Prentiss moved from an assistant’s role to the head softball coach replacing the retired Linda Grisham. He knew he was inheriting a team that has limited varsity experience and that he was setting up a schedule that might well make a negative impact on the won-loss record.
Nevertheless, Prentiss sees the light beyond the rocky start the Tem-Cats have endured as they open District 13-5A play tonight at Killeen Ellison at 7. The Tem-Cats have won just once in 11 games, picking up a victory over Madisonville in Brenham last weekend.
“We’re trying to find our way,” Prentiss said. “This is a good group. I’ve got to get the lineup right so they can achieve all that they can. I’m encouraged with what I’ve seen.”
Four top 10 teams - Brenham, Giddings, Round Rock Westwood and Aledo (rained out) - from various classifications were on the schedule. Those teams have been difficult mountains to scale, but the hope is the experience against those high-caliber teams will pay off now that district has rolled around.
“That’s why I got in those tournaments and played those teams so at the end of the year we could play with them,” said Prentiss. “We’ll find out where we are and where we need to be.”
Prentiss, who also serves as an assistant athletic director, decided to take over the softball reins to give continuity to a program and to the seniors who would be seeing the third head coaching change in their four years.
Temple has five seniors with outfielders Jordan Valentin and Kaci Scott providing most of the experience and leadership the Tem-Cats will rely on. Valentin is the lead-off hitter in left field.
“She’s an all-around good player who knows the game,” Prentiss said, adding that Scott is moving into center and came on as an effective slap hitter last year.
The other three seniors are outfielders Sophia Padin and LaShundra Barlow along with catcher/third baseman Clarissa Villanueva who can hit in the cleanup spot and has a strong arm.
The Tem-Cats are blessed with a solid corps of juniors, most of which lettered last year. Kacie Easley is a vocal leader for the team. She’s the No. 3 hitter in the lineup, who is moving from first back to her natural catcher position, having recovered from a serious knee injury from two years ago.
Melissa Dunleavy returns to right field and continues to improve at the plate. Courtney Truelove provides depth in the middle infield and outfield, plus is the kind of speedy, aggressive baserunner that Prentiss likes. Emily Vickery and Kara Kasberg are both seeing time as steady hands at first base.
For three years Tressie Keilman logged the vast majority of innings in the circle for the Tem-Cats. She now plays for McLennan Community College, making way for Perry Jimenez.
“She’s had some good outings and has a new confidence,” Prentiss said.
Prentiss said Jimenez and freshman backup Elisa Espinosa are benefiting from instruction from assistant Lindsey Springer, a China Spring native who pitched collegiately at Texas State.
Lauren Guevara, who moves from third to shortstop, is the only sophomore on the varsity roster, but is a good one. Guevara came on late last season and joins Valentin and Easley as having earned the district’s Newcomer of the Year honor the previous three seasons.
Prentiss has high hopes for freshman second baseman Brynn Maxfield, who he says is the “quickest player I’ve seen in a long time.” She figures to be a fixture at second for a long time and will settle in either the No. 2 or No. 5 spot in the batting order.
“We have speed,” Prentiss said. “We’re going to be more of a small-ball team than we have been before because we have some girls who can handle the bat. My philosophy is to put as much pressure on the defense as we can, slapping the ball or whatever it takes to get on. We have to be aggressive.
“With our pitching as young as it is, we have to play good defense,” he said. “I’ve been encouraged by our defense. That has to be one of our strengths.”
Temple reached the postseason as the fourth-place team a year ago before falling to vaunted Westwood in bi-district. Prentiss sees the Tem-Cats being right in the middle of the 13-5A mix again.
“The way I set the schedule I knew we could be in a struggle to get some wins,” he said. “But I’m pleased that it has not gotten us too far down. The kids have been upbeat.
“Because of sickness, we haven’t put our best lineup on the field yet. We’ve been using (the competition) to get ready for district. We’ve still been able to pull some positives from these games.”
