The Richmond Senior J.V. softball team includes, front row, left to right: Destiny Shoe, D.J. Previtt, Elizabeth Bateman, Kayla Carroll and Kylie King. Middle row, left to right: Caroline Kirkland, Abby Carpenter, Keonikia McBride and Morgan Jedder. Back row, left to right: Jenna Sedberry, Maxie Poole, Cierra Bowden, Hannah Roberts and Bailey Coulthard.
And if the Richmond Senior J.V. softball team’s 2010 season so far is any indication, the near future could be very bright indeed for the Lady Raiders.
The J.V. Lady Raiders, under new coach Kyle Hutchison, are off to a 6-0 start.
The dynamics of the J.V. squad are a bit different this season: There weren’t enough freshmen at the Richmond Ninth Grade Academy to field a team there, so freshmen moved to the high school and had to compete for spots with sophomores there.
The 2010 J.V. Lady Raider squad is a good mix of eight freshmen and six sophomores.
“The girls get along really well,” Hutchison said. “Our teamwork has been great so far.”
Key players for the J.V. Lady Raiders include top pitcher Cierra Bowden; leadoff hitter Maxie Poole; and right fielder Bailey Coulthard.
Destiny Shoe, D. J. Previtte, Elizabeth Bateman, Kayla Carroll, Kylie King, Caroline Kirkland, Abby Carpenter, Keonikia McBride, Morgan Jedder, Jenna Sedberry and Hannah Roberts complete the squad.
Bowden can be a power pitcher, or finesse up and hit spots when she needs to. She said she doesn’t feel she has to strike out every batter.
“I feel pretty confident that the defense will make a play if the batter puts the ball in play,” Bowden said.
Poole, meanwhile, helps provide a spark from the leadoff position. She doesn’t go up to bat thinking ‘home run.’
“I’m usually just trying to find any way to get on base,” Poole said.
But that doesn’t mean a homer doesn’t happen. A few weeks ago at Jack Britt, Poole homered to lead off the game — a great way to set the tone for yet another J.V. Lady Raider victory.
The J.V. Lady Raiders have been successful so far, Poole said, because they’ve been able to put together all three cornerstoones of the game at once: Good pitching, defense and hitting.
Sophomore D.J. Previtte could be conidered one of the J.V. Lady Raiders’ “elder stateswomen.”
A centerfielder, she hits in the middle of the order and helps provide power.
Previtte also isn’t worried about hitting home runs. “As long as I put the ball in play, and hit it where somebody isn’t, then I’m good,” she said with a smile.
This year’s team has been a close-knit group, and for the J.V. Lady Raiders to continue to be successful, that will have to continue, Poole said.
“The freshmen have been doing really well, and the sophomores have helped us adjust,” Poole said. “We pick each other up.”
Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 ort via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.
Post a Comment
