Calhoun’s Lawrence signs to play at Brewton-Parker
her with Sandra Beth, Kristen, Griffin and some others. We should be able to score some runs, but we need some others to step up and be consistent at the plate. We are seeing strides made in practice right now from several players so we feel good about that. Consistency will be the key for us this year offensively, and those that are swinging the bat well will be in the lineup.
CT:
What do you think the biggest strengths are for your team going into the season and what are the biggest areas your team needs to improve in?
I feel really good about our pitching and infield especially. We should be more experienced and athletic across the board this year. We are still looking for some players in the outfield to step up with the bats and make consistent plays in the field to earn playing time. Consistency at the plate and putting more runs on the board is where we need to improve the most.
HAYES: CT:
What are your overall expectations of the 2017 Lady Phoenix and what is the biggest key or keys for your team to achieve those?
HAYES:
Our goal is a region championship and making it back to Columbus and win a state championship. We aren’t satisfied as a program with simply making it to State anymore. We need players to step up and be consistent day in and day out and buy into their roles in order to make that happen.
GORDON CENTRAL Head Coach:
Maddie Burns (third season)
Last Year’s Record: Key Players:
3-20 Destiny Parker (DH, Sr.), Mackenzie Hall (3B, Sr.), Morgan Frank (P/RF, Jr.)
Your team has been pretty young the past couple years. How much do you think that early experience for the players will pay off this year?
Having these girls together since their freshman year has helped with them understanding how each other plays, and how to help one another through the obstacles of this game. I
CT: BURNS:
look for them to continue sharing these experiences with the younger ones that have joined the team this year as well.
CT:
You have one of your top hitters back as a senior in Destiny Parker. How much of a leader is she for this team on the field with her production at the plate and off the field with her words and how hard she works?
I look for the other girls to use her hitting ability as an example. I hope they will notice her approach at the plate and strive to have that same approach when they step into the box as well. I look for Destiny to lead by example in the box.
BURNS: CT:
It seemed last year that your team was in a lot of games before one or two bad innings changed the momentum in the opposing team’s favor. How hard has the team worked to be able to avoid that bad inning this season?
We have worked very hard on our focus. When we lost those games, we did not have the leadership to help the girls stay calm and stay focused on that they are good enough to be successful and win those games. I have challenged the girls to not give up this year. If we lose it won’t be because we have given up or
BURNS:
because we stop trying.
CT:
What do you think the biggest strengths are for your team going into the season and what are the biggest areas your team needs to improve in?
Our strengths are that these girls are working for each other, they are out there for each other and only want each other to succeed. We need to continue working on the fundamentals. What we lack is the constant working experience. Not many of my girls play competitive travel ball like many girls that we play against so we have to work that much harder and faster to try and be up and ready against those girls.
BURNS: CT:
What are your overall expectations of the 2017 Lady Warriors and what is the biggest key or keys for your team to achieve those?
BURNS:
The expectations are still the same. I want these girls to compete. I want us to be in every ballgame and pull through the ones that we are able to fight through and win. In order to build a program we have to do just that, build. Each year as we stay in more and more ballgames the girls that become a part of this program start to see that we can truly compete and be those better ball players.