Larks softball starts strong; can they keep going?
by John Ruth – Horizon Sports Editor
With a 7-7 record, the Hesston College Larks softball season is well underway. One thing they have going for them according to Coach Andy Sharp: They’re cohesive.
“Our strength is a solid sophomore class that has the ability to rise up and lead this team to a great season,” he said. “We have solid team chemistry.
Sophomore Alicia Ramirez agrees. She says the team could do even more to capitalize on that strength.
“We could gel better and get to know each other as players,” said Ramirez, second base.
“Me and my double-play partner, Gabby Willis, work well together because we know each other’s style of play. If all of us learned that aspect of each other better, we could become more successful.”
The Larks went into the 2015-2016 season with high hopes. The team took on Hill College in their season opener and claimed the high-scoring, one-run win, 17 to 16. The Larks looked impressive. They continued their successful trend by winning the next two games of the season, against Clarendon College and Bossier Parish CC in Fort Worth, Texas.
As the Larks took their perfect record into the fourth game of the season to North Central Texas College territory, could they keep their momentum? The team walked away with one loss under their belts as they lost to North Central Texas by a crushing 16-4 final score.
“The biggest issue is lack of communication,” adds Ramirez, as the Larks looked to get back on track.
Sharp had his own thoughts on the situation:
“We play a very aggressive schedule with a lot of games,” he said. “Staying healthy and competing at a consistently high level are the two biggest shallowness well have.
Those low points won’t get Ramirez down, though. She believes that a little positivity goes a long way.
“The most important thing that I do is to think highly of the team.”
Sharp says he’s zeroing in on defense.
“We need to execute small things on the defensive side, knowing our defensive assignments and being able to execute in the moment,” he said.
The Larks will look to fight on as they look to take down Kansas Wesleyan University JV on the road this Saturday.
