Coming off a District 1A Championship in softball last season, the Central School Lady Jaguars are looking to maintain the program’s success despite losing 7 senior starters. The team currently has a 2-1 record.
“It’s a surprisingly good start considering all of the youth that we have,” Coach Nick Golden said. “We are very young, very inexperienced, but they are very coachable, very athletic and you get the best that they got every time.”
Golden said 5 of the 6 starters on this year’s varsity team were on last year’s junior varsity squad.
While many are new to playing on the varsity level, several players are beginning to contribute early in the season.
“Tyler Smith came out of the gate about as good as you possibly can,” Golden said. “She is batting leadoff for me right now.” Over three games, she has been hitting .571.”
Golden said Smith can also play at multiple positions on the field at any given time. The 3rd year coach also praised the play of Lacee Stewart who is currently hitting .750.
Stewart, who also expected to contribute as pitcher and infield for the Lady Jaguars, is anticipating another post season run due to the progress of her teammates.
“I am impressed with how we have come out this year. We are a really young team and that is our weakest point,” Stewart said. “We are already stronger than everybody else thinks we are.”
Stewart is serving as co-captain to Lexi Ward, who happens to be the only senior on the varsity squad. Ward said this year’s varsity team has potential to go even further.
“I expect a winning season because we have talent and all the power we need,” Ward said. “We are just as good or better than last year. I expect to go farther than last year.”
Golden likes how his team has performed on defense. However he would like to see some improvement at bat.
“Most of these girls are getting their first varsity at bat,” he said. “We got talented hitters that are not necessarily hitting the ball real well in games right now, but I expect them to come along.”
Stewart is also confident the team will come around on offense.
“I know we will improve on hitting,” she said. “Hitting has always been one of our strongest points.”
Central will be traveling to Northview High School on Thursday and play Pensacola Catholic High School at home on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Central aims for another District Championship