Sports Update
Mixed Feelings: Though Plano fell short of state title goal, team enjoyed the ride in 2012
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
After advancing to the Class 5A State Tournament for the first time in 2011 and bringing the bulk of its roster back this season, it would be easy to surmise the Lady Wildcats were angling for a state title in 2012.
And while that was the case, it wasn't just because of past success.
"Every year we have the same goal: to win our district and win a state title," said Cynthia Zea, Plano head coach. "We came into this season shooting for the moon, regardless of what happened last year."
That expectation eventually fell short, but proved a legitimate goal for much of 2012.
Buoyed by returning seniors Kat Batey, Katie Hart, Jill Holub, Erin Lowell, Ashley McDowell, Kristen Miles, Chelsea Sartor, Mackenzie Velasquez, Gabrielle Taper, juniors Julia Knight, Ashlee Begis and sophomore Tori Seasor, Plano got out to a torrid start.
"I think our girls were just as motivated this season as they were as juniors," Zea said. "They were never looking back, always looking ahead at that next at-bat or that next inning. Add in the fact they were very hard working and I think you saw why they have been so successful."
The Lady Wildcats, who integrated junior Calli Irvin into the starting lineup along the way, posted a 13-2 mark through tournaments in Bryan, Southlake and McKinney.
"We try to play the hardest teams we can possibly find," Zea said. "We took a loss or two along the way, but the girls always learned from those losses. And if you have to make mistakes, better to do it early than during the games that really matter."
Plano entered district primed to repeat its status as 8-5A champions, but not necessarily its undefeated mark from a season ago.
"It's not that we didn't believe we could go 14-0," Zea said, "but it seemed unlikely given that many of the teams in our district were a year more mature and brought their pitchers backs. The girls believed in themselves, and they should, but in this district, one pitch can make all the difference."
And it frequently did for Plano.
Half of the Lady Wildcats' district games were decided by two runs or less. Plano put up one one-run win and four two-runs wins during the 8-5A slate while dropping one- and two-run decisions to Plano East.
The Lady Wildcats and Lady Panthers (12-2) tied for the district title, giving Plano its fifth crown in the last seven years.
"Winning a share of this district's title is a big feat," Zea said.
Plano entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.
"Quite frankly we were just glad to get out of district because every game is so emotionally draining," Zea said. "It is so competitive, and you go out and live and die on every pitch again and again, so I think we were all glad to move on and know we could now put all our emotions into the playoffs."
But Plano wouldn't escape district for too long.
After sweeping Denton Guyer and going the distance with No. 4 Mansfield Legacy, Plano was paired with Hebron in the regional quarterfinals. The Hawks won the flip and chose to play one game.
"We didn't look at it like a big deal because you have to win one-gamers at state and that was our ultimate goal," Zea said.
That goal looked likely to take another step against Hebron as a standout performance in the circle by Batey as well as hits by Hart and Velasquez propelled Plano to a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh. The Hawks were down to their last out before back-to-back homers put them ahead, 4-2.
"Going into the bottom of the seventh, we were still confident," Hart said. "Even when we got to two outs, we said if we were going to go down, we were going to go down swinging."
Unfortunately for Plano, that is precisely what happened as a fly to center ended their season with a 4-2 loss.
"There were a lot of tears after the game," Hart said, "but not a negative word was said."
Zea was quick to back that story.
"It was emotionally draining, but really just a great game," she said. "Our girls played pretty much the perfect game up until that last out. One great swing from Hebron and you lose, but that doesn't mean it was a bad season. We still went 29-6, so I told the girls not to hang their head; I thanked them for everything they have done for this program and told them to be proud of having such a great run."
The loss brought an end to the varsity careers of Batey, Hart, Holub, Lowell, McDowell, Miles, Sartor, Velasquez and Taper (see sidebar), but the Lady Wildcats still feel confident going forward.
"We have a saying here that we don't rebuild, we reload," Zea said.
Plano will attempt to do so with Knight, Seasor, Irvin, Begis, juniors Nicole Lange, Tanner Davis and freshman T'Eryn Bevels, all of whom got playing time this season.
"If people don't believe in us, that's fine because there is nothing like being the underdog," Zea said. "But we have underclassmen that got taught by the best with this senior group and they are chomping at the bit to be the next standout Plano class and be the ones that get us to that next level."
And while that was the case, it wasn't just because of past success.
"Every year we have the same goal: to win our district and win a state title," said Cynthia Zea, Plano head coach. "We came into this season shooting for the moon, regardless of what happened last year."
That expectation eventually fell short, but proved a legitimate goal for much of 2012.
Buoyed by returning seniors Kat Batey, Katie Hart, Jill Holub, Erin Lowell, Ashley McDowell, Kristen Miles, Chelsea Sartor, Mackenzie Velasquez, Gabrielle Taper, juniors Julia Knight, Ashlee Begis and sophomore Tori Seasor, Plano got out to a torrid start.
"I think our girls were just as motivated this season as they were as juniors," Zea said. "They were never looking back, always looking ahead at that next at-bat or that next inning. Add in the fact they were very hard working and I think you saw why they have been so successful."
The Lady Wildcats, who integrated junior Calli Irvin into the starting lineup along the way, posted a 13-2 mark through tournaments in Bryan, Southlake and McKinney.
"We try to play the hardest teams we can possibly find," Zea said. "We took a loss or two along the way, but the girls always learned from those losses. And if you have to make mistakes, better to do it early than during the games that really matter."
Plano entered district primed to repeat its status as 8-5A champions, but not necessarily its undefeated mark from a season ago.
"It's not that we didn't believe we could go 14-0," Zea said, "but it seemed unlikely given that many of the teams in our district were a year more mature and brought their pitchers backs. The girls believed in themselves, and they should, but in this district, one pitch can make all the difference."
And it frequently did for Plano.
Half of the Lady Wildcats' district games were decided by two runs or less. Plano put up one one-run win and four two-runs wins during the 8-5A slate while dropping one- and two-run decisions to Plano East.
The Lady Wildcats and Lady Panthers (12-2) tied for the district title, giving Plano its fifth crown in the last seven years.
"Winning a share of this district's title is a big feat," Zea said.
Plano entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.
"Quite frankly we were just glad to get out of district because every game is so emotionally draining," Zea said. "It is so competitive, and you go out and live and die on every pitch again and again, so I think we were all glad to move on and know we could now put all our emotions into the playoffs."
But Plano wouldn't escape district for too long.
After sweeping Denton Guyer and going the distance with No. 4 Mansfield Legacy, Plano was paired with Hebron in the regional quarterfinals. The Hawks won the flip and chose to play one game.
"We didn't look at it like a big deal because you have to win one-gamers at state and that was our ultimate goal," Zea said.
That goal looked likely to take another step against Hebron as a standout performance in the circle by Batey as well as hits by Hart and Velasquez propelled Plano to a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh. The Hawks were down to their last out before back-to-back homers put them ahead, 4-2.
"Going into the bottom of the seventh, we were still confident," Hart said. "Even when we got to two outs, we said if we were going to go down, we were going to go down swinging."
Unfortunately for Plano, that is precisely what happened as a fly to center ended their season with a 4-2 loss.
"There were a lot of tears after the game," Hart said, "but not a negative word was said."
Zea was quick to back that story.
"It was emotionally draining, but really just a great game," she said. "Our girls played pretty much the perfect game up until that last out. One great swing from Hebron and you lose, but that doesn't mean it was a bad season. We still went 29-6, so I told the girls not to hang their head; I thanked them for everything they have done for this program and told them to be proud of having such a great run."
The loss brought an end to the varsity careers of Batey, Hart, Holub, Lowell, McDowell, Miles, Sartor, Velasquez and Taper (see sidebar), but the Lady Wildcats still feel confident going forward.
"We have a saying here that we don't rebuild, we reload," Zea said.
Plano will attempt to do so with Knight, Seasor, Irvin, Begis, juniors Nicole Lange, Tanner Davis and freshman T'Eryn Bevels, all of whom got playing time this season.
"If people don't believe in us, that's fine because there is nothing like being the underdog," Zea said. "But we have underclassmen that got taught by the best with this senior group and they are chomping at the bit to be the next standout Plano class and be the ones that get us to that next level."
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