Calhoun’s Smith reflects on team’s state runner-up finish
The Calhoun Lady Jackets were in an unfamiliar situation coming back from the Elite Eight in Columbus on Saturday. For the first time in the last four years, they didn’t have a state championship trophy riding back to Calhoun with them on the bus.
The Lady Jackets finished as runner-up in Class AAA, falling to East Jackson in the finals last Saturday, 5-2. Calhoun lost their first game in the Elite Eight on Thursday to fall into the loser’s bracket, but fought back with four straight wins to reach the finals.
The loss was the final game for six Calhoun seniors who have achieved incredibly feats during their career, including three state titles, four region titles and 141 total wins.
Recently, the Calhoun Times caught up with Calhoun head coach Diane Smith to reflect on the season overall, the tough end in Columbus, her amazing senior class, the future of Calhoun softball, and other subjects.
Here’s what the 31-year veteran coach had to say:
CT:
Now that a few days have passed since the season-ending loss to finish as state runner-up, have you been able to reflect on how good a season it still was or is the hurt still too much to allow positive reflection yet?
Yes, the disappointment is still there but it does not take away from what I realize is one of the best seasons one of my teams has ever experienced and recorded. We certainly wanted to win the title again, but it just did not happen. There are things from our season I can certainly reflect upon and enjoy. Winning 39 games is hardly heard of. It is difficult to get that many games played
SMITH:
during a season and the playoffs. I actually hurt for the girls more than myself. We will regroup and be ready for that first game next year.
CT:
How difficult did the opening loss in Columbus to Cook County make it on your team to come back through the loser’s bracket and why? How proud were you in the girls’ effort to get all the way back to the finals?
It is always difficult to get in the loser’s bracket early in a tournament. It is a tough climb both physically and mentally. I was very proud of the girls and the effort they gave in coming back with big wins in those two games on Friday. Of course, we knew we had to win four on Saturday without any breaks to win the big prize. I don’t think that fazed our girls. The fact that we played the Cook County team that defeated us on
SMITH:
Thursday in a run-ruled game showed we had the ability to play with anyone. The first game on Thursday was one of those things you just can’t explain. I feel that not getting to play until 8 p.m. that first day was a detriment to getting prepared mentally for the game. Winning two on Friday to get to Saturday’s killer schedule was a great challenge to which our girls responded in a great way.
CT:
How great was this senior class and what kind of joy did they give you to coach them over the past four years? What kind of legacy do they leave for Calhoun Softball?
As a coach I cannot say enough about this group of girls who started and played on a state championship team as freshmen and again as sophomores and juniors. A lot of teams might win three State Championships in a row
SMITH:
and play for a fourth; to do that with the girls who started as freshmen and the next three years is possibly without precedent. Along with three state championships and a state runner-up, these girls have won four region championships and had 141 victories. Those accomplishments will be spoken of for years to come. I told a large contingent of fans who welcomed us home after that first championship in 2013 that the championship was for all the girls who had worn the Lady Jacket uniform in the past and for all those who would wear it in the future.
CT:
How excited are you for the younger players that had key roles on this year’s team and others that will get a chance to step up next season? How good a shape is Calhoun Softball in for the future with these girls and others coming up through the program?
It is without question we are losing six outstanding seniors from this team. I cannot say enough good things about them and the contribution they made to the program and the impact they made on our community. I say that while at the same time I entertain excitement just thinking of our returning players and the young ones coming along. Some underclassmen started or played in many of the varsity games. At the end of the season, two freshmen were starting in our outfield. Our JV team went undefeated with an 18-0 record and won two tournaments. They earned that by playing against several schools in much higher classifications. We have several promising pitchers coming along to join Torri Gaddis and Kayla Watson who were the two pitchers of record in all 39 victories posted by the varsity. There are 14 players returning of those who played JV or saw extensive playing time on the varsity. Also, Coach Tony Lindsey’s middle school team
SMITH:
won the region championship for the 10th consecutive season. There will be seven prospects coming from that team to join the high school program.
CT:
How much will this bad taste from the runner-up finish drive you and the girls to be chomping at the bit to be ready for next season?
I refuse to allow our runner-up finish to be a disappointing factor in my thinking as I look forward to another season. I have been at this game too long to dwell on deficient finishes from the past year to interfere with plans for the next year. It is my feeling our returning girls will be excited about the show suddenly becoming theirs and their turn to write their story of Lady Jacket Softball. I am sure the returning veterans will instill their excitement and sense of challenge into the hearts of the younger ones who will become a part of our great softball program.
SMITH: CT:
What are your expectations and the potential for the team next season?
Alex, you know me well enough to know my expectations are high. Now, we will ask ‘How high?’ From what has already been stated you can tell I feel the potential of next year’s Lady Jackets Softball team is great. As far as expectations, we expect to win when we step onto the field, we expect to win the region championship, we expect to go to Columbus again as one of the Elite Eight and we will be aiming for another state championship. If the players are the kind of girls I think they are, we will embrace worthy goals and will be ready to go to battle when they ring the bell for the opening round of regular season play and again when we get into the region playoffs and the big show in Columbus. We will definitely be shooting for the state championship again.
SMITH: