This is the first year for Rebekah Ragsdale as a head coach with the Orangefield Lady Bobcats. Ragsdale is a graduate of West Orange-Stark and played college ball at Mary Hardin-Baylor before working two years as pitching coach at West Texas A&M where she earned her Master’s Degree.
Coach Ragsdale inherits a good group of six returning Lady Bobcats for this season. Autumn Frost will be moved from behind the plate to play shortstop for Orangefield. Karyle Bramblett will be back at second base. Kaylee Ancelot returns to the circle and will get most of the pitching innings for the Lady Bobcats. Kristin Broussard in center and Jessica Metts in left will patrol the outfield. First base will be held down by Kinley Gipson whose hitting has improved greatly. Ragsdale praised, “I’m really excited about that group.”
There are also some young ladies moving up to the Orangefield varsity this year to see playing time. Three freshmen could get a lot of at bats for the Lady Bobcats. Alyssa Dodd is really young, but did a great job in early scrimmages and should be at third base. Tiffany Ciancaglione is catching and working with Ancelot to form a strong battery for the coach. Basketball has taken up most of freshman Faith Fregia’s time currently, but she has a good chance to start in the outfield. Jewell Kelley is a senior and is currently playing right field. Another senior Destany Sorge will backup Dodd at third base.
Ragsdale expects a strong lineup of good hitters led by Kaylee Ancelot. The coach finds it hard to believe that there will be many hitters better than Ancelot in the district. Ragsdale is excited to see what Kaylee will do and is confident the Lady Bobcats will be balanced top to bottom in their batting order while producing a lot of runs. Coach Ragsdale exuded, “I would definitely look for big things from Kaylee, I’m looking for big things from Kinley Gipson and also from Autumn Frost right there in the middle of my lineup.”
In the pitching circle Ancelot will see most of the innings for Ragsdale. The coach is pushing Ancelot to do things she has not been comfortable with and as a competitor Kaylee has responded well. Especially early in the season Julie Ciancaglione will get significant innings in the circle to rest Ancelot. “I don’t want to throw Kaylee every single game, and I know I want to give Julie that work, so they’re going to be sharing time,” Ragsdale indicated.
This may be her first season, but Coach Ragsdale believes the Lady Bobcats will compete for the district title. Her expectations are very high and the goal every year is to win the district championship. She does not want to talk about it too much, but Ragsdale knows and her girls know exactly who they have to beat in their district to earn that championship. As badly as Ragsdale wants to win a championship, she wants to build champions in her girls. “I want them to give 100 percent every day and walk off the field knowing that they gave it all they had that day.” Ragsdale confided.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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