Bethel-Tate softball achieves winning record
BETHEL –
The girls softball team at Bethel-Tate High School has been energized by youth in the last two seasons and has the numbers to prove it.
After winning a total of 14 contests from 2010-2012, a new group of Lady Tigers coached by Matt Weber has won 13 games each the past two seasons.
Leading up to the game, the Lady Tigers had reeled off four straight wins, including tournament victories over St. Bernard (15-0), Cincinnati Christian (17-1) and Finneytown (8-7).
Considering they started the season at 2-6, the 13-8 mark going into the May 24 Division III Waynesville tournament game was quite impressive. With a few more fortunate bounces, it could have been better.
"We had four games that we were actually leading at one point," Weber said. "In both games against Western Brown we were winning and we struggled in the last week against Goshen."
The Lady Tigers lost both games to Western Brown by a run. Weather also put Weber and company behind as they had three postponements with Batavia and one with Goshen.
Leading Bethel-Tate in the pitching circle for a second straight year has been junior Cassidy DeVore. While not a dominating figure, she has thrown seven shutouts.
"She surprises people because she throws the ball very hard," Weber said. "She works harder than any girl I've been around."
Her battery mate is sophomore MacKenzie Watson. At 5-foot-7, she's an athletic figure who also doubles in basketball for Bethel-Tate. She's a commanding presence behind the plate and at the plate.
"I would imagine she would move on to a DI school," Weber said. "She's hitting over .600. I think if she saw faster pitching, she'd hit a few more home runs. Her average is so great, I put her at lead-off."
In addition to Watson, sophomore Shelby Murphy, junior Julia Weber, sophomore Chelsea Cooper and DeVore all hit over .400.
In the field, routine plays often are the difference in winning and losing in fast-pitch softball with bases so close. Mental lapses also led to some early losses.
"We had our share of errors," Weber said. "We got better here at the end of the season."
The best news about this season is the promise of things to come. Particularly, next spring.
Bethel-Tate will only lose senior outfielder Liz Neal from this team. Juniors Weber, DeVore, Allison Poe and Morgan Walters return, along with sophomores Cooper, Murphy and Watson and freshmen Jerrica Allphin and Maddi Lannigan. Weber also added some junior varsity players to bolster his tournament line-up.
"I'd hope we'd be in the top two," Weber said of next season's Southern Buckeye Conference-American Division prospects. "We may have a division change next year. I don't see it as a hurt or a help. We're DIII right now."
Bethel-Tate's overall number of girls could drop them down, but Weber still plans on playing a DII schedule with some DI schools sprinkled in.
It also will be the last prep season for his daughter, Julia. Beyond 2015, he's unsure if he'll continue coaching.
"It's very difficult to do this and have a job," Weber said.
The Duke Energy employee often has to be on a high school field at 4 p.m. many days. When you add in field maintenance, it becomes a pretty busy part-time job.