BATTER'S BOX: Lady Tigers look for progress in hitting after opening scrimmage
· Yahoo Sports
Usually in softball, hitting comes around a little later in the season.
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Pitching and fielding are usually progressing more quickly during the early stages, with batters needing extra s[ace for their timing to come back around.
In Tahlequah’s first scrimmage, Thursday, July 23, the hitting progressed in a positive direction. Facing off with Eufaula, the Lady Tigers saw several different pitchers with varying success.
“When we see pitchers of various skill, I want to see us adjust to different velocities,” Lady Tiger head coach Chris Ray said. “When people change pitchers on us, I want us to adjust to those different velocities and be on time. “
Early in the game, the Lady Tigers had some good contact and picked up some runs vs. the Lady Ironheads’ ace pitcher. However, once a new pitcher came, Ray thought it took time to make adjustments.
As the season progresses, Ray wants to see the Lady Tigers adjust to different looks more quickly.
“I felt we had our timing down with their first pitcher, but then they brought in the second, and she was a little different. Her velocity was slower, and she had more east-to-west movement,” Ray said. “Our timing was a bit off; we got a bit anxious.”
The Lady Tigers’ pitching staff consisted of freshman Kylee Cloud, Sophomore Holli Vick, Payton Phillips and Rylee Stark. Ray was happy to see some key players get solid innings with THS’ top two pitchers gone.
“I just thought they looked more relaxed,” Ray said. “In the summer, I thought some of the younger pitchers were pressing a little bit, but I thought they looked relaxed today. We hit our spots a little bit better and I thought we competed better, but they were relaxed.”
Overall, the first scrimmage was a success in the eyes of Ray. With some players gone for the first scrimmage, the Lady Tigers used some different players at different positions.
“I expected [some ups and downs] with us running a different lineup out there – a lineup we aren’t used to running,” Ray said. “I thought we played OK; they didn’t panic much and never got out of position.”
Lady Tigers complete tough battle vs. EHS
Facing off with EHS, the Lady Tigers played five innings of varsity play vs. the Ironheads before getting some junior varsity players in on the action.
On the mound, freshman Cloud and sophomore Vick split the varsity time.
Both worked around early walks to get out of innings when Eufaula was threatening.
“I thought our pitchers did well all day long,” Ray said. “We didn’t walk too many and kept it around the zone.”
Varsity play ended with a 6-2 score, with both teams nailing a handful of runs in JV action. The highlight came late when the Lady Tigers squeezed a bunt in a run with a player on third base.
“I thought we did a good job against their ace pitcher,” Ray said. “We were taking walks when the opportunity presented itself to us; we didn’t chase too much. I just thought our mindset was good against the ace and we only saw her a couple of innings.”
With some players in different positions, there was a learning curve, but long term, it will help build depth for the season.
“Defensively, we had a couple of miscues on routine ground balls that we normally [make a play on],” Ray said. “We just got stuck on our back heels a little bit.”