The Pilot Point Lady Cats softball team is off to a hot start to open the year, with a 13-5-1 record through the nondistrict portion of their schedule.
In Year 2 under the guidance of head coach Kylie Roos and assistant coach Lexie Roos, the Lady Cats went 11-1 over their first 12 games, with their most recent victory coming in an 11-10 win over the Bonham Lady Warriors on Tuesday.
“We won 10 games all of last season, and we were able to match that pretty early on,” Kylie said. “… This is something they’ve worked really hard for since the end of last year, and our motto has been, ‘We’re going to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs,’ so every practice, whether it was in the fall or in the spring, we remind ourselves to do playoff-caliber reps.”
Kylie highlighted the growth the Lady Cats have displayed to open the season.
“Our returners are all more experienced and came back better than they left last season,” she said. “We also have some new pieces that we weren’t able to utilize last year, and Elli [Johnson], who plays a really big role for us at shortstop, and we’re better everywhere than we were last year.”
Another big reason for the Lady Cats’ improved play this season has been an increased focus on the mental side of the game.
“We have meetings on Monday, where we talk a lot about mentality and how to bounce back after making a mistake, and that’s really helped us during the games,” senior outfielder Karla Garcia said.
Kylie emphasized the importance of making sure the Lady Cats were mentally tough this season.
“Our goal is to be the team that can bounce back quicker when things aren’t going our way,” she said. “… Our focus this week was all about responding to failure and understanding that it’s a part of the game, what we can do about it and not fearing it because it’s going to happen, and I think that’s something that sets us apart.”
The Lady Cats’ combination of experience, new talent and mental fortitude helped them earn back-toback wins over the Howe Lady Bulldogs, 14-2, and an 11-10 victory over a 12-win Bonham Lady Warrior team to close the nondistrict.
Senior Samantha Maxwell led the Pilot Point from the pitcher’s circle, with 17 strikeouts and allowing 10 hits and 8 earned runs over the two contests.
Maxwell said that chemistry is crucial for the Lady Cats.
“We have to have a lot of trust in each other to play this game,” she said. “… I like to lead by example and show my teammates that they have somebody they can trust and that they know can get the job done in tough situations.”
Senior first baseman Callie James, who had 2 hits and 3 RBIs in the two wins, spoke highly of the team’s progress.
“We’ve been [stepping] up to the challenge,” she said. “… We could be down by 10, or we could be up 10, and no matter what, we still have to keep fighting and keep showing that we know how to play with anyone.”
The Lady Cats are scheduled to hit the road for their district opener in a matchup with the Boyd Lady Yellowjackets at 5 p.m. Friday.
The results were not available by press time.
