Last season the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Lady Bears were in the hunt for a playoff spot. The Lady Bears came up just a little bit short losing a play-in game to the Orangefield Lady Bobcats.
Five freshmen started on that young Lady Bears team, so Coach Dena Adkins has plenty of experience returning for this year. Senior Jenna James should spend a lot of time in the circle for LC-M. Ashley Short spent time in right field last year and is back. Makayla Dyer will be at third base again. Kaitlin Huff returns and is one of the fastest girls on the team. Adkins indicated, “She plays some outfield, but she also does a lot of running for me.”
There are also three young ladies Adkins is moving up to the varsity that will see playing time behind the plate as well as in the field. Justice Butler has moved up from the junior varsity to help in the catching corps. Two freshmen are going straight to the varsity this season. Both Megan Peveto and Olivia Leavings are catchers primarily. “One of them can play first base and she can play outfield and the other one can play shortstop for me,” Adkins added.
Hitting needs lots of repetition. Coach Adkins believes her Lady Bears are beginning to find their strokes. LC-M got off to a slow start swinging the bats in the Green and Gold game, but picked it up against Vidor in a scrimmage. Thirteen Lady Bears batted and the number 13 hitter Alicia Merritt had two solid hits. Adkins states, “They’ve been working really hard on their swings, every girl out here, so we’re getting really focused on that aspect of our game.”
Pitching is always a key in softball. Adkins counts Jenna James as her number one starter, and there are other good arms she can call on for LC-M. Sophomore Briana Frenzel was the newcomer of the year last season, and she will see time in the circle again for the Lady Bears. Lefty Jayce Perry is a junior who offers a whole other look because of the break her pitches have. Another sophomore Renna Toomey can play any position and pitcher is one of them. Adkins admits, “She’ll see some time in the circle if need be.”
Making the playoffs is always in the mix for the LC-M Lady Bears. Coach Adkins believes a district championship is a definite possibility for them this year. The Lady Bears’ number one goal every year is to win district. They fell short of that last season, but Adkins does not expect to fall short of that this year. The coach has them practicing for making the postseason and moving up in the playoffs every day. “That’s what we strive for, that’s what we practice for, and we just don’t just come out here to do reps we do perfect reps so we can reach that objective,” concluded Adkins.
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