Coach eyes state softball crown

Madison County’s softball team begins 2009 anew, with multiple new standouts arriving to the squad and a new coach as well – one who looks to repeat the success he experienced in another sport. Tim Taylor, best known for being Madison County’s basketball coach, will also coach the 2009 softball team.

The team’s players will have a transition period in which to find themselves. “I think we have yet to determine who we are as a team,” said Coach Taylor. “New coaches, new players and a new philosophy will create a new identity for us.

“The one thing I do know is this group works hard and are very coachable. I like the way they interact and have been supporting each other. This is the first step in establishing our identity.”

Madison has multiple players returning from last year’s team. The most notable is the pitching staff of junior Maci Dyer, sophomore Jordan Aylor and senior Tiffany Geer. The team will also add freshman Anna Kelliher to its staff.

The Mountaineer girls will also have a threat behind the plate catching with senior Hannah Morrison, who went all last year as the main catcher for the team. Freshman Karri Carpenter and sophomore Amber Robson will also share catching duties with Morrison as they are listed on the rosters as catchers.
On the base paths, the team looks to have a strong presence fielding at the bases. Senior Cara McCurry will lead the team on that front. She will be joined by sophomores Amanda Whittaker and Megan Clark as well as freshman Casey Racer.

Shagging the fly balls in the outfield will be a seasoned crew of veterans. Seniors Kristi Aylor and Becca Ryder will be joined by juniors Caitlyn Ford and Chelsea Shifflett. They will be joined by newcomer Abby White.

While the team is a talented group of girls and has the luxury of having players who have been involved with softball for much of their lives, Taylor said there were things that needed to improve. “Our attention to detail in recognizing situations [is what we still need to work on],” Taylor said. “Softball is a game where all nine players need to move in order for one play to be executed properly. We are learning where each of us needs to be in all situations. It will take a little time for the team to adjust to our aggressive philosophy both offensively and defensively.”

Madison has multiple notable games this season. Orange County and Greene County’s William Monroe are the biggest rivals the Mountaineer girls will face this season; they will try to squash Orange’s Hornet girls on April 4 and May 2, with the first date being at home, and then on March 27 they will try to slay Greene’s Dragon girls in Madison. They have already played Monroe, Luray and Fluvanna County once, getting burned by Dragons, beating the Bulldogs and flushing the Flucos.

Madison’s home softball games will again be played not at the high school, but on the field just north of Waverly Yowell Elementary School.

Geer has already come out to be a powerhouse hitter getting two homeruns against Luray. Anna Kelliher has also performed well, having two games in a row without being scored on, one of which counted as he first win as a Lady Mountaineer.

Taylor points out that the biggest challenge this year will not be any one team but instead will be “ourselves.” He adds that one thing is important to counter that. “We want to focus on getting better each day to try and become a dominant softball team not one who just wins games. Our goal is to win a state championship.”

2009 MCHS SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

March 26 – Visit Luray, 5 p.m.

March 27 – Host Greene County’s William Monroe, 7 p.m.

March 31 – Host Fluvanna County, 7 p.m.

April 3 – Host Page County, 7 p.m.

April 4 – Host Orange County, 2:30 p.m.

April 9 – Host Rappahannock County, 7 p.m.

April 14 – Visit Clarke County, 5 p.m.

April 17 – Visit Strasburg, 7 p.m.

April 21 – Host Manassas Park, 7 p.m.

April 24 – Visit George Mason, 5 p.m.

April 28 – Visit Rappahannock County, 7 p.m.

April 30 – Host Clarke County, 7 p.m.

May 5 – Host Strasburg, 7 p.m.

May 8 – Visit Manassas Park, 7 p.m.

May 12 – Host George Mason, 7 p.m.

May 15 – Participates in Bull Run District quarter-finals top seeds, location, opponents and time TBA.

May 19 – Participates in Bull Run District semi-finals top seeds, location, opponents and time TBA.

May 21 – Participates in Bull Run District finals top seeds, location, opponents and time TBA.