2012 Lady Cougar Softball: Ready To Run!!

Lady Cougar Softball Ready To Run
By David Gravely

Pulaski County Lady Cougar Softball Head Coach Gina Miano did not hesitate to say what her plans are for the 2012 season. "We are going to take a lot of chances, and we are going to let go of our fears. It's time to step things up a notch, and these girls are ready."

Coming off of a 10-9 overall record and a 5-5 River Ridge District season that found them falling in the district play in game, the Lady Cougars are returning a dangerous mix of players that combine speed, solid hitting, and a solid knowledge of the game. Six of last years starters return, as well as three other players who saw considerable action throughout the season. You can also add to that what may be one of the deepest potential pitching lineups the Lady Cougars have had in years.

"We've not been able to get past the district tournament play in game for the past few years" said Coach Miano. "We have got to get that monkey off of our back. There have been times when injuries and just plain bad luck have hurt us, but we're not going to make excuses. It's time for us to get to the next level, and the team knows what we need to do to get it done."

Two seniors start the Lady Cougars lineup this year. Outfielder Lauren Foster was hampered by an injury from an auto accident last season, but on her return she showed constant improvement in hitting and base running. At the end of the season, she was selected as the Most Improved Player from the squad. Senior Kaitlin Smith returns for her final season in the cardinal and gold after she was able to finish the regular season with 10 wins last season as a starting pitcher. With some backup on the mound this season, Smith may be able to save some of her arm strength for key games instead of having to start every game.

The junior class will contribute six members to the squad, several of which were key members of last years squad. Sara Wright, who spent most of last season on first base, may be moved to another infield spot this year due to some tough off season workouts that have helped improve her speed and agility. Brooke Hundley, who played second base last season, could also find herself in a new position in the infield as Coach Miano looks to find the best spot for each of her athletes. Jordan Chrisley returns for her third year behind the plate, and looks to provide toughness and leadership as the teams catcher. Kelli Duncan, who finished last season tied for the fourth highest batting average on the team, has had a rough start to the season as she is nursing a stress fracture that hampered her throughout basketball season as well. The player she tied with, Carli Brewer, will also be back in the outfield and looking to help Pulaski topple the districts top teams. The final two juniors are Amber Cannoy and Britta Cannoy, who move up from last years JV team. Both sisters are quick with both the bats and their feet, and can provide backup at about any spot on the field when needed.

The sophomore class will add three more members to the team, of which two saw playing time with the varsity squad last season as freshmen. Lauren Shumate looks to be one of the leading candidates for first base, as she could provide a solid glove and seems to be learning the game at a fast pace. Katie Hurst will be looking to find a home in the starting lineup as well, as she looks to be faster and more confident during the early season practices. Leah Nichols is the final sophomore on the team, as she moves up from last years junior varsity squad. Nichols could be called upon to work in the outfield, but she is currently working on recovering from a hip injury that has slowed her down.

The final two players are the babies of the team, in the form of freshmen Chelsea Golden and Callie Gregory. Golden has proven to be very athletic and shows no fear, either in the field or in the batters box. With a chance to learn the game more, she could quickly become a big part of the team. Gregory could see some time in the outfield, but her main job will be working on her pitching as Coach Miano looks to expand her threat on the mound.

"Every position is open right now" said Miano. "The good news is that we have several girls that are competing for those spots, so every day we are making each other better. We're working hard, and we seem to have really good team chemistry. These girls like each other and get along well. I think we're in better shape physically as a team than we have been before, and most of the girls have taken advantage of the physical conditioning class the school offers. We're stronger, faster, and more agile because of that. I'm still in the search mode right now, trying to figure out who is going to be best for each spot, but as time goes on I'm getting more and more excited about our chances."

The River Ridge District will, as always, be a tough road. Salem, Cave Spring, and Hidden Valley should all be early season favorites, but Blacksburg and Christiansburg should both be tough as well with a good portion of their teams returning. "It's always tough to play the teams we play" said Miano. "Our district usually sends a team or two deep into the Region 4 playoffs, so the competition is going to be stiff. The girls did some really good things in the off season though, so we're looking to do some damage. We should be able to hit well, our defense should be solid, and our base running should be fast paced. We're not going to hold anything back, so if you want to see something exciting come on out and check us out."

The junior varsity squad is doing a solid job of program building as well, as they are fielding the team with a mix of underclassmen and middle school players. Expect good things from Katie Akers, Courtney Beville, Shianne Buckner, Caitie Cox, Ashley Curtis, Chelsey Gravely, Kennedi Hart, Sindie Hedge, Lauren King, Sierra Martin, Maegen Memitt, Amanda Monroe, Jade Murray, Caroline Powers, Heather Prescott, and Marissa Stephens. The junior varsity team is managed by Tracy Reed and Chelsea Doss, and coached by Kim Nelson and Amanda Dishon.

The action gets started quickly, as the Lady Cougars get into scrimmage action this coming week. The varsity team will be on the road for their first scrimmage on Monday at Auburn. The junior varsity will play the Eagles at home. On Friday the varsity team will again be on the road, as they travel to Glenvar for their final scrimmage of the preseason, and again the JV team will be at home. Start time for all of these scrimmages is 4:30. The season opener will be on March 14, with the varsity Lady Cougars hosting Patrick Henry at the Lady Cougar softball field starting at 5 pm.