The senior girls’ softball teams play at Liberty County High School on Monday and Wednesday’s starting at 5:30 p.m. This edition’s LCRD feature game covers the two games played on Wednesday between the Diamonds and Heartbreakers and the Blue Jays against Glynn County.
Diamonds 13, Heartbreakers 2
The Diamonds’ brilliance in the sun was apparent, making it easy to pluck the jewel or in this case hit the ball and run the bases as they quickly took a 8-0 lead in the first inning.
Try as they could, the Heartbreakers’ hearts were not in this particular game and the Diamonds scored 3 more runs on ‘Breakers errors.
But the Heartbreaker’s started to come together in the top of the third and held the Diamonds to only 2 runs (13-0).
With one out the Heartbreakers converted a double-play at third off a solid hit that was caught by the outfielder and quickly thrown to third. The referee called the runner out when she tried to get back.
The double-play lifted the Heartbreakers’ spirit.
In turn they scored 2 runs to avoid a shut out.
“We had a real positive game today,” 16-year-old Diamonds assistant coach Steven Crowley said. “Everybody hit the ball well. We got our early hits and we kept picking away.”
“For recreation ball it’s a learning experience for the girls and a good time for everybody else,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to make it about anyway.”
For Heartbreaker coach Tammy Stacy accuracy and attitude are two things she plans to work on.
“Don’t get down on yourself and don’t get down on your teammates,” she said. “We are having to work on that with the girls. Don’t laugh at mistakes, be a team player and help out. It takes a team to win and it takes a team to lose.”
Stacy said her team had a bad outing and said they normally are stronger hitters and have outstanding fielding skills. She said she didn’t know if the girls were nervous or they were distracted by some of their friends in the stands. Either way she knows her team is able to play the field and is happy with her main pitcher Danielle Durham.
“Danielle is my main pitcher,” she said. “She has a good arm and she is accurate. And, other than this evening, we have a good fielding team.”
Glynn County 8, Blue Jays 0
Both teams battled it out in the field for the first inning, keeping it scoreless. Glynn County rebounded, however, by bringing in 4 runs in the second.
In the top of the third, Glynn County brought in another. The Blue Jays started to spread their wings and Tamika Lipscomb made a great catch on a hard hit ball.
Leslie Diaz made another great outfield catch for the Blue Jays who had the enthusiasm. but lacked the hits. Diaz had one great shot down the middle but was called out at first when she tried to steal second, but ran before the pitch, according to the referee.
Glynn County had an ace pitcher on the mound throwing the heat, striking out Blue Jay after Blue Jay.
They also had heavy hitters and scored 3 more runs to win 8-0.
“They lacked effort like they didn’t show up to play,” Jimmy Bitzer, assistant Blue Jay coach, said. “They need to concentrate and come to practice.”
Bitzer and head coach Mike Wells have coached most of the Blue Jay girls since they played T-Ball and both say the improvement from the early years to now is apparent, despite the game’s score and their effort.
“I don’t think they came to play, but it’s all for fun,” Wells said. “I must admit it is funner to win.”
Glynn County Coach Van Troxell thought his team played a 7 out of a possible 10 as far as effort.
“We can play better,” he said. “We did some basic things wrong that we should not have. For the most part they came out to play and they were hustling.”
Taylor Troxell, Glynn County’s pitcher was last season’s number 2 pitcher for the Glynn County Academy squad. The coach said she’s worked hard and hopes it will be noticed when the high school season opens.
“She’s been working on her fastball and rotating her arm faster this past off-season,” he said. “And it’s definitely picked up.”
Diamonds 13, Heartbreakers 2
The Diamonds’ brilliance in the sun was apparent, making it easy to pluck the jewel or in this case hit the ball and run the bases as they quickly took a 8-0 lead in the first inning.
Try as they could, the Heartbreakers’ hearts were not in this particular game and the Diamonds scored 3 more runs on ‘Breakers errors.
But the Heartbreaker’s started to come together in the top of the third and held the Diamonds to only 2 runs (13-0).
With one out the Heartbreakers converted a double-play at third off a solid hit that was caught by the outfielder and quickly thrown to third. The referee called the runner out when she tried to get back.
The double-play lifted the Heartbreakers’ spirit.
In turn they scored 2 runs to avoid a shut out.
“We had a real positive game today,” 16-year-old Diamonds assistant coach Steven Crowley said. “Everybody hit the ball well. We got our early hits and we kept picking away.”
“For recreation ball it’s a learning experience for the girls and a good time for everybody else,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to make it about anyway.”
For Heartbreaker coach Tammy Stacy accuracy and attitude are two things she plans to work on.
“Don’t get down on yourself and don’t get down on your teammates,” she said. “We are having to work on that with the girls. Don’t laugh at mistakes, be a team player and help out. It takes a team to win and it takes a team to lose.”
Stacy said her team had a bad outing and said they normally are stronger hitters and have outstanding fielding skills. She said she didn’t know if the girls were nervous or they were distracted by some of their friends in the stands. Either way she knows her team is able to play the field and is happy with her main pitcher Danielle Durham.
“Danielle is my main pitcher,” she said. “She has a good arm and she is accurate. And, other than this evening, we have a good fielding team.”
Glynn County 8, Blue Jays 0
Both teams battled it out in the field for the first inning, keeping it scoreless. Glynn County rebounded, however, by bringing in 4 runs in the second.
In the top of the third, Glynn County brought in another. The Blue Jays started to spread their wings and Tamika Lipscomb made a great catch on a hard hit ball.
Leslie Diaz made another great outfield catch for the Blue Jays who had the enthusiasm. but lacked the hits. Diaz had one great shot down the middle but was called out at first when she tried to steal second, but ran before the pitch, according to the referee.
Glynn County had an ace pitcher on the mound throwing the heat, striking out Blue Jay after Blue Jay.
They also had heavy hitters and scored 3 more runs to win 8-0.
“They lacked effort like they didn’t show up to play,” Jimmy Bitzer, assistant Blue Jay coach, said. “They need to concentrate and come to practice.”
Bitzer and head coach Mike Wells have coached most of the Blue Jay girls since they played T-Ball and both say the improvement from the early years to now is apparent, despite the game’s score and their effort.
“I don’t think they came to play, but it’s all for fun,” Wells said. “I must admit it is funner to win.”
Glynn County Coach Van Troxell thought his team played a 7 out of a possible 10 as far as effort.
“We can play better,” he said. “We did some basic things wrong that we should not have. For the most part they came out to play and they were hustling.”
Taylor Troxell, Glynn County’s pitcher was last season’s number 2 pitcher for the Glynn County Academy squad. The coach said she’s worked hard and hopes it will be noticed when the high school season opens.
“She’s been working on her fastball and rotating her arm faster this past off-season,” he said. “And it’s definitely picked up.”