Summer is a good time to start becoming comfortable at the plate.
Centralia softball is doing that in its first action without seniors Madi Johnson, Cora King and Kassena Ridgel. The Lady …
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Summer is a good time to start becoming comfortable at the plate.
Centralia softball is doing that in its first action without seniors Madi Johnson, Cora King and Kassena Ridgel. The Lady Panthers hosted their second straight team camp of the summer on June 16 and 17 after having in two scrimmage events before the camps.
Head coach Liz Bostick coached the first squad on June 16, and that squad won all of their games against Linn, Clopton, Lathrop and Penney. To this point, Bostick said Centralia has done well making contact.
“We’re putting the ball in play very well,” Bostick said. “We’re seeing six different pitchers (June 16). That’s really good for my hitters to have to do.”
Bostick said the pitching isn’t quite at the level it is during the season but expects to have a good test today at 4:30 and 6 p.m. at Rock Bridge. She added some of her hitters have had to adjust to the pitching they’ve seen so far, which will help them in the long run.
In the summer, Bostick said she mainly looks for who can make the best contact along with who excels on the bases and in the field. She said the team camps are a good opportunity to look at everybody on the roster because Centralia typically splits the roster into two squads.
Bostick said Centralia had an amazing regular season by earning the state No. 1 ranking but didn’t finish well by losing in the first round of districts. Regardless, last year’s seniors were big reasons why the Lady Panthers stood out last year and filling those holes will be tough.
“It doesn’t matter to me if you’re a freshman or senior or whatever,” Bostick said. “Who is putting the ball in play? Who is being productive at the plate? Who is going to come though with a bunt when I need it? Who is going to be a courtesy runner? Who is going to be able to manufacture runs for us and come through in big situations?”
“Gritty” is a good way to describe the type of player Bostick is looking for rather than just a slugger. She said this extends to work ethic.
“I’m looking at high average and high on base percentage,” Bostick said. “Where’s that kid that can be productive at the plate and that kid who is gritty that’s not going to give up and will work for me all season long to get us to the place where we want to be?”
Centralia’s next summer event is scheduled to be a team camp July 7 and 8 at Antimi Field in Columbia.
