(NOTE: This is the second article in a three-part series previewing the Lady Wildcats' 2019 season.)
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River softball coach Leigh White likes how her lineup is taking shape with just days remaining until the team's season opener at Pensacola State College's invitational.
"Our bats have looked pretty good this past week in scrimmages. We had one bad day, but the good thing about that was they figured it out, fixed it and the next day we had one of our better hitting scrimmages," said White, who's entering her 16th season as PRCC's head coach.
White projects a balanced order, one that can make noise at the top and not get bogged down in the lower spots.
"That can be a big threat for us. I don't think a lot of people think we'll have an order like that because we lost a lot of starters from last year, but I think their approach has been looking good – from every single one of them," she said. "We have the kids to do it. We've seen that in the scrimmages. If I'm looking at the bottom of the order, a couple of these kids have really stepped up and made loud contact.
"I think we have an order where we run through it, start over and keep going."
LEADING THE WAY
While PRCC lost its top power hitters from a year ago in Halle Melone and Ramee Taylor, White sees plenty of power potential from her lineup – particularly sophomore Elizabeth Taggard (Picayune).
Taggard was the designated player for the majority of 2018 and hit .324 with 13 doubles and 31 RBIs. She also boasted a .416 on-base percentage. White has Taggard written into her lineup as a middle-of-the-order bat who will also hold down first base.
"She's a threat at the plate. She's a lefty where, when she gets up there other teams know this kid can hit. They have her circled, and they think they have her figured out but she's been working really hard this offseason," White said. "They have her circled. They know the kid can hit and if they mess up she's going to hit that mistake. And if they mess up inside, they better watch out."
CATCHING DEPTH
Perhaps the team's deepest position is behind the plate, where returners Mary Grace Turner (Leakesville; Greene County) and Jordan Lee (Redwood; Tri-County) are complemented by hard-hitting Jenna Comeaux (Lafayette, La; Comeaux).
Turner heads into the season as the starter at catcher, but all three Lady Wildcats are expected to play big roles in the team's success.
"She just has that fire in her. She wants to be behind the plate and command the pitchers," White said, adding Turner is a player who really embodies what she wants from her players. "She knows every one of those pitchers and can tell them what they're doing wrong. She works well with them. She plays hard and just wants to get right."
White has been particularly impressed with Comeaux's bat and said she could factor into a rotation at DP.
"When she hits it, she hits the ball hard," White said.
Lee may play more of a situational role for PRCC, but White said that doesn't mean she's not counting on the Tri-County product to come up big.
"Jordan Lee is probably the best pinch hitter in the state," White said. "Every time I called her up last year she was in the bullpen warming a pitcher up, would take off her stuff, get in the box and hit a shot to get us in the game. She can hit. She knows she can hit."
DESIGNATED PLAYER
In addition to her role as a key starter in the circle, Dallas Blaker (Bay St. Louis; Our Lady Academy) will likely play a big role as a DP.
"We have to find a way to get those bats in the lineup," White said. "That's a very good problem to have."
Sophomore Krista Robles (Destrahan, La.), who played two years ago but was sidelined in 2018 due to injury, and freshman Brook Jordan (Waynesboro; Wayne County) will also get substantial looks at DP, first base and pinch-hit situations. Robles can also play third base and will pitch.
LEFT SIDE
The left side of the infield seems to be locked in as Opening Day approaches, with two freshmen taking over at third base and shortstop.
Brooke Fagan (Kiln; Hancock) has taken over the shortstop position with BreAnna Corkern (Watson, La; Live Oak) holding down the hot corner.
From across the diamond, Taggard has raved about their play in the field.
"They have grit and I know if there's a ball hit in the 5/6 hole it's probably going to be stopped," the sophomore said. "They have a grit about them where they don't want a ball making it through to the outfield."
White also likes what they bring to the lineup. Fagan is penciled in to hit leadoff, while Corkern should develop into a reliable bat.
"We like for (the leadoff batter) to see some pitches, work the count, try to get on base. Her job is to get on and for us to move her over and score," White said. "I love to set the tone in the first inning and push a run across and I think she's the perfect fit for us there."
2B BATTLE
Second base is one of a handful of positions that have been a battle throughout preseason camp. White acknowledged that without one of the players taking the starter's spot and running with it, it's very possible she'll roll with whoever is hot.
"We're just looking to see who's going to step up, know coverages and whose bat is going," she said, pointing to Autumn Clark (Runnelstown; Perry Central), Ashley McLeod (Meridian; Clarkdale) and Shelby Gehrmann (D'Iberville). Abigail Thexton (Sumrall), who also played keeper for PRCC's soccer team, will likely play all over the diamond.
"We can really put her anywhere," White said.
OUTFIELD
Like the infield, the outfield features several returners.
Alyssa Pinero (Picayune) is someone White is counting on to hold down right field and have a big role in the lineup.
"We're looking at her more at the top of the order," White said. "She has some really good at-bats and works the count. She can hit. She's the one who a lot of times will get us going."
Centerfield has been a battle between two complementary players in freshmen Jenna Smith (D'Iberville) and Hannah Rasberry (Lucedale; George County).
"They're really battling," White said. "They both have speed as a key attribute. Hannah has been hitting the ball. She gets up there and swings the bat and Jenna is a slapper who can lay a nice bunt down and get down the line; so you have two different looks with them."
Move over a spot, and left field is similarly up for grabs between sophomores Neely McLeod (Lucedale; George County) and Ashley Terwilliger (Saucier; Harrison Central).
"Neely has hit the ball really well. Again you have two different players," White said. "You have Neely, who's a hitter and you have Terwilliger, a lefty who can lay a bunt down or slap it.
"Both of them have been doing a good job. It may just depend what we need."
White has also liked what she has seen from sophomore Jada Walker (Lizanna; West Harrison) and freshman Whitney Seymour (Long Beach; Gulfport), who have been rotating through the outfield spots.
LET'S GET STARTED
PRCC opens the season Saturday at Pensacola State College's tournament. The Lady Wildcats play Roane State at 3 p.m. and will turn right around and play the host immediately after.
PRCC will make its home debut the following weekend with the annual Wildcat Invitational.
PRCC plays Marion Military Institute and LSU-Eunice at 2 and 6 p.m., respectively, on Feb. 8 and then plays a doubleheader against Baton Rouge on Feb. 9, starting at 4 p.m.
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