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Back to the Beginning: East senior trio finishing careers where they started them
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Plano East seniors Chandler Cink, Holly Kern and Rachel Scott were all freshmen on the 2009 team that advanced to the Class 5A State Softball Tournament.
Yet all three remember different things about the experience on the eve of making a return appearance in Austin.
"I remember just being like, 'oh my gosh, I can't believe we're here,' because we weren't supposed to be there," Cink said. "I told myself I wasn't going to cry if we lost, but I was bawling after the game."
Kern was just the opposite.
"I remember everything about that game," she said of the team's 1-0 state semifinal loss to Spring Branch Smithson Valley. "I remember the feeling of making it that far and it made me hungry to get back there."
"It was funny, after that first state appearance we had everything planned out," Scott added. "We talked about getting back to state and who we would play; we had it all mapped out up to our senior year."
But getting back to state turned out to be a much tougher task than anticipated.
The Lady Panthers were bounced in the second round of the playoffs in 2010 after an error-filled series against Flower Mound and didn't make the playoffs in 2011 despite being ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 4 in the nation at one point. Compare that to this season when East was again ranked No. 1 in the state and currently sits at No. 6 in the ESPNHS national poll.
"Last year's team couldn't handle the pressure," said Karen Kalhoefer, East head coach. "We took a different tactic with this year's team and they have proven very resilient; they deserve every bit of recognition they get. This team and the '09 team were different, but they're both special."
It was apparent this East team could be special before the 2012 season even started.
"This year," Cink said, "we felt we could get to state."
But the girls were careful not to discuss those aspirations, even during an undefeated playoff run.
"We have people come up to us and say, 'you guys are going to state,' and we would be like, 'no, no we're not,'" Scott said. "We continued to take things one game at a time and that is what we are going to do this weekend."
This East team isn't all business all the time though.
That was evident by the fact that Wednesday afternoon's practice was set to conclude with play time on the Slip 'N Slide. But the fun only comes after hard work, which junior K.K. Stevens displayed Tuesday afternoon when she stayed after practice to get in additional hitting.
"This is a very talented team," Kalhoefer said. "But talent alone isn't enough to win these games, so we are putting in the hard work to make sure we are as prepared as possible and that we are absolutely ready to play when we get to Austin."
Having been to state before, Cink, Kern and Scott are helpful in that process.
"We've been there," Cink said, "so we can tell the younger players what to expect."
"We know the atmosphere and know what to expect," Kern added, "so we won't get overwhelmed."
The girls did, however, get somewhat overwhelmed earlier this week.
"It was a little bit of a senior moment," Cink said. "We went into the office and I just started bawling."
"It hit me really hard," Kern added.
Scott was able to keep her emotions in check, joking that she was "dead inside," before adding that she expected the emotions to catch up with her before the weekend was over.
"It doesn't really hit you until it's all done," she said.
It will be done for East one way or another this weekend. The Lady Panthers face Klein Collins in the state semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday from Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin. The Lady Tigers knocked off defending state champ The Woodlands in the regional finals.
"[Collins] has a team that hits for contact," Scott said, "and that can be dangerous."
East, however, hasn't spent the week breaking down a scouting report on Collins.
"Our focus has been sticking together and playing our game," Kern said. "If we do that, we'll be OK."
A win Friday would put East into the state finals at 4 p.m. Saturday against either Deer Park or San Antonio Northside O'Connor, which advanced to last year's Class 5A State Finals after defeating Plano Senior in the state semis.
"We have all the potential in the world," Cink said, "now we want to win a gold medal."
A gold medal would bring this lengthy journey full circle.
"The seniors are finishing where they started, which I think goes to show that with heart and will you can accomplish anything," Kalhoefer said. "And these girls are primed and ready; with Holly in the circle, the defense behind her and these sticks, we feel confident that we can get that first state title.
"We are coming to Austin to win, not just show up."
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