Young Lady Maroons hoping to build some confidence
By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
When May comes, the Madisonville-North Hopkins softball team hopes its preparation in February and March for high intensity games will have bountiful dividends.
With just three upperclassmen on the team, coach Kacie Jackson knows the learning curve for handling game-changing play situations must be made quick.
Last year, North finished 6-14. To prepare this season's young group, Jackson, in her third year at the helm, has been providing her hitters and fielders with situational at-bats to simulate potential scenarios the team will face during the upcoming season.
"Of course, it's not going to be the same as in a game, but we try to make it as much as game-like as possible, so they can have that experience and maybe they're more confident," Jackson said.
Senior outfielder Kelley Herrenbruck said the team's morale will be just as important as its level of play this season.
"Confidence is going to be a big key," Herrenbruck said. "If we can come out strong, we can continue it. It's going to be a big factor, especially since we are such a young team, to get confidence underneath us."
Junior Hannah Cates will join Herrenbruck in the outfield to provide some veteran experience. Senior catcher Caitlin Todd will handle the bulk of the leadership though.
With just three upperclassmen on the team, coach Kacie Jackson knows the learning curve for handling game-changing play situations must be made quick.
Last year, North finished 6-14. To prepare this season's young group, Jackson, in her third year at the helm, has been providing her hitters and fielders with situational at-bats to simulate potential scenarios the team will face during the upcoming season.
"Of course, it's not going to be the same as in a game, but we try to make it as much as game-like as possible, so they can have that experience and maybe they're more confident," Jackson said.
Senior outfielder Kelley Herrenbruck said the team's morale will be just as important as its level of play this season.
"Confidence is going to be a big key," Herrenbruck said. "If we can come out strong, we can continue it. It's going to be a big factor, especially since we are such a young team, to get confidence underneath us."
Junior Hannah Cates will join Herrenbruck in the outfield to provide some veteran experience. Senior catcher Caitlin Todd will handle the bulk of the leadership though.
"(Todd) motivates the girls and she's very encouraging," Jackson said of Todd's vocal flair.
Todd's ability to direct and communicate will be key as she works with a young pitching staff.
"Because she's catcher, she has really good leadership skills," Herrenbruck said. "She has to tell everybody and make sure what they're doing. She's a strong leader and she's really good at inspirational things by keeping us all up and happy and positive."
Freshman Kyleigh Taylor will command most of the time on the mound in her second year as a starter. Taylor and Todd have worked together as a battery for four years and hope that familiarity breeds dominance against opposing batters.
Taylor said she's confident pitch location should not be an issue for her this season.
"Whatever I want to throw low, it works for me," she said. "You want to either have it low or high. You don't want to have it down the middle."
Kaitlyn Daniel and Heather Webb will be on call to bail out Taylor should she falter pitching.
As for the rest of the roster, Jackson said she has many question marks and holes to fill after many pieces graduated or have not returned from last year's squad.
Among those graduated are Emily Allen, Katie Dame and Jennifer Gates.
"We are definitely going to be a young team," Jackson said. "It's hard to say who will start where even though we only have a week to go until the season. We've lost so many players that it's pretty much up in the air who could play where."
One season ago, North's opponents outscored the Lady Maroons 112-61 and hitting has definitely been a focus in preseason practices.
"We've been working on proper techniques of hitting and make sure our eyes are on the ball," Herrenbruck said. "We've been doing lots of drills with numbers on the balls and colors and you have to say what they are."
Knowing what count to swing the bat has also been an area of emphasis.
"With softball, it's more you're going to get a good pitch early in the count, so you have to jump on it ahead of time or else you're going to fall behind and then you're going to see nothing but junk," Jackson said.
Should the girls remember and put to practice all their preseason lessons, the Lady Maroons feel they can succeed despite their youth.
"If we can win the first couple games, I think it can really boost the team's confidence and send us into a good season," Taylor said.
North begins the 2009 season with its home-opener at 5:30 p.m. on Monday against Muhlenberg North.
Todd's ability to direct and communicate will be key as she works with a young pitching staff.
"Because she's catcher, she has really good leadership skills," Herrenbruck said. "She has to tell everybody and make sure what they're doing. She's a strong leader and she's really good at inspirational things by keeping us all up and happy and positive."
Freshman Kyleigh Taylor will command most of the time on the mound in her second year as a starter. Taylor and Todd have worked together as a battery for four years and hope that familiarity breeds dominance against opposing batters.
Taylor said she's confident pitch location should not be an issue for her this season.
"Whatever I want to throw low, it works for me," she said. "You want to either have it low or high. You don't want to have it down the middle."
Kaitlyn Daniel and Heather Webb will be on call to bail out Taylor should she falter pitching.
As for the rest of the roster, Jackson said she has many question marks and holes to fill after many pieces graduated or have not returned from last year's squad.
Among those graduated are Emily Allen, Katie Dame and Jennifer Gates.
"We are definitely going to be a young team," Jackson said. "It's hard to say who will start where even though we only have a week to go until the season. We've lost so many players that it's pretty much up in the air who could play where."
One season ago, North's opponents outscored the Lady Maroons 112-61 and hitting has definitely been a focus in preseason practices.
"We've been working on proper techniques of hitting and make sure our eyes are on the ball," Herrenbruck said. "We've been doing lots of drills with numbers on the balls and colors and you have to say what they are."
Knowing what count to swing the bat has also been an area of emphasis.
"With softball, it's more you're going to get a good pitch early in the count, so you have to jump on it ahead of time or else you're going to fall behind and then you're going to see nothing but junk," Jackson said.
Should the girls remember and put to practice all their preseason lessons, the Lady Maroons feel they can succeed despite their youth.
"If we can win the first couple games, I think it can really boost the team's confidence and send us into a good season," Taylor said.
North begins the 2009 season with its home-opener at 5:30 p.m. on Monday against Muhlenberg North.
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