Still looking for first win of the season, Meridian Lady Jacket softball program continues rebuilding process with the aim on being competitive
While the Meridian Lady Jacket softball program remains a rebuilding work in progress, second-year head coach Keandria Taylor believes she’s working with a group of diamonds in the rough.
Led by five returning starters, seniors Hope Cabrera and Canyon Stauffer, juniors Journey Stauffer and Mariana Paniagua, along with sophomore Taylor Rusk, the Lady Jacket roster consists of two seniors, two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. With Canyon Stauffer and Paniagua providing the pitching from the circle, Meridian varsity newcomers include sophomores Katelyn Ramirez, Destinee You and Dyna Potter, along with freshmen Brianna Rosales and Jazlyn Orozco.
Even though the Lady Jackets showed potential and promise in their season opener despite a 13-8 loss to Texas Wind, it began what has become an seven-game losing streak. Regardless, Taylor continues to find the silver lining in each dark cloud. After non-district losses to Avalon, 16-15, Class 4A Stephenville JV, 13-0, Class 4A Granbury JV, 14-8 and Class 4A Glen Rose, 10-9, the Lady Jackets opened District 12-1A competition.
“We saw some really good things all across the board from the girls in a hard-fought game,” Taylor said. “We could not have asked more from the girls last night. They got after it. Regardless of how the score looked, the girls played hard and got better.”
Due to the shortage of smaller schools with softball programs, the University Interscholastic League has always combined Class 2A and 1A teams into consolidated districts for the regular season, then separating them for the playoffs into two different postseason tournament brackets.
District 12 consists of four Class 2A teams, Hamilton, Hico, Itasca and Rio Vista, and four Class 1A teams, Meridian (0-2 in district, 0-7 overall), Blum (2-1, 12-4), Jonesboro (3-0, 9-6) and Covington (0-2, 0-6). The Lady Jackets play their 1A counterparts twice, and take on their district 2A opponents only once with the 1A results determining postseason berths. While four teams advance to the playoffs in Class 2A, only the top two teams in the Class 1A district will punch their ticket into the postseason.
The Lady Jackets opened district play with a 15-1 road loss to Jonesboro on March 19, before falling on the road again to the Blum Lady Bobcats, 15-0, on March 22. But Meridian showed promise by giving Class 2A Hamilton (0-3, 1-6) all they could handle before losing, 13-10, last Friday.
This week, the Lady Jackets will continue their round against Class 2A district opponents by hosting Hico (3-0, 9-10) at 5 p.m. Tuesday before traveling to Itasca to take on the Lady Wampus Cats (1-2, 4-5) at 5 p.m. Friday, and then hosting Rio Vista (2-1, 15-7-1) at 5 p.m. April 9.
“I feel really good about the season,” Taylor said. “The girls work hard every day and that shows in every game we play. The goal this year is to pretty much have fun this season. But in the process, we want to also learn and grow as the season progresses.”
Photos by WENDY OROZCO
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