That’s hardly the case for Matt Blackburn, who took over for Mariann Deshazer as the mentor for the Belton Lady Tiger softball team. She left her former assistant a smorgasbord of talent, including eight seniors and a junior who is back after an all-state season as a sophomore.
It’s more of a tweaking process than a building process.
“You can’t complain about the kids we’ve got,” Blackburn said. “Most of them are seniors and a lot of them have been on varsity all four years.”
The Lady Tigers, as is almost always the case, figure to be in the mix for the District 13-5A title along with defending champion Bryan and A&M Consolidated. They open district play on the road tonight against Bryan, a place where no Belton team has ever won, in a game that could set the tone for the early portion of the league race.
Belton comes into league play with a 9-2 record, including victories over top 15 clubs like Midland Lee and Aledo. The only blemishes were an eight-inning 2-1 nail-biter to Round Rock Stony Point and a 3-1 loss to Levelland in Midland on Saturday.
Blackburn set much of his non-district schedule against ranked and traditionally solid opponents. Stony Point is a team they could face in the first round of the playoffs.
“That gives us an idea of the kind of pitching we will face in the playoffs,” Blackburn said. “That district is heavy on pitching. Ours is more offensive-minded compared to them.”
Blackburn feels like he has the bats on his side any time the Lady Tigers take the field. He also credits the addition of new weight room facilities as having added extra pop to those bats. The Lady Tigers have scored just under 10 runs per game. They have outscored opponents 108-29.
“I know we can outhit most of the teams we play,” he said. “Our offense is high-powered. We’ve been on the weights since August and it’s showing in our run production.
“We have a new style of play,” he said. “Previously we’ve been a small-ball team.”
The top three hitters in the Lady Tiger lineup - seniors Jessica Whitley, Skylor Alford and junior Brianna Bozon - are all hitting around .600. Whitley, the lead-off, at one point early in the season had more total bases by herself than the opponents. Whitley and Alford provide much speed on the basepaths. Alford, a switch-hitter, has signed a commitment to run track at Dallas Baptist University.
Bozon is the Lady Tigers’ “go-to girl” with runners on base. The junior, who blasted her way onto the all-state team last year, is the team’s RBI leader.
The middle of the lineup includes three seniors with K.C. Warehime, designated player Kalee Young and Courtney Crossley, all able to hit for power and average.
The bottom of the lineup is still potent with either Brynne Steger or Cat Curry filling the void along with switch-hitting Victoria Alcozer, while junior Krystal Faber gives the Lady Tigers a pesky hitter at the bottom to set the table for the top of the lineup.
Steger, who had a quality sophomore season as the No. 2 pitcher behind Courtney Gaines last year, assumes the No. 1 role on the mound. She brings a different look to hitters than the overpowering Gaines, who moved on to Western Oklahoma Junior College.
Steger is complemented by sophomore Jenna Roach and both, at this point, rely on their accuracy and defense to get outs.
“They can move the ball around and keep a team off-balance,” Blackburn said.
Although the Lady Tigers had an uncharacteristically sloppy defensive game in a 12-6 non-district victory over Temple at the Georgetown Tournament - Belton committed six errors - Blackburn likes his veterans in the field.
“With (the defense) being seasoned and having younger pitchers that are not as dominant, I feel good about the defense behind them.”
Crossley and Young provide veteran help behind the plate. Whitley and Warehime make for a solid shortstop-second base combo in the middle infield. Bozon is a stalwart at third and Curry is ever-reliable at first.
In the outfield, Alford has endless range in center with Faber flanking her in left. Three sophomores - Alcozer, Allie Curry and Jasmin Maldonado - figure to rotate in right field. Megan Surovik, Sierra Cosper, Jana Lanford and Victoria Langford give the Lady Tigers solid depth.
Blackburn thinks Bryan is still considered the team to beat, but he doesn’t expect anybody to forget about his squad.
“Last year we had a target on our backs because we went undefeated in the first half,” he said. “I think we still have a target on our backs.”
