WC softball ready for first Fall

The wait is over. The first official practices of the Weatherford College softball team are under way as the team prepares to play its Fall schedule.

This is the first time Weatherford College has fielded a softball team, and head coach Dottie Cupp and her team couldn't wait to start workouts. Everyone associated with the program is very excited, and there is a great atmosphere around the team,” said Cupp. “They are the beginning, the first student athletes to be a part of this program. No one has worn their number before them, and that is exciting.

“I am relieved to be back on the field again. It was a long year of recruiting, and I am thankful to have clay back on my shoes. This fall we are working on fundamentals first to improve overall skills. We have been breaking things down in practice and are starting to see some progress over the last few days.“

But Cupp is quick to note that wins and losses don't matter very much in the fall schedule, which will consist of between 16 and 20 games. Evaluation is of most importance. Nonetheless, being competitive does matter.

“I am not concerned right now with how many wins and losses we have this fall,” said Cupp. “We have seven four-year schools on our schedule. We are playing schools from (NCAA) Division I, II and III, along with two other two-year schools. Our schedule will be challenging, but it will also be great competition. I am expecting to compete, no matter who our competition is.”

Cupp said she is not looking at one position over another at the moment. “We are pretty even across the board,” she said. “Our pitching staff is going to be one of the keys to our success. We need to be able to pitch to stay in games, and score runs to win them.”

Almost all new programs go through growing pains, but Cupp is optimistic about the Lady Coyotes improving quickly. The main thing, she said, is to be better each time they take the field. “We are getting better every day,” she said. “That is our goal. Each time we step on the field we need to get better.

“It will take every person associated with our team to make us a success, but we are working each day.”


THE FIRST TEAM

Here are the first players ever to be on the roster for the Weatherford College Lady Coyotes softball team, jersey number, and hometown:

00 – Kylee Studioso / Edmonds, Washington

1 – Morgan Whitbey / Fort Worth, Texas

2 – Carolyn Clayton / Aledo, Texas

3 – Samantha Alegria, Katy, Texas

7 – Jordan Olivares / San Antonio, Texas

8 – Jessica Burnett / Fort Worth, Texas

9 – Shawna Henderson / Weatherford, Texas

10 – Jessica Butler / Baltimore, Maryland

11 – Emily Ditmore / Azle, Texas

13 – Lauren Hollidge / Brampton, Ontario

15 – April Galvan / Fort Worth, Texas

16 – Makayla Baeza / Weatherford, Texas

18 – Beverly Corry / Pembroke Pines, Florida

19 – Amanda Liggitt / China Spring, Texas

20 – Katy Vandewater / Helotes, Texas

21 – Casey Cromwell / Danville, Texas

24 – Reagan Woodall / Dawson, Texas

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by Rick Mauch