Category Archives: Softball

Softball, Sports

Softball team progresses despite recent flooding

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By Delaney Smith and Sydney Sears

With the season well underway, the softball team is looking forward to a winning season. While the team has been practicing hard, recent flooding of the softball field due to rain has slowed down their progress.

Extensive field damage was caused by the water. “There was 36 inches of standing water in the concession stand and the field wasn’t even visible,” said athletic director Jeff Cerqueira. “There was damage to the fence, wind screen, and most of the infield material was washed away.” The repairs to the fields are estimated to cost over $50,000, according to Cerqueira.

“We haven’t gotten as much time on the fields as I had hoped for, the rain has been tearing them up pretty good, but we have the gym on the days we get rained out and we work hard there,” said sophomore Erin Keenan.

The community, led by Doug Curry, has helped with cleaning up the fields so that they can be functioning by May 12 for the conference. Maintenance was seen working on the fields throughout the previous week.

Junior Clara Shean and sophomore Emily Keenan said that the team has also had been conditioning since the fall and they have been spending time hitting in the cages to improve.

“I think we will do great this season. The team looks really good and we have been practicing a lot,” said Emily.

Shean agreed that the team shows promise has been showing a lot of talent.

Each team member has their own improvements that they hope to make this season.

“My personal goal is to improve my pitching and batting,” said Erin.

Shean also plans on improving her hitting skills through the season.

Currently the JV record is 5-1 and the varsity record is 2-1.

 

Alyssa Book, Softball, Sports

Softball seniors prepare for final season

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By Alyssa Book

Spring break means vacations, relaxation, and a full week with friends and family for most students. The girls’ softball team, however, will spend that week playing games, having practice, and working hard toward their goal of making it to state. Two of the players have a different story than the rest, though. This season marks their last chance to wear the Highlander uniform and represent FC on the diamond.

Senior Robin Dowell has been playing softball for 13 years. She said her position this year will be anywhere in the outfield. Her favorite memories of being on the team have been creating and performing a song with her previous teams for the seniors on Senior Night.

Dowell marks these as her most cherished memories associated with playing softball for FC. This year, she will get to enjoy the song from a different perspective, as she will be honored on Senior Night.

The other senior on the team is Bre Mayfield. She has been playing softball since she was four years old and has had experience in every position. This year, however, she will find her position at third base. Mayfield is hopeful that her goals will come true for her final season.

“My personal goal is to start third base, and my goal for the team is to win sectionals, regionals and state, which we are capable of doing. I want all of that along with winning the HHC.”

Sophomore Clara Shean describes how the seniors have helped her improve her out fielding skills and says that she hopes she can help the team as much as she can reach their goals.

Another underclassman that has learned from the two seniors is junior Caroline Cato.

“Bre keeps our defense together and always makes sure that the team is relaxed. She is a great leader. Robin has brought tons of team spirit and hard work. She is always there for everyone and always works hard.”

Cato goes on to describe how the seniors have taught her to work hard and not care what anyone thinks. She looks to them as role models as well as teammates.

Dowell is excited to start the season, but is sad about it being her last.

“I am really emotional about this last year. I want it to officially start yet I don’t want it to end.”

Now that it is her turn to enjoy the leadership of senior year, Dowell has advice for the underclassmen.

“I would tell the girls to enjoy the rest of the time they’re playing and to always have fun. Always have a positive attitude.”

Mayfield has hopes for the underclassmen as well, and hopes that she can be a leader the younger members can look up to.

“I hope the underclassmen learn that there’s more than just softball in life; there’s friends and family. And that’s exactly what we are.”

Editor’s Note: For more in-depth coverage of the softball team, check out the next issue of the Bagpiper coming out on March 22.

Bryce Romig, Softball, Sports

Intensive conditioning strengthens softball team

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By Bryce Romig

To gear up for the 2013 season, the softball team has tweaked their conditioning to get them ahead of the game. They have adapted their routines to help develop the muscles used in softball.

“This year is more specific to the muscles we use in softball. In the past, we’ve mainly just run,” said junior Caroline Cato.

After a winning season last year, they have pushed themselves even harder in their conditioning. Their coaches target more specific areas of muscle that will help them gain speed and agility.

“I didn’t expect the conditioning to be so intense this year. We focus a lot on our core and obliques now,” said freshman Lindsay Sparrow.

Veteran members have also noticed the step up in intensity this season.

“We engage our cores a lot to help us do things like round the bases faster,” said junior Morgan Harper.

With the upcoming season drawing closer, the length and frequency of the practices are also increasing.

“Tuesdays are strength days where we lift. Thursdays are cardio and agility. Saturdays are a mixture of both with hitting in the cages at the end,” said Cato. “We condition for two hours, three days a week,” she added.

Many new freshmen have joined the team, and are taking to the newly improved conditioning well.

“In my travel team we mainly focused on running, this year at FC we focus more on agility and strength training that will help us win games and improve our endurance. All of my new teammates have been so welcoming,” said Sparrow.

The previous year, conditioning was focused on getting them fit and healthy for the season. The new conditioning exercises have been changed to specifically help them make gains in softball.

“This year is different because everything we do ties into softball. It isn’t always more challenging, but helps us win games,” said Cato.

With more core engaged and targeted exercises, the end results should help send them all the way to another successful season.

“I hope to have another winning season this year and make it out of regionals,” said Harper.

Photo by: Julie Kaiser
Photo by: Julie Kaiser
Blake Dykes, Softball, Sports

Softball Senior Night leaves team emotional

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By Blake Dykes

The varsity softball team takes pre-game hitting in the outfield. Photo by Justin Weber.
On May 9 softball Senior Night took place down on the field. This night recognized all of the seniors for their hard work and for continuing to excel through their high school experience.This year’s seniors include Alex Engleman, Kallie Krammes, Kate Kaiser, Sam Feather, and Hailee Fultz.

Senior Night is something many softball players look forward to all four years of their softball career, for multiple reasons.  First, all underclassmen report down to the field directly after school. They then decorate the entire baseball and softball area. These decorations include hanging up multiple posters in the dugout made specifically for each individual senior. While the freshmen are doing this, the rest of the team decorates the sidewalk starting from the parking lot, leading all the way down to the field with chalk. The sidewalk is covered with inside jokes and cheers preparing them for the game.

“One of my favorite parts was seeing all of the of the chalking everyone did,” said Engleman.

However, the teammates are not the only ones helping to prepare for this night. Moms from the team spend several hours making displays of each senior with pictures leading up to this year.

After all of this took place, the seniors arrived to the field, admiring each aspect of the decorations. They then prepared for their game against one of their biggest rivalries, Jennings County.

Once both teams were warmed up, an announcer recognized each individual senior. During this time each senior’s parent walked them onto the field, while the announcer read off speeches each senior gave, which included their best memory of softball at this school. Each senior was then handed a bouquet of flowers. This was a very emotional time for many of them.

“Walking out on the field with my parents was a great feeling of achievement,” said Fultz.

Continuing on with the night, FC then defeated Jennings County 1-0. The starting players of the game were sophomore Morgan Harper at the mound,  Feather at third, sophomore Taylor Batliner at shortstop, junior Bre Mayfield at second,  sophomore Kateline Dreher at first, sophomore Taylor McClure behind the plate, Krammes in left field, Kaiser in center field, and Fultz in right field.

Although the victory over Jennings County was exciting, the event that happened last left many of the fans laughing. Another tradition for Senior Night is that the sophomores and juniors to perform a dance to some of the team’s favorite songs combined into one.

“My favorite part is the dance because it’s tradition that the underclassmen dance for us,” said Kaiser.

Beyond all of the exciting events that go on during Senior Night, there is still some seriousness and sadness to it.

Feather shared what she will miss most about leaving.

“I’ll miss being around the team because we have become a second family and we always have so much fun together.”

Fultz agreed with Feather in that aspect.

“I’m going to miss our coach and playing softball a lot, but most of all I’m going to miss all of the funny, talented, intelligent girls that made me laugh every day.”