MN95
03-13-2009, 10:33 AM
Pitching depth has Lady Cats rolling
BY ANDREW MAY, Staff Writer
(Created: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 8:31 PM CDT)
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If pitching is the lifeblood of any softball team with state aspirations, Celina won’t need a transfusion any time soon.
The depth on the staff has never been better, as evidenced by the Lady Cats’ recent run in the Centex Hit-N-Run Classic in Belton. Senior Kylie Roos, sophomore Kassidy Holmes and freshman Katelyn Drummond each picked up wins for Celina, which went 5-1 over the weekend. The Lady Cats beat a pair of 4A schools in Waco Midway (4-2) and Forney (4-2), and three 5A outfits in Belton (6-0), Pasadena Memorial (2-0) and Vista Ridge (9-1). The sole setback came at the hands of Midland Lee, a 5A bi-district champion in 2008.
It was a display of pitching prowess that proved the Lady Cats will be a major force come district and playoff time. Head coach Billy Coleman said the tournament slate was probably the toughest it’s ever been.
“It was definitely stiff competition,” he said, “and proved to us what we can do when we show up and play.”
With Drummond back on the hill for Monday’s game against Anna, Celina improved to 16-3 with an 11-0, six inning blowout. The fabulous freshman hurled five scoreless innings, striking out six and walking four of the 18 batters she faced before being relieved by Holmes to start the sixth. Holmes retired the side in order as the underclassmen duo combined for a no-hitter.
Coleman said Roos is more of a strikeout artist, whereas Holmes and Drummond are contact pitchers who move the ball in and out, relying heavily on the defense to make plays behind them.
“They just do a great job throwing strikes and letting our defense work,” Coleman said. “They all do a great job not walking people and giving our defense a chance to make plays. That’s all you can ask of a pitcher.”
Barring a last-second fill-in opponent this weekend, the next time the Lady Cats take the field will be for the start of District 9-3A play. Coleman said Roos will get most of the action in the circle, but that the other two will spell her when needed.
“She’s going to get the majority of the pitching time in district,” Coleman said. “If we get in trouble or she’s not feeling very good or whatever the situation may be, then the other two are right there.”
As for the rest of state’s fifth-ranked 3A team, Coleman said the lineup is all but set.
Hard to argue with that considering Celina has scored five or more runs 11 times already. There isn’t a single hitter that hasn’t gotten involved so far. Catcher Jasmine San Miguel, the reigning district Catcher of the Year, smacked a two-run single up the middle in the first inning against Anna and Shelby Carter belted a two-run triple to cap a five-run sixth inning that ended things prematurely.
Lindsie Knowles, Joey Cronin and Brittanie Knowles, among others, all came through with big hits in Belton as Celina outscored its opponents 28-11.
Coleman said any changes between now and Monday’s league opener against Sanger will be strictly cosmetic.
“There are still a couple spots that could switch between now and then, but for the most part it’s set,” he said. “Things are starting to fall in place, but it’s going to be tinkered with, more minor stuff now.”
Pitching wise, there will be no alterations made. The three Ks have fully established themselves as reliable forces that will likely lead Celina to another district championship.
“I’m confident in all three of them that they can get the job done,” Coleman said. “This is most definitely the deepest that we’ve ever been.”
BY ANDREW MAY, Staff Writer
(Created: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 8:31 PM CDT)
| Text Size | Print Version | E-mail This Story
If pitching is the lifeblood of any softball team with state aspirations, Celina won’t need a transfusion any time soon.
The depth on the staff has never been better, as evidenced by the Lady Cats’ recent run in the Centex Hit-N-Run Classic in Belton. Senior Kylie Roos, sophomore Kassidy Holmes and freshman Katelyn Drummond each picked up wins for Celina, which went 5-1 over the weekend. The Lady Cats beat a pair of 4A schools in Waco Midway (4-2) and Forney (4-2), and three 5A outfits in Belton (6-0), Pasadena Memorial (2-0) and Vista Ridge (9-1). The sole setback came at the hands of Midland Lee, a 5A bi-district champion in 2008.
It was a display of pitching prowess that proved the Lady Cats will be a major force come district and playoff time. Head coach Billy Coleman said the tournament slate was probably the toughest it’s ever been.
“It was definitely stiff competition,” he said, “and proved to us what we can do when we show up and play.”
With Drummond back on the hill for Monday’s game against Anna, Celina improved to 16-3 with an 11-0, six inning blowout. The fabulous freshman hurled five scoreless innings, striking out six and walking four of the 18 batters she faced before being relieved by Holmes to start the sixth. Holmes retired the side in order as the underclassmen duo combined for a no-hitter.
Coleman said Roos is more of a strikeout artist, whereas Holmes and Drummond are contact pitchers who move the ball in and out, relying heavily on the defense to make plays behind them.
“They just do a great job throwing strikes and letting our defense work,” Coleman said. “They all do a great job not walking people and giving our defense a chance to make plays. That’s all you can ask of a pitcher.”
Barring a last-second fill-in opponent this weekend, the next time the Lady Cats take the field will be for the start of District 9-3A play. Coleman said Roos will get most of the action in the circle, but that the other two will spell her when needed.
“She’s going to get the majority of the pitching time in district,” Coleman said. “If we get in trouble or she’s not feeling very good or whatever the situation may be, then the other two are right there.”
As for the rest of state’s fifth-ranked 3A team, Coleman said the lineup is all but set.
Hard to argue with that considering Celina has scored five or more runs 11 times already. There isn’t a single hitter that hasn’t gotten involved so far. Catcher Jasmine San Miguel, the reigning district Catcher of the Year, smacked a two-run single up the middle in the first inning against Anna and Shelby Carter belted a two-run triple to cap a five-run sixth inning that ended things prematurely.
Lindsie Knowles, Joey Cronin and Brittanie Knowles, among others, all came through with big hits in Belton as Celina outscored its opponents 28-11.
Coleman said any changes between now and Monday’s league opener against Sanger will be strictly cosmetic.
“There are still a couple spots that could switch between now and then, but for the most part it’s set,” he said. “Things are starting to fall in place, but it’s going to be tinkered with, more minor stuff now.”
Pitching wise, there will be no alterations made. The three Ks have fully established themselves as reliable forces that will likely lead Celina to another district championship.
“I’m confident in all three of them that they can get the job done,” Coleman said. “This is most definitely the deepest that we’ve ever been.”