Lady Wildcats find success despite difficult schedule

El Dorado’s softball program didn’t add a lot of hardware to its trophy case this past season. But the Lady Wildcats, quietly, enjoyed one of the most successful years in the program’s history.

El Dorado posted an 18-9 record while competing in one of the toughest classifications and conferences in the state. The Lady Wildcats finished third in the 5A South behind Sheridan, which would claim the state championship, and Benton, a semifinalist in the state tournament.

“We had a 7.2 strength-of-schedule, finished number three in our conference behind Sheridan and Benton, finished number seven in 5A on the season,” said El Dorado coach Chris Ezell. “Five of our losses are to teams playing in the state championship games.”

In addition to the two losses to Sheridan, which won the 5A state title on Friday, the Lady Wildcats fell to 1A finalist Taylor, 3A finalist Genoa Central and 5A runner-up Greenwood.

El Dorado graduated seven seniors from this year’s group. Most played pivotal roles in the team’s success.

“This group of seniors and their contributions to our program will remembered for years to come. They leave the program with several individual and team records,” said Ezell. “They showed improvement each season in the program and capped it off with a number three seed behind Benton and Sheridan. We have seven seniors graduating this week and I am proud to have been their coach and can’t wait to see what the future brings them. Not only are they athletes, but they are accomplished students as well.”