The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team is ready to play ball after missing the majority of last season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Lady Cats are off to a 4-2 start overall in the 2021 campaign, in year two under Head Coach Keith Logan.
This is Coach Logan’s fourth year with the program, second as the Head Softball Coach. He is assisted by Emily Castillo, who is also in her fourth year with the program.
I think there are three major hurdles that we have to get over going back to last year, which are. just getting the season started is one hurdle, the next is to get past spring break, because last year we went on spring break and then got shut down. Spring break is coming up next week and the last hurdle is to get through district and hopefully make a play-off push.
He added, “I think we were one of the last teams to play last year prior to the shut down. When I talked to the team earlier that week and everything started shutting down, I told them that at some point we may get shut down. It may be for a week, a month of forever. Unfortunately, it was for the whole season and it was sad, but we have been able to overcome it and it’s one of those learning experiences that they will have for the rest of their lives.”
Coach Logan talked about how the girls have bought in since things opened back up last summer, saying, “I have some girls who all they do is softball. But, a lot of those girls have showed up; since UIL allowed us to workout during the summer, we’ve had 90% or more every day at every workout. It’s a struggle, especially for a player that just plays softball, because you start the year off in offseason and have to wait until the spring for softball.”
He added, “We’re really starting to build something with our program. Volleyball and Basketball both made the play-offs and won a trophy; and when you win, people buy in and I think the girls are really starting to buy in.”
Senior, Geyah Garza, is a trackster and bats second in the line-up I think it helps take a little bit of the pressure off of her, not being the lead-off batter. She has cemented herself as the two-hole batter and it really helps us when we can can speed on the base paths early.
Hannah Ballejo is another senior, she has been in the program all four years and has worked hard. She is going to be an outfielder for us and I’m excited to see what she can do for us on varsity.
The Lady Cats are junior heavy on this year’s squad led by pitcher, Brookelyn Gau.
“Brookelyn is one of our pitchers and has a lot of power and can play some infield as well. Katelyn Gau is another junior and will play first base for us and she may pitch a little bit if we need her to. You can never have too many pitchers, especially with a lot of the girls doing multiple activities. Julie Rodriguez, another junior, is starting at second base for us and may see some time at first. She really helps us out on the right side of the infield.”
He added, “Tricia Tones is playing center field for us. She has really bought in; a few years ago she played infield and a few years ago we said we needed some outfielders and she was willing to make the change and now she is starting in center field for us. Malorie Garcia will be playing third base for us. She is quick and has some pop and has been playing the game a long time. Zoe Garcia is in her first year on varsity, but has been a varsity athlete in other sports. She is getting that varsity experience and we’re excited to see what she can do.”
The sophomore class includes Cadence Sanchez, Madison McNeese, Makenzie Price and Kaeleigh Logan.
“Cadence is our other pitcher and can also play first base for us. Her and Brookelyn are one and two for us in the circle, it just depends on the match-up as to who will start each game. If she is not pitching, she will be playing first base. Makenzie plays left field, but can play infield if I need her to and she is our lead-off batter. A lot of lead-offs get nervous and scared, but she has really embraced that role and that is what you need out of your lead-off hitter.”
He added, “Madison plays right field and is another trackster. She is our only left-handed batter, so I try to mix up where I put her in the line-up. She has some pop, which surprises some people, because when she comes to bat and people see a lefty, they automatically think she is going to slap. She too has bought into the role that I have asked her to fill. Kaeleigh will be behind the plate for us. She got a little experience last year as a freshman, but this year I’ve told her I need her to bat a little bit more and she is getting better every day. It’s tough being the catcher; a lot of times people get upset with past balls and over throws and sometimes it is her fault and sometimes it’s not, but she will take that punishment so to speak. Every catcher has to deal with it, and she is doing a good job to this point in the season.”
Sophomore, Abigail Ybarbo, is in her first year on varsity. She is backing up Geyah at shortstop right now, but she can play anywhere I need her to play in the infield.
The great thing about this team is that all of the these girls can play multiple positions.
Coach Logan stated that he feels Geyah is their all-around leader.
“Geyah has been on varsity for four years. I started as an assistant when she was a freshman. She is my eyes and ears out there and sometimes she will get after girls if need be. Everyone kind of just follows what she does. She has embraced that role and she is starting to help build that legacy.
“Brookelyn has a lot of pop offensively and does a lot on her own time. She isn’t real vocal, but she leads by example.”
The coach said that he feels their strength would have to be that they have a lot of playing experience.
“We only have two or three girls who haven’t technically played on varsity, but everyone else has played. It was a shortened season last year, but a lot of these girls have played travel ball, so the moment is not too big for them.”
He added, “Some things we need to work on are errors and mental mistakes. Don’t compound one error and then add another error. I always tell the girls errors lead to runs. If we sure that up and we lose a game because they placed the ball, there is nothing we can do, but errors are something that we can control.”
The Coach talked about the season to this point and gave his outlet on the district race.
“Brownfield is probably going to be the favorite to win it. Lamesa is going to be fairly good. I’ve seen some of Muleshoe’s scores and Denver City has had a few wins and losses, but you can’t really go by the box score Dimmitt has struggled a little bit, but you never know. I don’t see any reason we shouldn’t be competing for a district title and a play-off spot; that has always been our goal.”
The Lady Cats open district on March 23rd on the road against Lamesa. The rest of their schedule is as follows:
At Brownfield on March 27th; home against Denver City on March 30th; home against Dimmit on April 3rd; at Muleshoe on April 6th; home against Lamesa on April 10th; home against Brownfield on April 13th; at Denver City on April 17th; at Dimmitt on April 20th and they will close out the regular season at home against Muleshoe on April 24th.