The pitch comes flying in. WHAM! With the crack of the bat, cleats dig into the dirt. The ball keeps going. Going, going, GONE!
Carlisle’s softball team is ranked 8th in the 6A division and is positioned to advance to the playoffs this season with a current record of 11-5-1 and only a couple weeks remaining in the season. The lady Herd is powerful this season, raking in countless hits and having a solid defense to back them up.
Last season the team had power too, finishing 14-6. They lost four varsity starters, and spots were left that needed to be filled with players and versatility. This year’s team has achieved that more than sufficiently. Junior Alexis Kline, comments, “Everyone had to learn new positions and adjust how they play to make sure that our team is a team.”
Head Coach, Laura Keim, adds that, “We have a strong group of seniors and key underclassmen who are making an impact each and every game. “At practices, the girls work. Keim expresses her pride, “This team has worked long and hard and it is paying off.”
She goes on to describe their practices, including that along with running through plays and drills, they mentally prepare for their games. Junior, Molly Renninger, believes the team does “a good job at balancing fun and focus.”
A huge contributor to their success this season is the power that comes from behind the plate. Freshman Summer Kunza, sophomore Mackenzie Lilley, and Alexis Kline all have big bats, which Keim refers to as a “lethal combination.” Whereas senior Allison Coldren and junior Callie Culbertson, “are adept at bunting and being able to move runners around.” Keim emphasizes the importance of “small ball” while also highlighting that the entire lineup is able to contribute to driving in runs.
On the other side of the plate, Keim notes that, “We can have the best day at the plate, but if we can’t focus on fundamentals and make plays in the field, we will lose…. To win in this division, you have to be successful in pitching, hitting and fielding.”
The coaching staff is supportive and reminds the girls to be the same for their teammates. Lilley says, “our batting coach, Rich, gives us a group pep talk.” Renninger also mentions Coach Rich Kline Sr. and his supply of the phrase “so what, next pitch.”
“We>Me” is a motto that the team is focusing on this year. Alexis Kline mentions, “I think the biggest motivation is that…there is a team full of girls that are going through the same thing and we can lean on each other.”
Renninger says that, “This idea of realizing that whether you just had the best play of your life or the worst at-bat, the next opportunity is shortly ahead.” Keeping Kline Sr. ‘s saying in mind, the team has to look past errors when they are made and focus on getting the next out, or maybe scoring the next run.
“There is no selfishness with this team,” Keim says. Power does not solely come from the athleticism of the team, but also the character. These girls have fun with one another and want success for the team as a whole, rather than just themselves, “We as coaches hold them accountable, but we are most successful when they hold each other accountable.”
As the girls get ready to head into the postseason, every game, as well as every practice, is crucial. Referring to their coaches, Alexis Kline says, “They help us correct different things, to help us be able to go out onto the field and give it all that we got.”
However, they aren’t shaken. Keim has full confidence in her team, “This team understands that a goal for the remainder of this season is to keep energy and ferocity high.” Supporters can watch the team be ferocious and exemplify their power at the next home game on Monday, May 13th at 4:15 against Hershey.
