Improved hitting and three victories in a row have led to a renewed sense of confidence among the Lady Tiger varsity softball players, according to coach Sharyl Eastlake.
On Aug. 29, the team downed Windsor Forest 13-8 and 25-0 in a double-header, and on Tuesday the Lady Tigers squeezed a one-run victory against the top pitcher on the Long County Lady Tide’s team, Kayla Mills.
Eastlake said Mills showcased a repertoire of pitches and had high praise for her.
"Our bat swing was way behind so the rumors were true," she said. "She has a great fast ball. That ball just zings in there."
Eastlake said a few of her players got hits.
"Patrice (Antalan) got on base twice today and I was happy with her performance," Eastlake said. " We pinch ran Candace Blair, who has had a little difficulty on the base running, and today she made up for every little mistake she’s ever made. They (the Tide) committed an error and she was able to run home. Patrice ended up on third and I really wanted her to come in, but the girls just couldn’t keep up with that hit. I can’t say anything negative. We had two defensive errors, but that’s not bad for us. Overall, I’m happy. It’s not a region win, but a win is a win."
Eastlake thinks Camden will be their toughest region opponent, but she said they need to concentrate on the region teams one game at a time. Eastlake said she has confidence in her team.
"They have the skills. They’ve been working hard and they definitely have the skills," the coach said. "They have a few wins under their belt and it’s boosted their confidence and it lets them know that they can hit the ball, and that is what we’ve been concentrating on a lot this season. If you don’t hit the ball and get on base, you can’t win the game. We are sitting on top right now and I think we can beat any team we want to beat."