Page 6 - Diamond Roundup Tri Lakes 2015

MOTIVATING FACTOR
Reed driven by devastation of 2014
The 2014 season didn’t end exactly how Olivia Reed pictured it would. In fact, it was pretty disappointing
for the entire Sheridan Lady Yellow- jackets team.
Playing 6A-South Conference rival Benton in the state champion- ship, the Lady ’Jackets were well on their way to winning a state title.
With Sheridan up by a run, Benton’s Bre Langford crushed a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning that also crushed the hearts of the Lady ’Jackets and their fans.
But the heartache of watching a 2-1 lead evaporate into a 4-2 loss has
not only disappointed Reed, it has driven her.
Sheridan head coach Tamara Strawn believes her team has the
ability to get right back to the 6A state championship.
“We’ve got what it takes,” Strawn said. “We’ve got
strong hitters; the pitching is great.”
As a pitcher,
BY BRUCE GUTHRIE
Photo by William Harvey
Reed is 18-1 in three years and will be counted on to deliver big innings in big spots.
Reed’s mental approach is to not dwell too much and overthink what she is about to do in the circle.
“If I think about it too much, I’ll probably just start throwing balls [instead of strikes],” Reed said.
Even warming up isn’t much of a big deal for Reed.
“A lot of pitchers use 15 to 20 pitches to warm up,” Reed said. “I just throw a couple, and if I feel good, I go on out.”
What Reed is primarily focused on is doing her best to get her team back to the state championship game, and this time come away on top.
“It was pretty devastating last year,” Reed said, “but since we didn’t make it last year, we want to work even harder to make it this year.”
When she’s not pitching, Reed will likely find herself manning first base.
“She is very versatile,” Strawn said. “She can play anywhere.” When Reed is at
the plate, like- ly hitting in
the No. 2 spot, the approach is not necessarily all power or all contact. “If the ball’s outside, hit it right,
and if it’s inside, try to pull it,” Reed said.
“She is a consistent hitter,” Strawn said. “She is a focused player and strong leader. She will do what- ever it takes to get on base.”
Reed hopes that her power numbers will increase during her senior year.
“Last year I was a power hitter, but they gave me free range to bunt whenever I wanted,” Reed said.
Strawn added that the main things her Lady Yellowjackets need to maintain are their drive and desire to win, which shouldn’t be a problem for a team that finished the 2014 season the way they did.
“They are going to hate losing more than they love to win,” Strawn said. “They are on a mission to the very end, but they also know that it is one game at a time.”
Leadership from the four seniors on Sheridan’s roster could take the Lady Yellowjackets right where they want to be. If Reed can improve the way her coach thinks she will, then 2015 could end much in the same setting but much differently than 2014.
TfffTTTffTffffOther up-and-coming players in the Tri-Lakes area
KRISTEN DEMPSEY
BENTON HARMONY GROVE LADY CARDINALS
• .343 batting average,
.405 OBP, .724 SLG, 9 HRs, 44 RBIs in 2014
•12-3 pitching record, 96 Ks, 1.44 ERA in 2014
HALLIE GREEN
HS LAKESIDE LADY RAMS
• .292 batting average, 4 doubles, 7 RBIs
• 8 runners caught stealing • Signed with Crowder
College
ABBY STATON
BRYANT LADY HORNETS
• 24 runs allowed (18 earned), 22 walks and 17 Ks in 2014 • Signed with Central Baptist
College