Pitching depth key to Smackover's success
SMACKOVER - Boxers from back in the day used to boast, “if the left hand don’t get you, the right one will.” Smackover coach Dennis Steele is into softball, not boxing, but he can make the same statement.
The Lady Bucks have knocked out 26 of the 28 opponents they’ve faced. Thirteen have been taken out by the righty - Ashley Haynes. Thirteen were disposed of by the lefthander Mallory Brewer.
Every successful softball team has one outstanding pitcher. What has set Smackover apart this season is the Lady Bucks have two.
“One pitched for Smackover her freshman year. The other pitched for Norphlet her freshman year. And they’ve come together and we’ve rotated them the past two years that I’ve been here. I’ve rotated them every game,” said Steele. “They both complement one another. Meaning, they’re two different types of pitchers. One throws really hard and the other one is a finesse pitcher that’s got a screw ball, a drop ball and the curve. They both have good changeups, which you’ve got to have if you’re going to be successful. You have to be able to throw an
off-speed pitch and they both do that well. Like I said, they complement each other. They’re both good leaders. They come and they work hard every day in practice.”
Before Norphlet consolidated with Smackover three years ago, Brewer was the freshman bell cow for a solid Lady Leopards’ squad.
That same year, Haynes, a ninth grader, pitched the Lady Bucks into the regional tournament.
When the two teams combined, both players had to make concessions. Two pitchers minus one ball could equal trouble in the dugout.
“They’re both aces. That’s the truth of it. They’re both aces in their own minds and in the team’s mind,” said Steele. “There was competition at first. They both wanted to pitch. They both wanted to pitch every game because of their competitiveness. But, after doing it, now, those two work together as well as anyone I’ve ever had. They don’t get mad, now. Now, I think maybe the first year, there may have been some hard feelings. But, they got over it because they knew for us to win … it was not going to do any good to fight and complain. They were going to have to work together. They’re just great kids.”
This season, Haynes, the crafty righty, has posted a 13-0 record with 80 strikeouts and just six walks in 69 innings. Brewer, the hard-throwing southpaw, is 13-2 with 125 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 87 innings. She’s allowed just 31 hits with an 0.73 earned run average.
“You look at the two, they’re both over a four-point (grade point) so they’re very smart kids. That’s the biggest thing,” said Steele. “They understand their role and what they need to do for us to win. And, they’re very unselfish.”
Smackover opens play today at noon in the 3A-8 District Tournament, riding a 22-game winning streak. The Lady Bucks haven’t lost since a 1-0 decision to Taylor on March 4. The other loss was 3-1 against Courtney Phelps and Parkers Chapel in the season opener.
It’s been the kind of season softball fans envisioned when the two programs merged together three years ago. Steele admitted, his two pitchers had to coexist first before the rest of the team followed suit. However, they weren’t the only players who have had to sacrifice.
“I’ve really got 18 girls that could start. I really do at every position,” he said. “You know, they have been starters. When they were with us over at Norphlet or at Smackover, they were starters. It’s really unique. They’ve blended. They’ve meshed. They all want to play. But, I think they’re getting to know their role and what’s going on. That’s what has made us successful is getting in and realizing we’re all in it for the same thing and that’s to win.”
The Lady Bucks’ depth extends beyond the pitching circle. Steele boasts a strong batting order - top to bottom along with speedy girls in the dugout at the ready as courtesy runners.
“I don’t see a weak hitter in our lineup. I really don’t, one through nine, we’re tough. We swing the bat well,” said Steele, who proceeded to rattle off averages and statistics.
“(Abbi) Crawford 39 RBI, three home runs; (Karla) Goocher is hitting .513, three home runs, 41 hits, 12 doubles. Reagan Richardson is hitting .526 with two home runs, three triples; (Lydia) Pullin had five home runs. She’s batting .468. (Sabrina) Estridge is hitting .463 with 31 hits. Tessa Watson has 28 hits. She’s scored 38 runs and has 30 stolen bases. (Heather) Haltom is batting .368 with 17 walks.”
Honestly, the Lady Bucks could put together a lineup of 12 or 13 solid hitters, including Alexis Cook, Lexi Gilbert, Nicole Goss and others.
But, just like Haynes and Brewer wait for their turns to pitch, the hitters have to show patience, too.
“This year is probably the best year that we’ve had of comradery since I’ve been coaching softball – the whole team,” said Steele. “When you’ve got 30 girls, there’s going to be drama. There’s going to be some kids upset. But, I’m telling you, knock on wood, I’m proud of these girls, how they react, how they act and their behavior.”
The Lady Bucks host the district tournament and will also hold the regional tournament next week. The 3A State Tournament will be held in Harrison. But, that’s a long ways off.
“I’ve always been an optimist. I just think if we go out and play our game, we can go a long way. One of our mottos is we never look ahead. We always take one game at a time, one inning at a time,” said Steele.
“I told our girls at the beginning of the year, with the pitching we’ve got this year and the defense we’re going to have, if we can score one run every inning, we won’t lose too many games. I really believe this team can be pretty special. We have girls from Smackover and Norphlet and Mt. Holly and Calion and all over the place. They’ve really meshed well and done a good job. I’m really proud of them.”