Archives > Sports > Schools
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Similarities abound between teams in Region I Finals
By Kevin Hageland Staff Writer
When Plano East head coach Karen Kalhoefer describes a softball team by saying, “They play good defense and attack the ball,” it’s easy to assume she is talking about her own Lady Panthers.
But that description actually came when Kalhoefer was asked about Flower Mound Marcus, the team Plano East faces when the best-of-3 Region I Final series begins, 7 p.m. today at Staley Middle School in Frisco.
“We are very similar teams,” Kalhoefer said.
“Marcus is a good team, they have always been good,” Kalhoefer said. “Their pitcher uses a little bit of a different wind-up and always keeps hitters off-balance, their catcher is really good and their lead-off is a slap hitter that always seems to put the ball in play.”
Perhaps the only difference between the two teams is experience; East has only three girls playing the same position they did last year while Marcus has five girls on the roster that were part of the Lady Marauders state semifinalist squad in 2007.
According to their overall record, district placement (the team tied for first place in 6-5A) and playoff performances, the Lady Marauders are clearly a formidable opponent. But that’s to be expected in the postseason.
“The girls know the opponents get tougher in each round,” Kalhoefer said. “But if we want to be considered one of the best, then we have to beat the best.”
Beating Marcus would send East to the Class 5A State Tournament and also avenge a pair of losses. The Lady Panthers lost to the Lady Marauders at the start of March while the Marcus baseball team eliminated East over the weekend in the Region I Quarterfinals. But it’s the first goal, not the latter two, which is motivating the Lady Panthers.
“We definitely wanted the baseball team to win,” Kalhoefer said. “But I don’t think revenge will have anything to do with our motivation for the series this weekend.”
Both teams have evolved since they last met more than two months ago, but the players from East still remember the 7-3 defeat.
“They were really scrappy,” said Lauren Peterson, East junior shortstop. “They did a very good job at moving the runners.”
Much has changed since then.
“I think our biggest difference since that game has been the improvement of our teamwork and communication,” Taylor Peterson said.
That improvement has helped take a team that tied for third in District 8-5A to the final 8 in the state.
“I think these girls have surprised everyone,” Kalhoefer said. “They are very determined; they work hard for themselves and they work hard for each other.”
That hard work has already helped East advance further than any other Plano ISD softball team since the Lady Panthers played for the state title in 1995. And now East is one series away from making a return trip to Austin 14 years later.
“Obviously making it to state is a goal of any team, but next weekend won’t matter if we don’t take care of business this weekend,” Kalhoefer said. “We aren’t overconfident, but at the same time I think these girls have shown that we can play at this level and against these types of teams.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Plano East «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
