viperball

LE graduated all their starters except Lacey Middlebrooks, don't have much coming up.

There will probably never be a bunch of girls on a High School Team that graduate 8 seniors that have played together and against each over the years. I have had the honor of coaching all these girls at one time or other in the summer, starting when they came out of T-ball. I have seen them go through every thing you could imagen over the years. This was not the first Lauren McDonald played with a broken finger. I have seen them develop their skills and learn the game and they still amaze me sometimes. Lacey came to Texarkana with no team in her age group to play with. I was asked to take her on our 12U team and she became our best pitcher even being the youngest there. I had to put Ashlee Johnson in the outfield because she was afraid of the ground balls after getting a bad hit in the nose at 9 years old and look where she ended up playing. After one year in the outfield, she wanted to try to play in field again and just took it from there, and Lauren had the strongest arm around at 7 years old and was playing SS, but in her excitement she sometimes would throw the ball over first base and off the field, so she was put at 1st and has been nothing but amazing there ever since. All the knew if they just got it close, Lauren would take care of the rest. I will never forget Coop, the biggest thing about her at 7 years old were her eyes when she was running and she was the fastest girl we had. Nicki came into her game a little later and did a great job for me at second. Megan played a couple of years in slow pitch and then sat out for 3 or 4 years and did a great job. Haley White had never playe softball until she came to LE but is a natural athlete. Kaylee Treas grew up on the ball field watching her sister play when she wasn't playing. There never was doubt in her mind that she would be playing like she has over the years. Heather really came into her own this year, it is not easy being a catcher and catching Lacy is not easy for anyone. :notworthy: :happy65: :coolball: Ladies, y'all made an old man cry and not be ashamed of it. I will alway Love you all and wish you the best for the rest of your lives. Coach John

If there is a force out coming to home, how else is the catcher supposed to position herself other than on the plate to catch the ball??

The play was a force out at home. I saw a photo, as well as what I saw in person, the ball was in the catchers mitt and the girl from Huntington was about 2 feet from home plate. In the photo, the umpire was signaling out, after that, the player slid into the catcher, taking her feet from under her, as she hit the ground, the ball fell out. My question is, "On a force play, why would the umpire reverse her call after the fact" The catcher did not have to tag the runner and the dropped ball was after the call was made and the catcher had her feet taken from under her. Anyone have an opinion on this, especially Umpires??

:happy65: Go Lady Lions!!!!!!!!!!! Good lluck, Erin and Bailey.

Without a doubt, Lacey Middlebrooks is an awesome athlete and was pitching last night against Mt. Vernon while being very sick. Lots of determination and will power. At the same time give a lilttle credit for these shut-outs to a very good defense. Last night Mt. Vernon was hitting the ball some, 12 strike outs, and the defense held solid.

Just heard from Jaques mom. Jaque is still in rehab in Atlanta, Ga. She is working with weihts on her arms and learning to transfer herself from bed to wheel chair and back again. Good news, she is still having a little toe movement and just mover on foot about 1/4 inch. She gets shots at night to prevent blood clots and has started to feel the shots. She had some lover back pain last night. Her mom said "who would ever have thought having their child have back pains could make the happy" There is still swelling in the spinal cord so they are not concentrating on her lower body yet. They ran some tests on her muscles in the lower body to see if there was live and working muscle still there and "were very excited about the results" God is working wonders with this young lady. Keep up the prayers, they are working.

The rule on crowhopping is often misunderstood. Crowhopping happens when a pitcher pushes off the rubber and "REPLANTS the pivot foot before releasing the ball". I have some men do this, but have never seen a girl do this. It is very hard to do and takes a lot of practice. What we see in girls pitching is defined in the rules as "leaping". This happens when the pivot foot leaves the rubber and does not maintain contact with the ground. It is almost impossible for a pitcher not to do this occasionaly if they are really putting the power on. Most of the time there is a hole in front of the rubber from dragging the pivot and this will cause the pivot foot to be slightly off the ground. Leaping will cause the pitcher to be a little closer the plate when the ball is released. Crowhopping will cause the pitcher to be a lot closer to the plate. The field offical is the one to call this. Often time unless it is an ongoing thing, it will not be called. There was a pitcher several ago that leaped almost every pitch. During an Umpire meeting before season started, it was brought up and two of the officals that called a lot of the games for that school, stated "We know she is doing this, but we are not going to call it and get Coach -------- on us. That is why sometimes it is called and sometimes not. Hopefully I helped clear up some of the question or maybe I just muddied the water> ha

Jaque is in Atlanta, Georgis undergoing rehab for her spinal injury. She is determined and has a very strong will to get well. Her surgery in Little Rock for a broken back was successful and ribs and lungs are doing well. Still not sure of long time effects of spinal injury. We just need all the prayers to keep coming. They are working. The doctors are amazed every day that is is alive and doing so well.

Brittany Johnson, catcher from Hooks and Ashlee Johnson, SS from Liberty Eyalu have signed with Texarkana College.

:happy65: Great news, Jaque is preparing to be moved to Atlanta, Ga. for rehab. Her lung is healing and last night,SHE WIGGLED A TOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP THOSE PRAYERS COMING FOR THIS YOUNG LADY AND HER FAMILY.

:happy65: Great news!!!!!!!!! Jaques surgery went well. Spinal cord not severed as first thought. Dr. says she has a chance to walk again. Keep those prayers coming!!!!!!!!!!

:happy65: Great news!!!!!!!!! Jaques surgery went well. Spinal cord not severed as first thought. Dr. says she has a chance to walk again. Keep those prayers coming!!!!!!!!!!

Jaque just went into surgery on her back. She will be in 4 to 6 hours. Keep praying for her and her family.

She plays for Haworth, Oklahoma High School but has played all her summer and Travel in East Texas. Thanks for the Prayers and keep them coming.