The future is here for the Carney Lady Bulldogs slow-pitch team.
After going 8-8 last year and being eliminated from the playoffs in district, the young team has shot off to an 8-1 start this spring and holds the No. 13 ranking in Class B. They have beaten two ranked teams in Class B already and coach Jessica Walden has bigger things in sight.
“I think we can be at the state tournament,” she said. “I think that’s re “We played Arnett, which was No. 5, and we beat them at the festival “We were down 7-0 in the first inning and my girls just kept playing. To me, that’s their best quality, the best feature they have - they don’t give up. They just keep coming.”
Walden credits much of the team’s success to pitcher Sara Kirkpatrick, who is also the team’s leading hitter.
“She has really figured out how to throw strikes,” Walden said. “In my opinion, slow-pitch revolves around the pitcher because a lot of teams stand up there and “She figured out how to hit the strike zone over and over and either strike people out or give them something to put the ball in play.
“Then our girls are capitalizing on making routine plays. “She’s always done well, but this year has really excelled at it. She’s throwing strikes and giving them something to hit so we can get the out.”
It’s worked so well that the Lady Bulldogs have rung up four shutouts on the season, blanking Crooked Oak, Coyle, Mulhall-Orlando and Wellston.
Their lone loss was to Canute, the No. 3 team in Class 2A. They have put up some gaudy batting averages, as well, hitting .579 as a team through their Kirkpatrick leads the way with a.750 batting average on 18-of-24 hitting. Italy Ventris is hitting .667, Gracie Hernandez is at .640 and Ashtyn Stubbs is at .619. Ventris and Stokes lead the team with 13 RBI each, pending Monday’s game with Mulhall-Orlando.
“They’re disciplined in the box,” Walden said. “They wait on good pitches, for the most part, and they’re hitting the ball up the middle well. “We’re not pulling it to left field, which sometimes you see a lot of slow-pitch players do. They’re doing a great job of hitting it right back up the middle and just connecting with the ball first nine games. and hitting the ball hard.
“We have only one senior- Macy Hubach - and she definitely leads the team like an upper classman, but they all step up and lead in their own way..
“They all have different charcteristics and different qualities abut them that make them good leaders. They all know their roles and lead in that role.”