Page 5 - TR Diamond Roundup March 2017

THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW | SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
5SS
JACKSONVILLE LADY TITANS
Lady Titans are in rebuilding mode for 2017
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
Ayear ago, the Jacksonville Red Devils made a run at a state championship, finishing 25-4 overall and losing to Greenbrier 3-1 in the Class 5A state semifinals.
This year, Jacksonville, now known as the Lady Titans after merging with North Pulaski High School, is looking to rebuild.
“It was the best season Jacksonville’s had since 2002,” fourth-year coach Hank Hawk said. “This year, we’re basically in a rebuilding year, but we’re rebuilding with a core group of girls that were around that group last year. They are keeping with the tradition of our style of play. We’ve been called ‘scrappy, and never giv- ing up.’ These girls are proud of the program. They are trying to keep it moving right along.”
Jacksonville returns only one starter, senior catcher Allison Seats, who played at Jacksonville last year because North Pulaski did not have a team. However, sophomore Lindsey Holt, who played outfield last season, is the Lady Titans’ main pitcher this year.
Seats has already signed to play for Central Baptist College in Conway next season.
“She’s our team leader in basically all categories,” Hawk said of Seats.
Hawk said Seats is his best hitter for average. Freshman Rebeka House is probably Jackson- ville’s best power hitter behind Seats.
“[Rebeka’s] sister Kym pitched for us for four years,” Hawk said. “Rebeka is quite a hitter.”
Seats has the best arm defensively.
“If I said anyone else, I’d be lying,” Hawk said. “She’s got Division I pop time [throwing to second base] at catcher. She’s easily 1.7 or 1.8 seconds. It’s going to be hard to beat her arm.”
In addition to Seats, switch-hitting junior Haylie Earnest has the best speed on the team. “She can slap on the left side,” Hawk said. “She’s got pretty good speed when she gets the
ball on the ground.”
At this time, Hawk said, he doesn’t have any
other college prospects other than Seats, but several could develop into one.
“I’ve got a couple who will draw some in- terest in a year or two,” he said. One is junior Jordan Moody.
“She can play anywhere that I put her — infield, outfield, catching, and she can pitch a little bit,” Hawk said.
Conference: 6A East
Coach: Hank Hawk
Assistant coaches: Lydia Shelton
and Tim House
2016 record: 25-4
Mascot: Lady Titans
Returning starter: Allison Seats
JACKSONVILLE LADY TITANS
MARCH 28 ..............................SYLVAN HILLS* MARCH 30 .......................................... BEEBE APRIL 4 ....................... @PULASKI ACADEMY* APRIL 8 ....... @HEBER SPRINGS TOURNAMENT APRIL 10 .................................. @BATESVILLE APRIL 11 ................................ LR PARKVIEW* APRIL 13 ......................................... @CABOT APRIL 17 ...................................POTTSVILLE* APRIL 18 ........................................LR HALL* APRIL 24 ............................................ HAZEN APRIL 25 ................@LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
Jacksonville has only two seniors on this year’s squad. In addition to Seats, Emma Gartman is starting in center field for the Lady Titans.
“Emma has been with us for four years,” Hawk said. “I want to say that she was the only ninth- grader that made the team in her class because Allison came from North Pulaski. Emma has stuck it out through all these years. This is the first time that she has started on the varsity consistently. Instead of giving it up like a lot of girls would, she has stuck it out and it’s paying off.”
Hawk said two of the opponents that stick out to him as being games to watch are against Maumelle and Sylvan Hills. As of press time, they were scheduled to play a doubleheader with Maumelle on March 14 then travel to Sherwood to play Sylvan Hills in a double header March 28.
“I think Sylvan Hills is a favorite,” Hawk said. “Maumelle might be in there second. We hope to disrupt that.”
With the rebuilding this season, Hawk said his team is “looking for small victories.”
“We’re going to take baby steps,” he said. “We’re not going to try to overwhelm these girls or badger them with mistakes. We do want to grow every game. They understand that.”
At the same time, Hawk said, he expects a winning season.
“I expect us not to give up, to learn the game and get better with every game,” he said.
MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Jacksonville senior Allison Seats makes a throw into the infield during a practice earlier this year.