Friday (January 24) is the first day the UIL allows softball teams to have after school practice. The Lady Cats will more than likely end up in the Multipurpose Building Friday after all the rain this week. Veteran Coach David Carrillo begins his 14th year as Lady Cats Head Coach. He says the first practice day is exciting with a new year, new team, new people. Coach Carrillo lost 10 seniors off of last year’s team. He says he will be working hard to continue the tradition of excellence that was in place before and since he’s been here. The Lady Cats return five players: sophomore pitcher Addison Caddell, senior infielder Kate Womack, junior outfielder Nylah Lindley, senior outfielder Alli Fite and senior utility player Colbria Harrison. Womack, Lindley and Harrison are all on the Lady Cats Basketball Team. Harrison is currently out with an ankle injury. Coach Carrillo says he has quite a few good young players, many whom were on the JV team last year. He promises to put the best players on the field regardless of their classification. Coach Carrillo says he may have a smaller roster than in past years and may have less depth. He says he and his assistant coaches feel the Lady Cats have kids who can play but he says it’s just a matter of putting them into the right places. One issue will be seeking back up pitching for his starter Addison Caddell. Coach Carrillo says he’s looking at three young pitchers. He calls pitching the hardest part of putting a team together. He says he’ll be stressing that players play positions that are good for the team as opposed to being where they think they should be.
The Lady Cats first scrimmage is February 4 at Gilmer. Games begin for real in the annual Sulphur Springs Tournament February 20-22. With all the holes to fill, Coach Carrillo says evaluations may take longer than in years’ past. He sees the district race is pretty wide open. He says Royse City returns the most pitching so Coach Carrillo says they are probably #1 in the district right now, at least on paper.
