SAN ANGELO, Texas — Despite losing six talented seniors from last year's team that made the playoffs for the first time in three years, optimism is high for the 2012 Lake View High School softball team to pick up where the Maidens left off.
The Maidens finished 11-22 overall last year and were fourth in District 8-4A with a 4-6 mark to grab the final playoff spot. Fourth-ranked Burleson ended Lake View's season with a 10-1 bi-district victory.
Lake View head coach Kay Wagner says the Maidens showed first-game jitters in a 15-0 five-inning loss on the road against Midland High in the season opener Tuesday, but she feels her team can make another push at the playoffs this spring.
"We're a little bit younger and a little less experienced, but we have good heart and we have good desire and we have good skills," Wagner said.
"It's just a matter of all of us coming together to understand the person on the left and the right of you and trusting the people next to you."
Lake View and Central will co-host the San Angelo "Bash It Out" Tournament today through Saturday at the Central Softball Complex and the Angelo State University Softball Complex. The Maidens open the tournament against Central's junior varsity at 10 a.m. today at the Central Softball Complex, followed by a 4 p.m. matchup with Junction at Central.
"We're looking forward to staying at home and being in front of our own crowd and in front of our own parents," Wagner said. "We're hoping that this weekend will add to our experience and our trusting of each other and stuff like that. That's what tournaments are for."
Wagner is still trying to solidify her roster, but she has a core of returning players showing leadership for the younger players.
The four seniors are outfielder Kristina Martinez, infielder/outfielder Victoria Diaz, pitcher/infielder Natalie Flores and utility player Allyson Frost.
Junior Trini-Lynn Gonzales (infielder/third baseman) and sophomores Celeste Silva (pitcher/infielder) and Amanda Ramage (shortstop/catcher/infielder) are three of the top underclassmen. Ramage was the 8-4A Newcomer of the Year last year.
"We look for them to be great leaders," Wagner said. "We've got a great little nucleus there."
Flores expects the Maidens to get back to the postseason in 2012.
"Getting a taste of (the playoffs) last year, it was very interesting," Flores said. "I have a very high expectation that we will go this year because I know that this team has a lot of potential.
"I think the taste of the playoffs for the returners from last year is going to rub off on us this year so that we will have that motivation to make it."
Ramage says it will just be a matter of finding the right chemistry.
"I think we have a good group of girls and if we just all stay together and talk and communicate, we should be able to go really far," Ramage said.
The Maidens say their laid-back coach instills confidence in them, which pays dividends on the diamond.
"She's an awesome coach," Ramage said of Wagner. "She's the best coach I've ever had. I love playing for her."
And Wagner says her team won't be satisfied with having to settle for the final playoff spot in a tough district. Waco Midway is perennially one of the strongest teams in the state and is once again the 8-4A favorite.
"Instead of fourth, we'd like to be third or second," Wagner said. "We've taken more time in the offseason to become better hitters. We need to get back to our fundamentals on the field and make sure that we don't make the errors that cost us."
The Maidens begin district play on the road against Stephenville on March 16.
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