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Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

Green Gators are softball champs

Better make room on the trophy shelf at the Carriker house.

While there is no doubt the Carriker children are talented athletes — after all, Carson, Dalton and Kaitlyn all played on teams that went to the Little League World Series — it is mom who brought home the latest trophy.

Patti Carriker is the coach of the seventh grade Mossy Creek Middle School softball team, which won the county championship Oct. 7 against Bonaire 12-6. Carriker’s seventh grade team also won the championship last year.

At the beginning of this season, a championship was probably the farthest thing from Carriker’s mind.

Out of her 12 players, six never played organized softball before.

Carriker had to start the season by teaching the basics of the game, including three strikes and four fouls.

“I had several players that had not only never played, but didn’t know the basics of the game at all,” she said.

The season started off a little rocky for the Gators, who lost their first two games, but Carriker said losing only encouraged her team to redouble its efforts.

“We just started with the basics,” Carriker said. “How to hold the glove, how to turn and throw, how to steal bases. They were so good about learning the game, working hard. (After) those two losses, they could have easily given up, but they didn’t.”

Sabrina Doucette pitched for Mossy Creek in the championship game as she did for most of the year, with some relief from Heather O’Herren throughout the season. Doucette had seven strikeouts and one hit. Carriker described Doucette as an asset on both offense and defense, as well as a team leader.

Catcher Taylor Brown went two for four against Bonaire, while shortstop Aidree Cook led the offensive attack against the Jags, going three for four with a triple, double and single.

“Taylor and Aidree were also big leaders,” Carriker said. “They helped the other girls and showed a lot of patience.”

Carriker said the win was a total team effort.

“We had some good players, but they can’t carry a team,” she said. “The ones that weren’t as experienced, they had to get in there and hit the ball and make a play as well.

“Kalie Rutledge, Keri Brown, Elizabeth Upchurch, Heather O’Herren and Allison Tribble all got hits for the seventh grade girls, and Maggie Alexander got an RBI in the seventh inning to cinch the deal. Emily Frey and Cheyenne Kelley contributed in base running and defense.”

Sarah Chaloult, who plays first base for the Gators, was two for four.

“She has been dependable at the second slot in the batting order,” Carriker said. “Sarah was responsible for the game-winning RBI in the previous game against Feagin Mill that took us to the championship game.”

Carriker said the season, although a lot of work, was satisfying for her as a coach.

“When you take a group of girls, many of whom don’t really know what they are doing (and) have never played, and then you see those girls catch and hit, it is a great feeling for any coach,” she said.

Coaches like to win, Carriker admitted, but the rewards of coaching are much greater than any trophy.

“You teach them a game, but hopefully, what you are teaching them is a love for the game so that they will want to continue to play,” she said.

Contact Alline Kent at allinekent@cox.net or 396-2467.