew who’s going to play, so it’s challenging for all of us.”
The biggest challenge comes from lack of consistency, especially on defense. Clark said the routine plays are their biggest weakness.
“We’re not making routine plays, and those teams score. Then we’re not hitting enough to cover those runs,” she said. “The last couple of years, Peyton [Jenkins] could mow them down, and we could win, 1-0. We can’t do that this year.”
Clark said she puts more focus on the mental game than anything to prepare her players for the state playoffs. She also pointed out the game against Cabot May 4 as a preview to the tournament opener. For Yazza, getting ready for state takes one game at a time.
“We’re taking those losses that we’ve had into our practices and letting it motivate us to work harder to fix it,” she said.
The team also practices longer into the evenings and certain players have taken their time in extra batting practice afterwards.
Clark said the strongest she’s seen her team this season came from a junior varsity game against Lake Hamilton.
“The JV team came from behind to win. The varsity players were in the dugout yelling and getting excited,” she said. “That was a big turning point. I felt like we had the unity that we needed then.”
Despite the ups and downs throughout the season, the team still finds a silver lining that’s different from years past.
“We’re a true team this year because it’s taken everybody,” Clark said.
