By Craig Brown
When your pitcher only allows one hit and no batters to base on walks and your batters produce 10 hits, you expect your team to win. But the Lady Warriors went back to old habits in the field with seven players producing nine errors, resulting in a 6-5 loss to the Lady Saints of Scotland Christian School in Laurinburg on Friday.
Coaches Norm Norton and Danny Ellis have more than 50 years of coaching experience between them and have worked with the team on all possible fielding situations. The Warriors only have one first year varsity player and she has played organized softball for over three years so this type of play cannot always be excused.
Several factors seem to cause these results for the Warriors, such as losing concentration during the game and not reacting to the ball when it comes off the bat. Lack of concentration often results in the fielders forgetting where runners are on the bases, often throwing to the wrong base or hurrying the throw with disastrous results, and at other times allowing the ball to be half way to them before they react. At other times they try to make the play before they get the ball.
Well-meaning fans can also distract the players by trying to coach from the bleachers. The player fields a ball and hears a familiar voice shout throw the ball to first when the lead runner is going to second, third, or home. When the coaches try to correct the action the player often throws the ball away, causing extra bases and runs scored. The fan then usually tells the player that everything is alright and they made a good effort and if the player wishes to believe this advice they will never strive to get better. These are varsity players and not T-Ballers. They have been coached to get the lead runner unless too late and then go for the out at first.
Another problem is when the player makes a fielding mistake and the ball gets by them, they lose concentration and walk or jog after the ball allowing runners to advance on the bases. No matter how many times the coaches think they have the players understanding how to field a ball over their head or a short fly ball in front of them, come game time some will react like a first year T-Ball player. When a ball is missed in the infield it results in a player getting to base, and when it is missed in the outfield it results in extra bases.
There have been many times these young ladies have proven that they can play with anybody and at other times they disappoint themselves and the coaches with sub-standard play. Poor attendance at practice does not lead to success. It costs the coaches both time and money to coach these girls. When you have more coaches show up for practice than players it can be disheartening. Sometimes it seems the players are looking for any excuse to get out of practice.
Dillon, Latta and Lake View High Schools all have winning programs and the coaches will tell you that winning starts with good attitudes and the willingness to attend practice sessions. It is not that the coaches at DCS want the girls to win for their glory but to hopefully to get the players into the habit of becoming a winner and a future leader in the game of life. Coaches Norton and Ellis have too many trophies to worry about more. At this point in their lives, the players come first. If the players will just allow them to help and do their best to follow their instructions, they will become all out winners.
The Warriors had a 4-0 lead after two innings played and led 5-0 in the top of the fifth. The Saints put three runs on the board in the bottom of the third thanks to careless errors. The Saints tied the score at 5-5 in the fifth and went ahead 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth. The Warriors had their worst at bat in the seventh, giving the Saints the 6-5 win.
On the mound for the Warriors, Jamie Carpenter pitched an outstanding game, posting four strikeouts with no walked batters and allowing only one hit. She gave up six unearned runs for a loss that should not have to go against her record.
For the Saints, Cecily Thompson posted five strikeouts, had three walked batters, and gave up nine hits with five runs scored for the win in six innings on the mound. Kaitlin Cartrette added one strikeout and gave up one hit with no runs scored in one inning on the mound.
At bat for the Saints, Destiny Cartrette was 1-for-3 with two RBI and Kaitlin Cartrette, Carle Howard, Kandace Cartrette, Cecily Thompson, and Kyleigh Collins all got to base on errors.
At bat for the Warriors, Madison Moody was 2-for-2 with one RBI; Samantha Carpenter was 2-for-3 with a triple and drew a walk; Hannah Walters was 2-for-4; Jamie Carpenter was 1-for-4 with three fielder’s choice hits; Madison Moody, Emilie Martin, and Ansley Hamer went 1-for-4 each.
The Warriors were scheduled to be at home on Tuesday to host Florence Christian School with game time set for 4 p.m.
