In theory, Plano East sophomore Haley Wisdom shouldn't be a starter.

After all, last season she was playing softball at a different school (Garland Naaman Forest) and playing a different position (shortstop) before transferring to a program that is 34-3 this season and ranked No. 7 in the country by ESPNHS.

Yet there Wisdom was Saturday in Abilene, making a catch in left field and gunning a runner out at home to keep the momentum on East's side during its regional semifinal sweep of Lubbock Coronado.

"That was a beautiful throw," said Karen Kalhoefer, East head coach, "and such a huge play."

This was the second time for Wisdom to record such a play in the postseason. Wisdom, who noted a putout at the plate as one of her "dream plays" before the season started, did the same in the area round against Haltom.

"That's one of the first things you notice about Haley," said Holly Kern, East senior pitcher, "she's got a gun for an arm."

The next thing one notices about Wisdom is her energy.

"Haley is a little wild," Kern said. "We've had to calm her down a bit."

Kalhoefer seconded that.

"Haley can be a little rough around the edges at times," she said, "and we've had to tame that and corral it."

The use of words often associated with horses is apropos since Wisdom's nickname is Flicka.

"Yeah," said Chandler Cink, East senior center fielder. "Haley is really fast and a little crazy out there at times, she's like a horse ... like Flicka."

Wisdom picked up that nickname one Saturday in practice.

"I was in centerfield chasing balls down," she said. "I would run full speed to left field and then full speed to right field, just back and forth, and coach was like, 'wow, look at Flicka out there.'"

Wisdom's speed and arm are a big part of how she broke into the lineup.

But that wasn't the case for much of the season.

Wisdom started as a freshman at Naaman Forest. She plays center field in club, but moved to shortstop because that's where the Lady Rangers needed her. Wisdom, who plays club with Lady Panthers junior Jacque Anthony, brought her starting pedigree to the Lady Panthers after her family bought a house in Murphy.

But she knew a similar role was not a given.

"It was just a whole nother level here with the organization and talent," Wisdom said. "Tryouts were a little scary."

Wisdom made the team, but as a reserve.

"I love this game and wanted to play so much, so it killed me being on the bench," Wisdom said. "But I kept pushing really hard in practice because I wanted to be ready to play if the opportunity ever came."

That opportunity did come, but not under the best of circumstances.

Wisdom was thrust onto the field when senior Darby Grizzard tore her ACL.

"It wasn't a win-win by any means because Darby got hurt," Wisdom said. "It's unfortunate, but obviously I feel very privileged that I get to play."

And her teammates are happy to have her starting.

"Haley fits in great with our team," Cink said. "She's fast, she can slide and she is confident enough to call people off in the outfield, so she has that aggression you need. We're lucky to have her and I'm really glad she is getting this opportunity."

Wisdom had some trouble with her opportunities at first, specifically the second time East faced Plano West when she dropped a routine fly out. Wisdom came back to the dugout after the inning and was about to get an earful from Kalhoefer.

"Coach was really mad so Haley just walked right up and rubbed her head on coach's chin," Kern said with a laugh. "Coach couldn't even focus on what she was going to say after that."

"I must have had this dumbfounded look on my face," Kalhoefer added. "I have never, in 17 years of coaching, had a kid do that, but it worked because it threw me off and got me to stop yelling at her."

That incident seems to fits Wisdom's personality.

"I wouldn't say I'm ditzy ... well, yeah, maybe I am ditzy," she said. "I like to make people laugh."

The outfielder has accomplished that this season.

"Haley is ditzy," Kern said, "but she's fun to be around and she makes me laugh."

Another one of Wisdom's teammates used that same word to describe her.

"Haley is a little ditzy and she knows it," Cink said. "Sometimes it can be so much fun to watch her, even when she's reading a menu or something simple like that."

East's coach did not use the word ditzy to describe Wisdom.

"She's quirky," Kalhoefer said before being told Cink, Kern and Wisdom used the word ditzy. "Yeah, she's very 'oh my god, oh my god and really,' so I'd go with ditzy too. But not in a negative way. Haley is very smart; I think she has a 97 grade average and she was on the all-district academic team."

That combination of talent and intelligence has made Wisdom a good fit.

"Haley is still learning," Kalhoefer said, "but she handles herself well and has done a great job with her transition to starting."

That transition could see her starting in center next season when Cink graduates.

"At this rate," Cink said, "and with so much potential, I could definitely see Haley taking over in center."

Before getting to that point, Wisdom is focused on helping the Lady Panthers procure the first softball state title in Plano ISD history and the first UIL team title in East history.

"I'm still getting it all down because this is pretty surreal," Wisdom said. "But these are my girls, so I'm pushing to stay prepared and I'll do whatever I can to help this team win."

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