Softball - Softball features
Sunday, 06 June 2010 12:00
Prior to Paris North Lamar’s softball regional quarterfinal series against Crandall, the North Lamar coaches struck a deal with their players.
If the Pantherettes won a state championship, they could shave assistant coach Jimmy Fendley’s head.
When they accomplished that feat, they didn’t let Fendley forget to hold up his end of the bargain.
Softball - Softball features
Thursday, 03 June 2010 08:00
The Lewisville Hebron softball team never made it higher than No. 8 in the Class 5A area rankings, and now it's two wins from a state title. After five rounds of playoffs, after five weeks of the top-ranked teams in the area and state getting dusted, Hebron is still swinging.
So if Hebron players want to say "We told you so," now is the time. But they probably can't say that with straight faces. Hebron finished 5-5 in district, after all. It lost three of its final five regular-season games. And then ...
"Once they clinched a playoff spot, their attitude seemed to change," coach Sue Dunn said. "They thought, 'Hey, maybe we're not so bad.' "
Softball - Softball features
Thursday, 03 June 2010 08:00
When coach Benita Dunlavy led Tomball to the first University Interscholastic League softball state final in 1993, a squeeze play wasn't on her list of offensive strategies.
But last week, in a scoreless game in extra innings, Dunlavy had outfielder Lauren Perkins bunt Michelle Quinn home from third to provide the run that sent the Cougars to this year's state tournament.
“When I started the program at Tomball in 1985, we weren't playing small ball,” Dunlavy said. “Now you have to be able to compete. The game has come a long way.”
One of the Houston-area's proponents of "small ball" is Class 5A Region III champ Pearland. The Oilers were one of the first teams to bring small ball to the forefront in the area, and it has become their identity.
Softball - Softball features
Thursday, 03 June 2010 08:00
Stephen Tardiff knew it was time for a different job.
In his 40s, Tardiff, who ran two businesses in Malakoff, suffered a heart attack two years ago.
"The stress was just too much," Tardiff said. "I knew I had to do something else. I decided I wanted to teach. I got my teacher's certificate and started teaching last year at Cross Roads."
In his first year as softball coach, Tardiff has led Cross Roads is back at the state tournament for the first time since 1994.
Softball - Softball features
Last Updated on Friday, 04 June 2010 17:03 Monday, 31 May 2010 08:30
So if you think sportsmanship is toast, this next story is an all-you-can-eat buffet to a starving man.
It happened at a junior varsity girls' softball game in Indianapolis this spring. After an inning and a half, Roncalli was womanhandling inner-city Marshall Community.
This was the first softball game in Marshall history. A middle school trying to move up to include grades 6 through 12, Marshall showed up to the game with five balls, two bats, no helmets, no sliding pads, no cleats, 16 players who'd never played before, and a coach who'd never even seen a game.
That's when Roncalli did something crazy. It offered to forfeit. Why? Because Roncalli wanted to spend the two hours teaching the Marshall girls how to get better, not how to get humiliated.
Softball - Softball features
Friday, 28 May 2010 14:49
After 18 years patrolling Waco Midway’s third-base line, softball coach Sherry Rogers is familiar with every kind of season-ending scenario. She felt the elation after winning a state title in 1998. She also felt heartbreak after losing at state, as Midway did in 1999 and, most recently, 2008.
The end to this particular season, whenever that comes, will bring with it a uniquely bittersweet aftertaste. When Midway exits the playoffs, Rogers will leave the Midway dugout — for good.
This is Rogers’ “senior season,” as she calls it.
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